Honda Accord Dashboard Light Guide

Your Complete Guide to The Honda Dashboard: Warning Lights, Symbols, Colors, and Solutions

Use our Honda Accord dashboard light guide to ensure your safety by providing the information you need to get your car the maintenance it requires right away. Are you seeing an exclamation point on your Honda Accord dashboard, but you’re not sure what’s wrong? Or maybe a wrench light, and you’re unsure what it means? To best showcase each indicator, our Braman Honda Miami team in Miami will go through every symbol you might see.

What Does the Color of Your Honda Accord Indicator Lights Mean?

For the Honda Accord, the color of the indicator lights ranges from standard system functions to a significant risk of an accident or damage. Here is a brief overview of what you can expect:

• Green: Green dashboard lights typically indicate that the vehicle’s system is functioning correctly as it should. A green light doesn’t require assistance.
• White: White symbols are typically related to the transmission. Most of the time, it’ll indicate the Following Distance, gear shift, or auto idle settings. However, it also has an associated warning indicator.
• Yellow / Amber: A yellow light indicates that one of your systems isn’t functioning properly, but it hasn’t reached emergency levels yet. A yellow light does warrant an immediate trip to your local mechanic to ensure the issue doesn’t develop into a red light.
• Red: If the lights on Honda Accord dashboard and Maintenance Minder screens are red, there is a significant problem with one or more of your systems. A red light requires immediate assistance to avoid complete system failure.
• Blinking vs. Not Blinking: Generally, if a light is blinking, it indicates that the problem is urgent.

Keep in mind that this is not a universal guide. Some red symbols may not apply to you, such as alerting you about a lack of a seatbelt for a chair that is holding your groceries.

Why Are Honda Accord Dashboard Lights Important?

Dashboard light symbols like warning and indicator lights play an important role in the safe operation of your vehicle. As you’ll learn below, they can inform you if a component of your car isn’t functioning properly, or let you know that a certain feature or setting has been activated.

Each vehicle comes with its own set of dashboard lights. While many models feature similar iconography, they are not identical. The “Check Engine” light for the Honda Accord, for example, may look slightly different than the “Check Engine” light for the Honda Civic.

Therefore, it’s vital to consult your owner’s manual, so you have a clear understanding of what each light looks like and what it means for your vehicle. We’ve provided some assistance in this department through the sections below. Let’s get started!

Red Honda Accord Dashboard Symbols

A red dashboard warning shows up when a major component is malfunctioning. It’s important to stop driving your vehicle when a red light – solid or blinking – pops up to avoid putting yourself in danger.

Parking Brake and Brake System (Red)

If you see the word “BRAKE” shining in red, it means your car needs more brake fluid. This light also indicates a problem with the brake system. Please drive with extreme caution when the Honda Brake Warning light comes on, and if possible, downshift your transmission and pull off to the side of the road. When blinking, the electric parking brake has an issue that will require a trained mechanic to investigate.

12-Volt Battery Charging System

If you see a red battery, something went wrong with your charging system. This symbol, also known as the Honda low battery warning indicator, is a complex symbol: extreme temperatures, a wiring failure, or a battery that’s low on charge could all be culprits. If you’re confident, you can try replacing the battery yourself, but we recommend contacting our team for improved diagnostics.

Seat Belt Reminder

This symbol lights up or blinks when someone’s seatbelt is unfastened. It turns off after you or your passengers buckle up. However, if it stays on after fastening your seat belt, there may be a detection error.

Supplemental Restraint System

The SRS Warning light is known as the Airbag System light. It indicates a problem with the computer-controlled system that deploys driver, passenger, and side airbags. When the vehicle is started, the SRS light will illuminate for one to five seconds while the system goes through a self-test sequence. If you notice that the Supplemental Restraint System warning light stays on, the vehicle’s SRS system is malfunctioning. In this case, we recommend taking your vehicle to a qualified Honda service center as soon as possible.

Brake Lamp

When the Brake Lamp warning appears on yourHonda Accord dashboard, it usually means that your vehicle’s brake lights are not functioning and need to be replaced.

Yellow Honda Accord Dashboard Symbols

Yellow symbols mean something is wrong with a helpful system that may worsen as you drive. You can still drive, but you need to be mindful of the problem before it potentially worsens.

Parking Brake and Brake System (Yellow/Amber)

When yellow/amber, there is something wrong with your brakes that isn’t the brake system, such as if the vehicle is tilted due to heavy luggage, the electric parking brake system is offline, or the auto-brake hold system has malfunctioned. If you are carrying luggage, try to adjust it to prevent vehicle tilt.

Malfunction Indicator Lamp

Also known as the Check Engine light or the Honda Engine Warning Light, this symbol looks like a yellow engine block. It signals a malfunction with the vehicle’s emissions system or a misfire in the engine’s cylinders. The Honda Emission System warning should be looked at by a trained mechanic as soon as possible.

Low Fuel

When your vehicle is running low on fuel, a yellow/amber light that looks like a gas pump will pop up on the dashboard. This indicates that you need to fill your tank immediately. If it begins blinking, there is an issue with the fuel gauge, or you are so low on fuel that you may cause damage to the engine.

Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS)

A yellow/amber ABS light means you do not have access to the Anti-Lock Brake System. Normal braking works fine, but you may notice stability problems when braking suddenly. If possible, avoid driving on highways until you can get the issue fixed at an official Honda location.

Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) System / VSA OFF

If you see an icon that looks like a swerving yellow/amber car that’s blinking, your car is currently undergoing slippery conditions and the vehicle’s anti-slip systems are online. If it’s not blinking, there may be a problem with the Vehicle Stability Assist system, and you should bring it to a dealer’s shop before the weather turns bad. You can turn this system on and off by rolling the right selector wheel and selecting the “Reduce traction control” option.

Electric Power Steering (EPS) System

This icon means that your Honda Accord is no longer helping you steer, which can lead to loss of control – especially on highways or busy city streets. Stop in a safe place and restart your vehicle. If the light persists, contact Braman Honda Miami for an inspection and maintenance appointment immediately.

Low Tire Pressure / TPMS

The Honda Warning Light (TPMS) is a yellow/amber exclamation point. Honda warning lights with this symbol let you know when one of your vehicle’s tires needs to be inflated or when the car is using a compact spare tire. After inflating or replacing the tire, you can turn the Honda tire pressure warning light off by going into “Settings,” “Vehicle,” and then performing a TPMS Calibration.

Auto Idle Stop System (Yellow/Amber)

If you were using the Auto Idle Stop System and this symbol begins to blink in yellow/amber, your vehicle will not turn the engine off while idling. You may notice reduced fuel efficiency while in start-and-stop traffic, but you can drive safely.

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) With Low Speed Follow (Yellow/Amber)

There is an issue with your Adaptive Cruise Control with Low Speed Follow. You should not rely on your Accord to maintain a proper distance from the car in front. This often occurs when the vehicle is sufficiently loaded to tilt, such as when you carry heavy luggage in the trunk.

Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) (Yellow/Amber)

If you see this LKAS warning in yellow/amber, your Lane Keeping Assist System is currently offline. Traffic Jam Assist is also offline. This normally happens when you have too much weight in the trunk or the rear seats, or if your sensors are not properly cleaned or damaged.

Safety Support Indicator

This icon appears when there’s an issue with any major safety support system, including Blind Spot, Road Departure Mitigation, or CMBS. It typically turns on if an obstacle, like dirt or snow, is covering the sensors (which may be paired with the Honda Radar Obstructed warning), the camera temperature is too high, the camera can’t see due to weather conditions, or if the vehicle is tilted due to extreme weight. This can be paired with a myriad of other warnings, such as the Forward Collision Warning (FCW) light.

System Message

The System Message Indicator Light is a yellow/amber letter “i” inside a circle. This lets you know when there’s a message regarding your vehicle’s condition on the multi-information display. To view it, refer to your display for more information.

White Honda Accord Dashboard Symbols

White dashboard symbols are a mixed bag. Most of the time, a white dashboard symbol indicates that your Honda Accord is working fine. However, there is a warning to keep in mind.

Transmission System

The Transmission System light looks like the letters P and J paired together with an overlaid A – essentially, it looks like letters outlined on top of one another. If this light blinks, there’s an issue with your transmission. Typically, you should pull over and get roadside assistance in this case, as driving with a malfunctioning transmission can cause your car to not park or reverse properly.

Gear Position

The Gear Position light shows the initial of whichever gear you have selected, and lets you know that the gear is switched to that position.

Following Interval

This white series of lines shows how close you’ve set your Cruise Following to. You can change this setting on your wheel.

Auto Idle / Auto Idle Stop

If this symbol is white with a slash through it, Auto Idle Stop controls have been temporarily disabled. This typically occurs during startup, if your battery is low on charge, or during extreme temperatures.

Drive Mode

For specific Honda models, this indicator simply shows which drive mode you’re on. The following may be displayed:

• NORMAL
• SPORT
• INDIVIDUAL
• ECON
• AUTO
• EV Mode
• CHARGE

Honda Maintenance Warning Symbols

At times, your Honda system will showcase warnings through a specialized screen in the center of your dashboard.

Engine Oil Pressure Low

The Honda Check Oil Level warning light looks like a leaky red oil can. It means there’s not enough oil pressure in the engine. It’s time to check your filter or just the oil itself.

Maintenance Message

At specific intervals, your screen will show a maintenance warning (a wrench symbol on your dashboard), meaning that your Honda Accord is due for routine maintenance. Your Maintenance message will display a code numbered A or B, as well as “1” through “7.” This series of characters refers to the maintenance items your vehicle should undergo. For more information, please check your owner’s manual and schedule an appointment for maintenance at a trusted Honda dealership.

Power System Temperature High. Power May Be Reduced.

This message will appear centered on the driver information display on a modern Honda Accord model. Older editions will display a red thermometer icon. If you see either of these, your engine is overheating. Driving while this message is active is not recommended; when it is safe, pull over and allow your engine to cool. If the engine is not cooling once the steam and smoke clear from your hood and you notice significant damage to the engine, do not drive it. Have it towed and repaired immediately.

Other Messages

As your multi-information display is home to many of the more complex instructions for a Honda owner to follow, you can find most of the following warnings across your dashboard:

• Honda Fuel Cap Check Warning: Your fuel cap may be loose or need to be replaced. You may need to adjust the pressure control valve.
• Honda Do Not Drive Warning: A critical system has been badly damaged, and driving would put you and your vehicle in danger.
• Forward Collision Warning (FCW): Your front sensors will not correctly detect vehicles in front of you.
• Honda Smart Key System Warning Light: Your smart key is currently not functioning. This could lead to problems with starting your engine.

Green Honda Accord Dashboard Symbols

Generally, a green light indicates that the system is either working perfectly or waiting to be activated.

ECON Mode

This little leaf means you’re driving in ECON mode. This is the default mode in the event of a system failure, as it conserves electricity and fuel.

Automatic Brake Hold

When this mode is activated, you do not need to hold down the brake pedal; it stays down until you accelerate.

Cruise Mode

When activated by holding the Following Indicator button for one second, your vehicle will hold the current speed until you deactivate it. You can do so by pressing the brake button, pressing the ACC button, or pressing “CANCEL.”

Turn Signals

Your turn signals are currently blinking.

Headlights / Parking Lights

When this light stays on the dashboard, it means that your vehicle’s headlights and parking lights are on and operating correctly.

Auto High Beam

If green, theHigh Beams will automatically switch off when your Accord detects an oncoming vehicle and back on when you’re solo on the road again. This feature is useful for rural driving.

Auto Idle Stop (Green)

When idling, your model’s engine will stop to preserve fuel. This light pops up when your vehicle is in that state.

ACC With Low Speed Follow

When active, your vehicle will automatically attempt to match the speed of the vehicle in front of you.

Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS) (Green)

Your vehicle will gently nudge you in the right space. If white, it detects traffic lane lines. It turns yellow/amber when the Lane Departure Warning detects you leaving a lane.

Safety Support (Green)

General safety features, like Road Departure Mitigation, Blind Spot Information, and CMBS, are active.

How to Resolve Your Honda Accord Warning Lights

If a warning light appears on your dashboard, it may be a good time to bring your vehicle into our Braman Honda service center. Here, our professionally trained technicians can properly diagnose the problem and get your Accord back in tip-top shape.

After inspecting your vehicle, our technicians will perform any necessary repairs or replacements using genuine OEM parts so that you can get back on the road. Depending on what your vehicle requires, we have a Honda Express Service bay in Miami to get you in for a quick inspection and oil/filter change – without even scheduling an appointment.

If you need to get more intensive maintenance and work, we make it as easy as possible! Simply head over to the appointment scheduler found here on our website, enter some basic information about your vehicle, select your desired appointment time, and you’re done! Of course, you can always give us a call, and we’ll get something on the books if you’d prefer.

Let Braman Honda Miami Help With Your Honda Accord Warning Lights

We hope our Honda Accord dashboard light guide helps you resolve your potential issues. Learning the dashboard lights’ meaning can help you avoid or even prevent issues from worsening. Once you’ve understood what the symbol on your dashboard means, trust the seasoned technicians at Braman Honda Miami to handle the rest.

When you’re ready, schedule a service appointment or contact our experts for a second opinion if you’re unsure what any symbol on your dashboard means. We’ll make sure to diagnose the problem, transparently explain the maintenance or repair process, and then schedule follow-up appointments if needed. Our team in Miami is ready to be your guide to the automotive world.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I reset my dashboard lights on my Honda Accord?

Depending on the light, you can turn off the dashboard lights through your settings. Go to “Vehicle Settings” by using the rolling knob on your steering wheel. From there, you can calibrate your Tire Pressure Monitoring System to turn off that light, turn some driver assistance systems on or off, and reset your maintenance items after performing them. Some lights may require a dealership’s input.

Why are my Honda Accord dashboard lights suddenly all on?

If all your warning lights turn on, your Honda Accord is likely experiencing a significant problem with its wiring, modulator, or battery. However, sometimes this can be resolved by cleaning the front and rear cameras on your Accord. After cleaning your cameras and restarting your vehicle, please contact an official Honda dealership. We can check on the internal components and figure out where the problem lies.

Is it safe to drive when a Honda Accord dashboard warning light is on?

If your warning light is yellow/amber, it is usually okay to keep driving, but it depends on the light. Yellow lights are more cautionary, alerting you to a minor issue that might change your driving experience. Driving with appropriate care should not be an issue – unless you are driving with a red warning light. Those lights refer to actual system failures and should be taken very seriously.