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Vauxhall and Opel dashboard warning lights

24 lights that the Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E) handbook (2018 model year) shows, each in our own drawing, with Opel'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 Vauxhall/Opel 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

Vauxhall is the UK name for Opel, and the two sell the same cars with the same handbooks. This one is the Corsa E (sold 2014–2019). Opel writes the colour into each entry — 'illuminates red', 'illuminates yellow' — and several lamps change meaning between lit and flashing: the tyre-pressure lamp lit means stop and check the tyres, flashing means a system fault. Corsas from 2019 on (Corsa F) are built on the Peugeot 208 platform and their lamps follow Peugeot's handbook more closely than this one.

The 24 lights in the Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E) handbook

Seat belt warning light

Opel calls it “Seat belt reminder”.

Red in the rev counter until the belt is fastened; flashes for up to 100 seconds after starting.

Colour in this handbook: Red

Confirmed by: Opel handbook — Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E), 2018 model year. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Airbag warning light

Opel calls it “Airbag and belt tensioners”.

Red: if it stays on after about four seconds or comes on while driving, the airbag system has a fault — have it fixed immediately.

Colour in this handbook: Red

Confirmed by: Opel handbook — Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E), 2018 model year. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Passenger airbag off light

Opel calls it “Airbag deactivation”.

Yellow: the front passenger airbag is switched off.

Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber

Confirmed by: Opel handbook — Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E), 2018 model year. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Battery / charging warning light

Opel calls it “Charging system”.

Red with the engine running: stop and switch off — the battery is not charging, engine cooling and brake servo may fail.

Colour in this handbook: Red

Confirmed by: Opel handbook — Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E), 2018 model year. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Check engine light (engine malfunction)

Opel calls it “Malfunction indicator light”.

Yellow: an emission control fault. Flashing: a fault that could damage the catalytic converter — ease off the accelerator.

Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber

Confirmed by: Opel handbook — Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E), 2018 model year. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Brake system warning light

Opel calls it “Brake and clutch system”.

Red: brake and clutch fluid too low (with the handbrake off) — stop, do not continue your journey. Also on while the handbrake is applied.

Colour in this handbook: Red

Confirmed by: Opel handbook — Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E), 2018 model year. Check your own handbook — models differ.

ABS warning light (anti-lock brakes)

Opel calls it “Antilock brake system (ABS)”.

Yellow: an ABS fault; the brakes still work, without ABS.

Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber

Confirmed by: Opel handbook — Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E), 2018 model year. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Power steering warning light (EPS)

Opel calls it “Power steering”.

Yellow: power steering has failed — consult a workshop.

Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber

Confirmed by: Opel handbook — Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E), 2018 model year. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Lane assist (lane keeping) light

Opel calls it “Lane departure warning”.

Green: switched on and ready; flashing yellow: an unintended lane change was detected.

Colour in this handbook: Green Yellow / amber

Confirmed by: Opel handbook — Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E), 2018 model year. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Stability control light (ESC)

Opel calls it “Electronic Stability Control and Traction Control system”.

Yellow: flashing while the system is working, steady if it has a fault.

Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber

Confirmed by: Opel handbook — Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E), 2018 model year. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Stability control off light (ESC OFF)

Opel calls it “Electronic Stability Control off”.

Yellow: Electronic Stability Control is switched off.

Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber

Confirmed by: Opel handbook — Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E), 2018 model year. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Glow plug light (diesel pre-heat)

Opel calls it “Preheating”.

Yellow: the diesel is pre-heating; it only happens when it is cold outside.

Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber

Confirmed by: Opel handbook — Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E), 2018 model year. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Diesel particulate filter (DPF) light

Opel calls it “Diesel particle filter”.

Yellow: the filter needs cleaning — keep driving above 2000 rpm if possible. Flashing: it is full, clean it immediately.

Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber

Confirmed by: Opel handbook — Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E), 2018 model year. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Low tyre pressure light (TPMS)

Opel calls it “Tyre pressure monitoring system”.

Yellow, lit: tyre pressure loss — stop immediately and check the tyres.

Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber

Confirmed by: Opel handbook — Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E), 2018 model year. Check your own handbook — models differ.

TPMS light (tyre pressure monitor fault)

Opel calls it “Tyre pressure monitoring system (flashing)”.

Flashing, then steady after 60–90 seconds: a system fault or a wheel without a sensor, such as the spare.

Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber

Confirmed by: Opel handbook — Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E), 2018 model year. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Oil pressure warning light (oil can)

Opel calls it “Engine oil pressure”.

Red with the engine running: lubrication may be interrupted — leave the traffic as quickly as possible and switch off.

Colour in this handbook: Red

Confirmed by: Opel handbook — Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E), 2018 model year. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Low fuel light

Opel calls it “Low fuel”.

Yellow, lit: fuel is low. Flashing: fuel used up — refuel immediately.

Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber

Confirmed by: Opel handbook — Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E), 2018 model year. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Immobiliser (security) light

Opel calls it “Immobiliser”.

Flashing yellow: an immobiliser fault; the engine cannot be started.

Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber

Confirmed by: Opel handbook — Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E), 2018 model year. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Reduced power (tortoise) light

Opel calls it “Reduced engine power”.

Yellow: engine power is limited — consult a workshop.

Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber

Confirmed by: Opel handbook — Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E), 2018 model year. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Front fog light indicator

Opel calls it “Fog light”.

Green: the front fog lights are on.

Colour in this handbook: Green

Confirmed by: Opel handbook — Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E), 2018 model year. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Rear fog light indicator

Opel calls it “Rear fog light”.

Yellow: the rear fog light is on.

Colour in this handbook: Yellow / amber

Confirmed by: Opel handbook — Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E), 2018 model year. Check your own handbook — models differ.

High beam (main beam) indicator

Opel calls it “High beam”.

Blue: high beam is on, or you are flashing the headlights.

Colour in this handbook: Blue

Confirmed by: Opel handbook — Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E), 2018 model year. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Turn signal indicator

Opel calls it “Turn signal”.

Green, flashing: a turn signal or the hazard lights are on; rapid flashing means a failed bulb or fuse.

Colour in this handbook: Green

Confirmed by: Opel handbook — Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E), 2018 model year. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Door open light

Opel calls it “Door open”.

A door or the tailgate is open.

Colour in this handbook: not named in the handbook's text (our page: red)

Confirmed by: Opel handbook — Opel / Vauxhall Corsa (Corsa E), 2018 model year. Check your own handbook — models differ.

Not in this handbook

39 lights on this site are not shown by this handbook, so they are left off this page — among them parking brake light, brake pad wear warning light, engine coolant temperature warning light, side airbag warning light, hazard warning light, low tyre pressure light showing which tyre. That does not mean no Vauxhall/Opel has them — only that this handbook does not. If your car shows one, find it by colour and shape.

Other makes

Source: the handbook

A light is listed only when this handbook shows it. The names in quotes are Opel's wording; the rest is ours, written from the handbook.