Reduced power (tortoise) light
On an electric or hybrid car the drive system has deliberately cut the power it will deliver, to protect itself: the drive battery is nearly empty, too cold or too hot, or there is a fault. The car will accelerate slowly and may not reach normal traffic speed.
Yellow / amber
Not defined by regulation: a maker convention
What to do
Drive gently and plan to charge. Nissan's LEAF manual says: if the charge is low, charge as soon as possible; if the battery is cold, move the car somewhere warmer; if the drive system is hot after a long climb, drive slower or stop; and if you cannot keep a safe speed, pull over where it is safe. If it stays on after charging, or comes on for no obvious reason, have the car checked. On petrol and diesel cars a loss of power usually comes with the engine warning or EPC light instead.
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
- A tortoise
- Also called
- Tortoise light; Turtle light; Power limitation light; Limp mode light
- Colour
- Yellow / amber
- Standard
- None — a maker convention, described here from 3 makers: Volkswagen, Nissan, Peugeot
Where makes differ
Volkswagen's ID. pages show an amber lamp, say power is significantly reduced and may fall further, and that in very cold or hot weather the battery is warmed or cooled and power returns later. Peugeot's electric models call it tortoise mode and link it to a critical state of charge. Nissan's LEAF lists four causes: very low charge, a cold battery, a hot electric drive system or 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.
Neither FMVSS 101 nor UN R121 lists a reduced-power tell-tale.
Related lights a regulation does define
Other yellow / amber maker lights
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 — Reduced power (amber lamp) — The lamp lights amber with a message and chime; power is significantly reduced and may decrease further; charge the battery if low; very cold or hot weather can cause it while the battery is warmed or cooled. checked 2026-09-28
- Nissan: Nissan UK owner's manual, 2023 LEAF — Power limitation indicator light (Power limitation indicator light) — Power to the traction motor is reduced when charge is extremely low, the battery is very cold, the drive system is hot, or there is a malfunction; if the car cannot keep a safe speed, pull over in a safe area. checked 2026-09-28
- Peugeot: Peugeot handbook, 3008 and 5008 (UK English, 2024 edition, PDF) (Dashboard instruments — Tortoise mode with limited driving range (Electric)) — Fixed: the traction battery charge is critical, engine power gradually decreases, and you must put the vehicle on charge. checked 2026-09-28
- Volkswagen: Volkswagen UK — Power restricted (plug-in hybrid) (Power restricted) — On the Tiguan eHybrid example: the combustion engine is not available and power is restricted. checked 2026-09-28
Written in our own words; the makers' pages cover their own models only.