SOS (eCall) light
Can I keep driving? None of these pages tells you to stop the car. Volkswagen says no emergency call can be placed and to drive immediately to a qualified workshop. Kia says a red LED that stays on means problems in the system. Nissan says contact a dealer or workshop, and use a phone to call emergency services if you have an accident meanwhile. What each maker's page says
The car's emergency-call system (eCall, with its SOS button) has a problem, so it may not be able to call for help after a crash. Kia and Nissan describe a small light at the SOS button that stays red on a fault; Hyundai lights an SOS indicator in the instrument cluster; Volkswagen shows an amber fault lamp and lights the button red. A light that comes on for a few seconds at start-up and goes out is the normal self-check.
RedYellow / amber
Not defined by regulation: a maker convention
What to do
If it goes out within a few seconds of switching on (Hyundai and Kia say 3 seconds, Nissan up to 15), that was the self-check: nothing to do. If it stays red, or the cluster says the emergency call function has an error, book the car into a dealer or workshop. Until it is fixed, assume the car cannot call for help by itself: Nissan says to contact emergency services with an ordinary phone after an accident.
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
- The letters SOS in a frame
- Also called
- eCall light; Emergency call system fault light; SOS indicator light; SOS button light
- Colour
- Red or Yellow / amber
- Standard
- None — a maker convention, described here from 4 makers: Volkswagen, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan
Where makes differ
Where the light is differs. Kia and Nissan describe LEDs at the SOS button; Kia's light red and green for 3 seconds at start-up and stay red on a fault, and Nissan's red light can stay on for up to 15 seconds while the system checks itself. Hyundai's 2025 Tucson LED lights for 3 seconds at start-up, and on a fault an SOS indicator lights in the instrument cluster. Volkswagen shows an amber emergency call fault lamp and lights the button's lamp red, with the message 'Error: Emergency call function. Please visit workshop.' Volkswagen also has a separate amber lamp for 'Emergency call system operation restricted'.
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 (Tables 1 and 2) nor UN Regulation No. 121 lists an emergency-call tell-tale, although Volkswagen's page calls the eCall system itself legally required. R121 table checked 2026-10-13 in the edition cited on /dashboard/more/.
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
Power steering warning light (EPS)Steering wheel, sometimes with an exclamation mark · 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
Immobiliser (security) lightCar outline with a key inside it · also yellow / amber · maker convention
Charging cable connected lightA plug on a cable · maker convention
Master warning light (triangle with !)An exclamation mark inside a triangle · also yellow / amber · maker convention
Electric drive system fault light (EV and hybrid)A car outline with an exclamation mark · also yellow / amber · maker convention
Low drive battery light (electric cars)A battery with plus and minus signs, stacked on more cells · also yellow / amber · maker convention
Driver attention warning (coffee cup) lightA cup with steam rising from it · also yellow / amber · maker conventionOther 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
Power steering warning light (EPS)Steering wheel, sometimes with an exclamation mark · also red · 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
Service due (spanner) lightA spanner (wrench) · maker convention
Low engine oil level lightOil can above a wavy level line · maker convention
Frost / icy road warning (snowflake)A snowflake · maker convention
Low washer fluid lightWindscreen with a dashed fountain of spray · maker convention
Key battery low lightKey fob beside a small battery · maker convention
Immobiliser (security) lightCar outline with a key inside it · also red · maker convention
Reduced power (tortoise) lightA tortoise · maker convention
Pedestrian warning sound off or faultyWalking figure with sound waves · maker convention
4WD / AWD warning lightFour wheels joined by axles and a drive shaft · maker convention
Master warning light (triangle with !)An exclamation mark inside a triangle · also red · maker convention
Spanner warning light (a fault, not a service reminder)A spanner (wrench) · maker convention
Foot on brake light (press the brake pedal)A foot pressing a pedal · also green · maker convention
Electric drive system fault light (EV and hybrid)A car outline with an exclamation mark · also red · maker convention
Low drive battery light (electric cars)A battery with plus and minus signs, stacked on more cells · also red · maker convention
Driver attention warning (coffee cup) lightA cup with steam rising from it · also red · maker convention
Speed limiter lightSpeedometer dial with a needle held under a limit mark · also green · maker convention
Adaptive headlight (AFS) lightA headlamp over a two-way curved arrow · maker conventionAll yellow / amber dashboard lights, regulated ones included
What each maker's page says
No regulation defines this light, so it is described from 4 carmakers' own manuals or owner pages: Volkswagen, Hyundai, Kia, Nissan. Each was opened with a plain request and is quoted word for word below, with the date it was checked. Everything above the table is our own summary of these quotes; the makers' pages cover their own models only.
| Maker and page | In their words |
|---|---|
| Volkswagen Volkswagen UK — Emergency call system fault (amber lamp) Checked 2026-10-13 | “The indicator lamp in the emergency call button lights up red continuously. In addition, the message Error: Emergency call function. Please visit workshop. may be displayed in the instrument cluster display. There is a system fault in the legally required eCall Emergency System. No emergency call can be placed. Drive immediately to a qualified workshop.” |
| Hyundai Hyundai owner's manual, 2025 Tucson (general market) — Pan-European eCall system (Pan-European eCall system (for Europe)) Checked 2026-10-13 | “LED: The LED illuminates for 3 seconds when the Engine Start/Stop button is in the ON position. After that they will switch off at normal operation of the system. If there are some problems in the system, the SOS indicator light illuminates in the instrument cluster.” |
| Kia Kia owner's manual (model code SG2, 2023) — Pan-European eCall System (Pan-European eCall System) Checked 2026-10-13 | “LED: The red and green LED illuminates for 3 seconds when the ignition switch is in the ON position. After that they will switch off at normal operation of the system. If there are some problems in the system, the LED remains in red.” |
| Nissan Nissan UK owner's manual, 2024 Juke — System status indicator (Emergency services call eCall/SOS system: System status indicator) Checked 2026-10-13 | “During vehicle start up the system operates self diagnostics and the red indicator light is illuminated for up to 15 seconds. At any other time if the red indicator light is illuminated contact a NISSAN dealer or qualified workshop for assistance. […] If the indicator light is illuminated red or no indicator light is illuminated, emergency services (such as the police or other agencies) should be contacted using other normal communication devices (for example a phone) in the event of an accident.” |