Tesla dashboard warning lights
19 lights that the Tesla Model 3 handbook (online edition read 2026-10-16, no year printed) shows, each in our own drawing, with Tesla's name for it next to ours, the colour the handbook gives it and what the handbook says to do. Tap a light for its full page.
Check your own handbook — models differ. This page is one handbook for one model. Another Tesla model or year can have lamps this one lacks, or draw the same lamp differently; only your car's own handbook is sure.
Read this first
Every light below is confirmed by one Tesla handbook: the Model 3 Owner's Manual in English on Tesla's own China site (tesla.cn), the 'Indicator Lights' list on its Car Status page. Tesla's own tesla.com manual pages and PDFs refused our requests (403) on 2026-09-28 and again on 2026-10-16, so this is Tesla's English edition for cars sold in China; Tesla notes that what the screen shows depends on options, software version and market region. A Model 3 has no instrument cluster: these lamps appear in the car status area of the touchscreen. When you press the brake the indicators flash briefly; Tesla says any that fails to turn on or off should be reported to Tesla. Two lamps come in two colours: BRAKE is red for a brake fault or low brake fluid and amber for a brake booster fault, and the P parking brake lamp is red when you apply the parking brake and amber for an electrical fault in it. Several lamps are Tesla's own: a grey H for Vehicle Hold, a turtle for limited power, a blue snowflake when cold limits the battery. Model Y, S and X have their own manuals; this page is the Model 3's.
The 19 lights in the Tesla Model 3 handbook
Brake system warning light
Tesla calls it “BRAKE (red brake indicator)”.
Red, other than briefly at start-up: a brake system fault is detected or the brake fluid is low — contact Tesla immediately, and keep steady, firm pressure on the brake pedal to stop when safe. Amber BRAKE: a brake booster fault; Hydraulic Boost Compensation is active.
Colour in this handbook: Red Yellow / amber
Confirmed by: Tesla handbook — Tesla Model 3, online edition read 2026-10-16, no year printed. Check your own handbook — models differ.
ABS warning light (anti-lock brakes)
Tesla calls it “ABS indicator”.
Flashes amber briefly at start-up. Lit at any other time: an ABS fault and ABS is not working — contact Tesla. Normal braking still works but stopping distances may be longer; avoid heavy braking.
Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber
Confirmed by: Tesla handbook — Tesla Model 3, online edition read 2026-10-16, no year printed. Check your own handbook — models differ.
Parking brake light
Tesla calls it “Parking brake indicator (P, PARK)”.
Red: you have applied the parking brake manually. Amber P: the parking brake has an electrical issue, and a fault message shows on the touchscreen.
Colour in this handbook: Red Yellow / amber
Confirmed by: Tesla handbook — Tesla Model 3, online edition read 2026-10-16, no year printed. Check your own handbook — models differ.
Low tyre pressure light (TPMS)
Tesla calls it “Tire pressure warning”.
Amber: the pressure of a tyre is out of range. Flashing: the Tire Pressure Monitoring System has a fault — contact Tesla.
Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber
Confirmed by: Tesla handbook — Tesla Model 3, online edition read 2026-10-16, no year printed. Check your own handbook — models differ.
Seat belt warning light
Tesla calls it “Seat belt indicator”.
A seat belt for an occupied seat is not fastened.
Colour in this handbook: Red
Confirmed by: Tesla handbook — Tesla Model 3, online edition read 2026-10-16, no year printed. Check your own handbook — models differ.
Airbag warning light
Tesla calls it “Airbag safety”.
If it does not flash on briefly when the car prepares to drive, or if it stays on, contact Tesla immediately.
Colour in this handbook: Red
Confirmed by: Tesla handbook — Tesla Model 3, online edition read 2026-10-16, no year printed. Check your own handbook — models differ.
Rear fog light indicator
Tesla calls it “Rear fog indicator”.
The rear fog lights (if fitted) are on. The manual draws it orange.
Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber
Confirmed by: Tesla handbook — Tesla Model 3, online edition read 2026-10-16, no year printed. Check your own handbook — models differ.
Parking lights indicator
Tesla calls it “Parking lights”.
The parking lights are on: side marker lights, tail lights and licence plate lights.
Colour in this handbook: Green
Confirmed by: Tesla handbook — Tesla Model 3, online edition read 2026-10-16, no year printed. Check your own handbook — models differ.
Dipped beam (low beam) indicator
Tesla calls it “Low beam headlights”.
The low beam headlights are on.
Colour in this handbook: Green
Confirmed by: Tesla handbook — Tesla Model 3, online edition read 2026-10-16, no year printed. Check your own handbook — models differ.
High beam (main beam) indicator
Tesla calls it “High beam headlights”.
Blue: high beams are on and Adaptive Headlights is off or unavailable. Blue with an A: Adaptive Headlights is on with high beams, ready to dip them if light is detected. Grey with an A: high beams are off because light is detected ahead, and come back on when it is gone.
Colour in this handbook: Blue
Confirmed by: Tesla handbook — Tesla Model 3, online edition read 2026-10-16, no year printed. Check your own handbook — models differ.
Stability control light (ESC)
Tesla calls it “Electronic stability control (car with squiggly tyre marks)”.
Flashing amber: the stability control systems are limiting wheel spin by controlling brake pressure and motor power. Staying on: a fault is detected — contact Tesla immediately.
Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber
Confirmed by: Tesla handbook — Tesla Model 3, online edition read 2026-10-16, no year printed. Check your own handbook — models differ.
Stability control off light (ESC OFF)
Tesla calls it “Electronic stability control OFF”.
The systems are no longer limiting wheel spin: on a rear-wheel-drive car traction control has been turned off, on an all-wheel-drive car Slip Start is on.
Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber
Confirmed by: Tesla handbook — Tesla Model 3, online edition read 2026-10-16, no year printed. Check your own handbook — models differ.
Auto Hold light
Tesla calls it “Vehicle Hold (H in a circle)”.
Vehicle Hold is applying the brakes for you while the car is stopped.
Colour in this handbook: grey (the handbook says gray)
Confirmed by: Tesla handbook — Tesla Model 3, online edition read 2026-10-16, no year printed. Check your own handbook — models differ.
Door open light
Tesla calls it “Door or trunk open”.
A door, the rear trunk or the front trunk is open.
Colour in this handbook: Red
Confirmed by: Tesla handbook — Tesla Model 3, online edition read 2026-10-16, no year printed. Check your own handbook — models differ.
Pedestrian warning sound off or faulty
Tesla calls it “Pedestrian Warning System paused”.
The Pedestrian Warning System, the sound the car plays at low speed for people on foot, has been paused.
Colour in this handbook: grey (the handbook says gray)
Confirmed by: Tesla handbook — Tesla Model 3, online edition read 2026-10-16, no year printed. Check your own handbook — models differ.
READY light (electric and hybrid cars)
Tesla calls it “READY”.
The car is ready to drive.
Colour in this handbook: Green
Confirmed by: Tesla handbook — Tesla Model 3, online edition read 2026-10-16, no year printed. Check your own handbook — models differ.
Low drive battery light (electric cars)
Tesla calls it “Battery indicator (amber)”.
The green battery indicator turns amber when the charge is low: under 20% left.
Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber
Confirmed by: Tesla handbook — Tesla Model 3, online edition read 2026-10-16, no year printed. Check your own handbook — models differ.
Reduced power (tortoise) light
Tesla calls it “Turtle (power limited)”.
Vehicle power is being limited: the battery's energy is low, the car's systems are being heated or cooled, or the drive inverter has detected an error.
Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber
Confirmed by: Tesla handbook — Tesla Model 3, online edition read 2026-10-16, no year printed. Check your own handbook — models differ.
Charging cable connected light
Tesla calls it “Plug (charging)”.
The battery is charging. Unplug the car before driving.
Colour in this handbook: Red
Confirmed by: Tesla handbook — Tesla Model 3, online edition read 2026-10-16, no year printed. Check your own handbook — models differ.
Not in this handbook
44 lights on this site are not shown by this handbook, so they are left off this page — among them brake pad wear warning light, oil pressure warning light, engine coolant temperature warning light, battery / charging warning light, side airbag warning light, passenger airbag off light. That does not mean no Tesla has them — only that this handbook does not. If your car shows one, find it by colour and shape.
Other makes
Source: the handbook
- Tesla: Model 3 Owner's Manual (English, online HTML edition on tesla.cn), page 'Car Status' — Tesla Model 3, online edition read 2026-10-16, no year printed. Section: Overview — Car Status — Indicator Lights. Checked 2026-10-16.
A light is listed only when this handbook shows it. The names in quotes are Tesla's wording; the rest is ours, written from the handbook.