semiatic

Gearbox (transmission) warning light

The automatic gearbox (transmission) has a fault. The car normally shows a message with it, and the message says how serious it is: some only ask you to adapt your driving, others mean reverse is not available or the car should be stopped and put in P.

Yellow / amber

Not defined by regulation: a maker convention

What to do

Read the message that appears with the light and do what it says. Volkswagen's list runs from 'Please adapt driving style' to 'Please stop the vehicle and select P', which means calling for assistance. If the message will not clear, have the gearbox checked.

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.

Symbol
Cog wheel with an exclamation mark
Colour
Yellow / amber
Standard
None — a maker convention, described here from 3 makers: Volkswagen, SEAT, Kia

Where makes differ

Volkswagen draws an amber cog with an exclamation mark and pairs it with a text message; SEAT's page says to follow the instructions on the infotainment screen. Kia's guide has no separate lamp: the gear position indicator blinks when the gear system has a fault.

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.

FMVSS 101 Table 1 and UN R121 item 34 define only the P R N D position indicator, not a gearbox fault lamp.

Other yellow / amber maker lights

Diesel particulate filter (DPF) lightBox full of dots with a pipe at each end · maker conventionAdBlue (DEF) warning lightLiquid container with a wavy fill line and a drop · also red · maker conventionEPCEPC (electronic power control) lightThe letters EPC · maker conventionLane assist (lane keeping) lightLane markings running away from you, dashed line in the middle · also green · maker conventionForward collision warning lightCar seen from behind with radar arcs around it · also red · maker conventionBlind spot monitor lightTwo cars side by side with signal waves between them · maker conventionAdaptive cruise control (ACC) lightSpeedometer dial with a needle · also green · maker conventionAUTOHOLDAuto Hold lightThe words AUTO HOLD · also green · maker conventionPower steering warning light (EPS)Steering wheel, sometimes with an exclamation mark · also red · maker conventionWater in fuel light (diesel)Fuel pump with water drops beside it · maker convention?Key not detected lightKey with a question mark · maker conventionBulb failure (exterior light) warningLight bulb with rays and an exclamation mark · maker conventionHill descent control lightCar pointing down a slope · also green, red · maker conventionAAuto stop-start lightLetter A inside a circular arrow · also green · maker convention

All yellow / amber dashboard lights, regulated ones included

Sources

No regulation defines this light, so it is described from 3 carmakers' own manuals or owner pages, each fetched and checked on the date shown:

  • Volkswagen: Volkswagen UK — Automatic gearbox (amber lamp and messages 1–5) — Gearbox malfunction, shown with a message such as 'Please adapt driving style', 'reverse gear not available' or 'Please stop the vehicle and select P'. checked 2026-09-24
  • SEAT: SEAT UK — Warning lights explained (Gearbox fault) — If the issue cannot be resolved by following the instructions on the infotainment screen, seek advice from a SEAT retailer. checked 2026-09-24
  • Kia: Kia UK — Dashboard warning and indicator icons (PDF) (Automatic Transaxle Shift Pattern Indicator) — If there is a malfunction of the gear system the transaxle indicator blinks; contact a dealer as soon as possible. checked 2026-09-24

Written in our own words; the makers' pages cover their own models only.