Electric drive system fault light (EV and hybrid)
A fault in the high-voltage side of an electric or hybrid car: the traction motor and inverter, the drive battery, the charger or their cooling. Depending on the fault the car may keep going, go into a limited mode or shut down.
RedYellow / amber
Not defined by regulation: a maker convention
What to do
Red: stop where you can do so safely — Volkswagen says stop the vehicle immediately because high-voltage parts may be damaged, and Peugeot says stop, switch off and contact a dealer. Amber or yellow: Volkswagen says you can carry on, but have the electric drive checked by a qualified workshop as soon as possible. Nissan and Renault say contact a dealer. Nissan adds that the light also comes on when the emergency shut-off system has been activated after an accident.
Makes differ: what this light means on your car, the other colours it may use for the symbol and what the car wants you to do are set by the manufacturer, so your car's owner's manual is the authority.
How urgent is it?
- Red: Stop now. Volkswagen: stop the vehicle immediately. Peugeot: stop as soon as it is safe to do so, switch off the ignition, then contact a dealer.
- Yellow: Have it checked soon. Volkswagen: the electric drive should be checked by a qualified workshop as soon as possible; you can continue to drive.
- Symbol
- A car outline with an exclamation mark
- Also called
- EV system warning light; Electric vehicle system warning light; High voltage electric system failure; Electrotechnical system fault warning light
- Colour
- Red or Yellow / amber
- Standard
- None — a maker convention, described here from 5 makers: Volkswagen, Nissan, Peugeot, Ford, Renault
Where makes differ
Volkswagen's ID. models use red (stop now) and amber (have it checked). Peugeot lists its car-with-exclamation-mark lamp with the red lamps, for a fault in the electric motor or traction battery. Nissan's 2023 LEAF lists what it covers: traction motor and inverter, charge port or on-board charger, Li-ion battery, cooling, shift control, and the emergency shut-off. Ford's 2022 Maverick hybrid calls it the high voltage electric system failure lamp: the car may shut down or enter a limited operating mode. Renault's Captur has separate red lamps for the electrotechnical system, the traction battery and the electric motor.
Not defined by regulation: a maker convention
Neither US FMVSS 101 (Tables 1 and 2) nor UN Regulation No. 121 lists this light, so no rule fixes its symbol or its colour. What follows is what the makers cited below say; other makes, and other model years of the same make, may draw it differently.
Neither FMVSS 101 nor UN R121 lists an electric-drive fault tell-tale.
Other red maker lights
Other yellow / amber maker lights
All yellow / amber dashboard lights, regulated ones included
Sources
No regulation defines this light, so it is described from 5 carmakers' own manuals or owner pages, each fetched and checked on the date shown:
- Volkswagen: Volkswagen UK — Fault in electric drive system (red) (red lamp) — Stop the vehicle immediately; a text message shows on the ID. display; there is a fault in the electric drive and high-voltage components may be damaged. checked 2026-09-28
- Volkswagen: Volkswagen UK — Error in the electrical drive system (amber) (amber lamp) — A fault in the electric drive or high-voltage electrical system; have it checked by a qualified workshop as soon as possible; you can continue to drive. checked 2026-09-28
- Nissan: Nissan UK owner's manual, 2023 LEAF — Electric vehicle system warning light (Electric vehicle system warning light) — Lights for a malfunction in the traction motor and inverter, charge port or charger, Li-ion battery, cooling or shift control, or when the emergency shut-off has activated; contact a dealer. checked 2026-09-28
- Peugeot: Peugeot handbook, 3008 and 5008 (UK English, 2024 edition, PDF) (Dashboard instruments — System malfunction (Hybrid, Rechargeable hybrid or Electric)) — Red, fixed: a fault has been detected in the system (electric motor or traction battery); stop as soon as it is safe, switch off, then contact a dealer. checked 2026-09-28
- Ford: Ford 2022 Maverick Owner's Manual (US, edition date 202106, PDF) (Instrument Cluster Warning Lamps — High Voltage Electric System Failure (p. 113)) — Illuminates if the vehicle has an electrical component fault or failure that causes it to shut down or enter a limited operating mode; a message may appear. checked 2026-09-28
- Renault: Renault Captur user manual (English, edition dated 11/04/2024 to 05/09/2024) — Warning lights (Electrotechnical system fault warning light) — Indicates an electrotechnical fault in the traction battery and electric motor assembly; contact your approved dealer straight away. checked 2026-09-28
Written in our own words; the makers' pages cover their own models only.