Power steering warning light (EPS)

A fault in the electric power steering (EPS; Hyundai calls it MDPS). Power assistance may be reduced or lost, so the wheel can suddenly need much more effort to turn. Where a make has two colours, red is the serious fault and amber the one to have checked soon.

RedYellow / amber

Not defined by regulation: a maker convention

What to do

Red: stop where you can do so safely, switch off, and restart after about 30 seconds (Volkswagen's advice); if it stays red, get help rather than driving on. Amber: expect heavier steering and have it checked soon. After a flat, disconnected or jump-started battery, Volkswagen says turning the wheel fully left and right and driving a short distance at 15–20 km/h may clear it.

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

Where makes differ

Volkswagen and SEAT have a red and an amber version; SEAT says no workshop visit is needed if the light does not come back after a restart. Kia's and Hyundai's manuals describe a single power steering warning light for any fault, which may also blink.

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 a steering tell-tale.

Other red maker lights

AdBlue (DEF) warning lightLiquid container with a wavy fill line and a drop · also yellow / amber · maker convention Forward collision warning lightCar seen from behind with radar arcs around it · also yellow / amber · maker convention Door open lightCar seen from above with a door open · maker convention Hill descent control lightCar pointing down a slope · also green, yellow / amber · maker convention

All red dashboard lights, regulated ones included

Other yellow / amber maker lights

Diesel particulate filter (DPF) lightBox full of dots with a pipe at each end · maker convention AdBlue (DEF) warning lightLiquid container with a wavy fill line and a drop · also red · maker convention EPC (electronic power control) lightThe letters EPC · maker convention Lane assist (lane keeping) lightLane markings running away from you, dashed line in the middle · also green · maker convention Forward collision warning lightCar seen from behind with radar arcs around it · also red · maker convention Blind spot monitor lightTwo cars side by side with signal waves between them · maker convention Adaptive cruise control (ACC) lightSpeedometer dial with a needle · also green · maker convention Auto Hold lightThe words AUTO HOLD · also green · maker convention Water in fuel light (diesel)Fuel pump with water drops beside it · maker convention Gearbox (transmission) warning lightCog wheel with an exclamation mark · maker convention Key not detected lightKey with a question mark · maker convention Bulb failure (exterior light) warningLight bulb with rays and an exclamation mark · maker convention Hill descent control lightCar pointing down a slope · also green, red · maker convention Auto 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 — Power assisted steering (red) (red lamp) — Stop the car as soon as it is safe; remove the key for 30 seconds and restart; if it stays on, only drive to a repairer if you can do so safely. checked 2026-09-24
Volkswagen: Volkswagen UK — Power steering system (amber) (amber lamp, steps 1–3) — After a disconnected, discharged or jump-started battery, turn the wheel fully left then right and drive a short distance at 15–20 km/h; the lamp should go out. checked 2026-09-24
SEAT: SEAT UK — Warning lights explained (Steering wheel) — Red: a fault that requires immediate attention; amber: take the car to a retailer as soon as possible; if it goes away after a restart, no visit is needed. checked 2026-09-24
Kia: Kia UK — Dashboard warning and indicator icons (PDF) (EPS (Electric Power Steering) Warning Light) — Lit or blinking while driving means a steering system fault; power assistance may not be available and more effort is needed to steer. checked 2026-09-24

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