Porsche Orange Dashboard
Warning Lights & Symbols Explained

Understanding Porsche Orange or Yellow Dash Warning Lights

If you see an orange or yellow warning light or symbol on your Porsche dashboard, it’s important to take the appropriate action. This section covers what to do when orange lights or symbols appear on your Porsche dashboard.

Some of the orange symbols can also appear as red. The orange symbol or light is clearly there as a warning, however, many times the symbol is not that clear in meaning and not very descriptive. Later cars feature more message based driver information and we have sections dedicated to the dashboard messages.

If you have a orange warning light do not ignore it. Check our guide below to see how to react and what to do next. The symbols shown below are the most common orange versions and the ones to not ignore! If this helped you, please Help Us.

Porsche Orange or Yellow Warning Lights & Symbols

ABS Fault Light

Looks like a yellow circle with ABS in the center. This is an ABS brake system warning. It can also be seen in red.

What to do next – Don’t drive the car. It’s important to identify why the ABS system is reporting a fault. This is a very important safety system. Seek help from a Porsche Specialist.

Brake Pad Wear Light

Looks like a yellow circle with dots around the outside. This is a brake pad wear indicator and can also be seen in red.

What to do next – You will need to replace at least one set of brake pads and rotors. You’ll need to identify which set of brakes triggered the light. You have a very limited amount of mileage left on the brakes, so don’t drive any distance.

Bulb Out Warning Light

Looks like a yellow sun with an exclamation point in the center. This light indicates a external light bulb failure.

What to do next – Identify which bulb has burnt out and replace. Sometimes the burnt out bulb isn’t easy to find – cornering lights for example. If all the bulbs are working this may be an indication of a light assembly failure. Check with a Porsche specialist.

Check Engine Light

This is the classic check engine light or CEL. This light indicates an engine running fault and often an out of emission compliance condition.

What to do next – One light and hundreds of potential solutions! Don’t guess. Have a Porsche specialist scan the engine management and determine the cause of the engine fault. If the engine does not run smoothly, do not drive the car.

Tire Pressure Monitoring Fault – TPMS

Looks like the cross section of a tire with an exclamation point. Can be seen in red. This is the tire pressure monitor indicator or TPMS.

What to do next – on newer vehicles the system will report which tire to check for pressure. In any case the best course of action is to check the pressure in each tire. there is a sticker on the driver door pillar confirming the cold pressure values. If the light stays on with the correct tire pressures this indicates a faulty sensor or problem in the TPMS system.

Cruise Control Warning

Looks like a clock or dial with an arrow on the outside. This is a cruise control warning light. Seen in green when the cruise control is active.

What to do – If this symbol is green there is nothing you need to do other than perhaps turn cruise control off. If this symbol is orange, it may indicate that cruise control cannot be activated and that a fault in the system has been detected.

Front Fog Lights

Looks like a money symbol with a yellow D next to it. This is the front fog light indicator symbol.

What to do – Find the fog light switch and turn off the front fog lights. Fog lights should be used in fog – on a nice clear evening they are more annoying to other drivers than they are useful. On wet roads in the dark they can be confusing to other drivers as well.

PSM System Deactivated Light

Looks like exclamation point inside a triangle inside a circle. This is the symbol that indicates the PSM system has been deactivated.

What to do next – PSM is an important safety system that helps avoid under or over steer situations. You can turn it on or off with a button in the car. If you’re at the racetrack you want this system turned off to maximize fun. On the road it’s safer to have the system turned on.

Headlight Adjustment Fault

Looks like lines with a snake passing through and a D shape with an exclamation point in the middle. This is the headlight adjustment warning symbol.

What to do – your headlights adjust their position based on the vehicle ride height. This light indicates that automatic positioning of the headlights is not possible. This is a safety feature and should be investigated quickly. Seek the help of a Porsche specialist.

Key Fault Light

Looks like a key! This warning light suggests a malfunction with the reading of the driver’s key. It can also be seen as a red light.

What to do next – with push button start this could just be an indication that the key is not in a good position to be read. In the center console is the perfect place. It could also be a sign of the battery in the key becoming weak. You need the key so we recommend you investigate this quickly.

Washer Fluid Low Warning

Looks like a fountain. This is the low washer fluid level warning light for most models. Washer fluid is a safety item – it’s good to see what you are about to hit before you hit it!

What to do next – Refill the washer fluid bottle. You’ll find it under the hood with a blue cap. If the washer fluid is full and you still see this symbol, then there is likely a problem with the sensor inside the fluid reservoir. Have a Porsche specialist check for you.

Low Oil Level Warning Light

Looks like an oil can floating on a wavy line. This is the low engine oil level warning light. Sometimes seen in red. Do not ignore.

What to do next – refill the engine oil to the correct level as soon as possible. Do not drive the car until the oil level is good. Lack of oil can cause expensive engine damage. It’s best to document the mileage and quantity of oil added.

PASM Suspension Fault Warning Light

Looks like a shock absorber. This is a suspension warning light. It can be seen in red. It indicates a fault with the chassis control or PASM system.

What to do next – The PASM or ride height control on older models is a complex safety system often accompanied with chassis system failure messages. This fault requires accurate diagnosis by a Porsche specialist. The vehicle can still be driven short distances but not if the ride height of the vehicle is unusual.

Press Brake Pedal Warning Light

Looks like a raised shoe in a circle. This is the brake pedal not activated warning light.

What to do next – If you are trying to start the car, simply put your foot on the brake pedal to clear this light. The brake must be active to initialize the engine start. If your foot is on the brake, the light is still there and the car wont start, you likely have a brake pedal position sensor or brake light switch fault. See a Porsche specialist for help.

PSM Traction Control Warning Light

Looks like a car with wavy lines behind it. This is the PSM or traction control warning light or symbol. Do not ignore.

What to do next – this light comes on when the PSM system is either faulty or has been deactivated by the driver. First check to make sure the system is in fact turned on. If it is, this important safety system has detected a fault and should be diagnosed immediately by a Porsche specialist. The car can still be driven carefully if necessary.

Rear Fog Light Warning Symbol

Looks like lines with a wave through them and a back to front D shape. This is the rear fog warning light.

What to do next – Unless it’s foggy out, find the fog light switch and turn off the rear fog lights. In fog, these lights save lives, but under normal conditions, they are blinding to other road users. They can be handy if the guy behind has his brights on!

Speed Warning Symbol

Looks like a circle with MPH in the middle. This is a speed warning indicator light or symbol.

What to do next – This is a rarely used function where a warning for a certain speed set by the driver can show this light and provide an alert sound. Scroll through the options on your dashboard and you’ll be able to enable or disable it. Often it is set by mistake.

Spoiler Failure Warning Light

Looks like the rear of a car with an up and down arrow. This is the spoiler failure warning and can be seen in red.

What to do next – Your spoiler changes position automatically based on speed. When this fails to happen, the light is triggered. Replacing the spoiler can be an expensive option. Choose a Porsche specialist to take a look at the spoiler and give you the best repair options.

Engine Start Stop Disabled Warning

Looks like most of a circle with an arrow head and A in the middle. This is the indicator light for the engine start stop function.

What to do next – There is a button to control whether the engine start stop in enabled or not. Pressing the button should turn this light off. If it doesn’t, then a fault has occurred in the system that prevents the use of start stop and should be investigated quickly. You can still drive the car but not save the planet!

Steering System Fault

Looks like a steering wheel with and exclamation point. This symbol or warning light indicates a failure in the steering, steering lock mechanism, or ignition lock mechanism.

What to do next – Don’t drive the car. Have the car towed to a Porsche specialist and the problem diagnosed. If you can get the car started, driving any distance is highly risky and you could easily be stranded when you attempt to start the car again.

Chassis System Failure and Suspension Fault

Looks like the outline of a car with an up and down arrow. This is the chassis system or suspension fault indicator light.

What to do next – This fault indicator usually suggests an inability to manage vehicle ride height, and can be dangerous. We recommend you don’t drive the car and seek the help of a Porsche specialist as soon as possible.

General System Warning

Looks like an exclamation point and can be seen in red. This is a general system fault warning and can indicate a number of faults within the vehicle systems.

What to do next – it’s important to go through the system messages to understand where this general fault is coming from. In worst circumstances, you will just see this symbol and the car will be completely unresponsive. Seek the help of a Porsche specialist if that happens.