Audi Q5 Dashboard Warning Lights

The Audi Q5 dashboard warning lights flash or switch on permanently to indicate active functions or malfunctions. Audible alerts or messages may appear with certain warning lights. Certain warning lights illuminate when the ignition is switched on as a function check.

Below are the Audi Q5 dashboard warning lights explained that also include the Audi SQ5. Both the first generation (Mk 1, 2008-2017) and the second generation (Mk 2, 2018-present) are included, covering both petrol and diesel variants. Some warning lights may differ in appearance depending on the year and location of your Q5.

Symbol	Warning Light Description / Action
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 triangle warning light. Description: The red or yellow warning triangle that contains an exclamation mark is the central indicator warning light. These warning symbols illuminate alongside other warning lights as an indication of the severity of the issue. A message may also display. ▷ Red triangle: A warning light illuminating along with the red triangle indicates an urgent issue that must be checked immediately. The red triangle also illuminate in relation to Audi pre sense with the warning light alerting the driver to a potential collision. ▷ Yellow triangle: A warning light illuminating along with the yellow triangle indicates a non-critical issue that should be looked into as soon as possible.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 brake warning light. Description: The brake: or warning lights illuminate along with a message for the following reasons: ▷ Message: Brakes: stop vehicle and check brake fluid level - The brake fluid level in the reservoir tank is low. Locate the brake fluid reservoir tank, clean the area around the cap before opening to avoid contamination by debris falling in. Top up to the MAX mark using only DOT 4 brake fluid. ▷ Message: Brakes: malfunction! Stop vehicle safely - This means there's a non-specific fault with the brake system. It's advised that you stop as soon as possible and discontinue driving. ▷ Message: Parking brake: malfunction! Safely stop vehicle. - Check if you can release the parking brake if you have just started the vehicle. If you cannot, contact an Audi workshop. If this warning message illuminates whilst driving, hill start assist or the emergency braking function may be malfunctioning. It may also not be possible to apply the parking brake or release it once it's been set.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 parking brake warning light. Description: One of these warning lights illuminate indicating that the parking brake has been set. ▷ Flashing: If the parking brake warning light flashes, it means the braking force has not been built up sufficiently or that it's been decreased. Select the 'P' lever position to help secure the vehicle. ▷ If this light comes on, it means there's a fault with the parking brake system. Avoid parking on slopes until the fault is corrected. ▷ Messages that may display along with one of these warning lights are: Message: Parking brake: warning! Vehicle parked too steep. There is not enough brake force to safely hold the vehicle in place or the vehicle brakes have overheated. High risk of vehicle rolling. Message: Parking brake: applied. Press the brake pedal before releasing the parking brake. Message: Parking brake: emergency braking. The emergency braking function was triggered.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 engine coolant warning light. Description: Engine coolant, a combination of distilled water and other additives that increases the boiling temperature of the liquid and lowers the freezing temperature can overheat when the engine is working too hard or the coolant level is too low. The red coolant warning light illuminates on the Q5 dashboard along with a message: ▷ Message: Turn off engine and check coolant level. This means the coolant level is low and should be checked as soon as possible. 1. Stop the vehicle ideally on a level surface and switch off the engine. 2. Allow enough time for the engine to cool before opening the coolant tank cap (1) else hot steam may emit from the tank. 3. Place a thick cloth over the cap to prevent scalding. 4. Remove the cap and add coolant up to the MAX level indicator. ▷ Message: Coolant temperature too high. Let engine run while vehicle is stationary. Pull off the road as soon as possible and allow the engine to run at engine idle. If the warning light remains on, switch off the engine and contact an Audi workshop.

	Symbol name: Audi Q5 oil pressure warning light. Description: The red low oil pressure illuminating on the Q5 dash requires immediate attention. A fault in the engine lubrication system can result in significant damage. This warning light illuminates along with a message: ▷ Message: Turn off engine. Oil pressure too low. 1. Pull off the road ideally onto a level surface and switch off the engine. 2. Wait a few minutes to allow the engine oil to drain into the pan. 3. Check engine oil level. 4. Do not exceed the MAX marker on the engine dipstick. Too much or not enough oil can damage the engine. Warning If after adding oil the warning light remains on, do not continue driving. ▷ Message: Please add oil immediately. This warning light and message require that you immediately add engine oil to prevent potential damage. ▷ Message: Please reduce oil level. If you see this warning light and message, there's too much engine oil. Have engine oil reduced immediately to prevent engine damage. ▷ Message: Oil level sensor: Oil change necessary. This light and message means that fuel has entered the engine oil. This will cause engine oil to rise and quality to degrade. Contact Audi service. ▷ Message: Oil level system: Malfunction! This light and message means the sensor that detects oil levels is faulty. This isn't critical but should be repaired as soon as possible. ▷ Message: Oil pressure sensor: Malfunction! This light and message means the sensor that detects oil pressure is faulty. This isn't critical but should be repaired as soon as possible.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 battery charge warning light. Description: The battery warning illuminates in red or yellow and indicates a electrical charge system fault. ▷ Red battery message: Electrical system: malfunction! Safely stop vehicle. The red battery warning light indicates total failure in the recharging system. The battery is no longer being charged! In this instance, engine cooling may be interrupted and certain brake system elements may be affected. It's advised that you stop driving and contact Audi service. ▷ Yellow battery message: Electrical system: malfunction! Restart not possible. After switching the engine off, it will not be possible to restart it. Certain vehicle stability functions may also be limited. Drive immediately to an Audi service centre. ▷ Yellow battery message: Electrical system: malfunction! Immediately switch off any system that are non-essential and that consume electricity. Certain vehicle stability functions may be limited. Drive immediately to an Audi service centre. ▷ Yellow battery message: Electrical system: low battery charge. Battery will be charged while driving. This means that battery is in a low state of charge. The warning light and message will turn off once the battery is sufficiently charged after driving.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 electromechanical power steering warning light. Description: The electromechanical power steering and dynamic steering supports the driver's steering movements and makes the steering wheel easier to rotate. The steering wheel and exclamation mark warning light illuminates in red or yellow: ▷ Red warning light message: Steering: malfunction! Please stop vehicle. This indicates a severe malfunction with the power steering. You must stop the vehicle and discontinue driving. Contact Audi service. ▷ Yellow warning light message: Steering: malfunction! You can continue driving. This indicates a minor fault in the power steering system but you can continue driving. The steering wheel may requires greater physical effort to rotate and/or the steering may be off-centre while driving. Dynamic Steering The dynamic steering system requires position correction when illuminates along with the message: 'Dynamic steering is reinitializing'. this is an automatic process and the warning light will turn off once the process is complete.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 steering lock warning light. Description: The steering wheel and key symbol is the steering lock fault warning light. It illuminates in red or yellow along with a message. ▷ Red warning light message: Steering: malfunction! Please stop vehicle. This error light and message means the steering lock cannot be operated therefore the ignition cannot be switched on. The vehicle cannot be steered therefore it should not be towed. ▷ Yellow warning light message: Steering: malfunction! Please contact service. There is a minor fault with the steering lock and you can continue driving. Have vehicle checked as soon as possible.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 engine stop start warning light. Description: The green symbol illuminates when the engine enters stop / standby mode and the yellow warning light illuminates when engine stop has been prohibited. For the possible reasons why engine stop may not take place, see Audi Q5 / SQ5 stop start not working.

	Symbol name: Audi Q5 engine start system warning light. Description: The key symbol illuminates in red or yellow along with a message an indicates an engine starting fault. ▷ Red warning light message: Engine start system: Malfunction! This means that if you switch off the ignition, you may not be able to switch it back on again. It's advised that you drive immediately to an Audi service. ▷ Yellow warning light message: Engine start system: Malfunction! The yellow warning light along with the same message indicates an engine starting fault that's less severe. It is still advised that you drive immediately to an Audi service.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 transmission warning light. Description: The transmission warning light illuminates in red, yellow or white and includes a warning message: ▷ Red warning light message: Transmission: malfunction! Safely stop vehicle. This indicates a severe malfunction with the transmission. Safely stop the vehicle and switch off the engine. Do not continue driving. Contact Audi service. ▷ Yellow warning light message: Selector lever: malfunction! You can continue driving. There is a malfunction with the gear selector lever. You can continue driving. Contact Audi service as soon as possible. ▷ Yellow warning light message: P button: malfunction! Auto P when engine off. There is a malfunction in the 'P' button on the selector lever. The transmission automatically engages 'P' when you switch off the engine. ▷ Yellow warning light message: Selector lever: malfunction! Gear change only possible using both paddle levers. Gears will not change automatically. You'll only be able to select a gear using both paddles at the same time and when the vehicle is stationary. The instrument display will inform you of which gear you are in. ▷ Yellow warning light message: Transmission: please press brake pedal and select gear again. You will need to press the brake pedal and select a gear again. ▷ Yellow warning light message: Transmission: too hot. Please adapt driving style. The transmission is too hot. Reduce speed and reduce engine output or take a break from driving. ▷ Yellow warning light message: Transmission: malfunction! You can continue driving. There's an unspecific non-critical fault with the transmission. You can continue driving. The transmission may enter emergency mode which means you can drive with limited function for the transmission. If certain gears are unavailable, the engine may stall. Have vehicle diagnostics performed at Audi service. ▷ Yellow warning light message: Transmission: malfunction! You can continue driving in D until engine is off. Due to a fault, the transmission is in emergency mode. This means you can only drive in 'D' on the gear selector and some gears may not function at all. Due to this, the engine may stall. If you turn the engine off, you will not be able to select any other selector lever positions after starting the engine again.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 adaptive cruise control warning light. Description: This adaptive cruise control warning light alerts the driver when there is not enough distance between your vehicle and the vehicle in front for automatic braking to maintain a sufficient safe gap. You must intervene to increase the gap.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 adaptive cruise control warning light. Description: Traffic jam assist supports the driver when driving in traffic jams or in heavy traffic by adjusting the steering and speed of the vehicle at speeds of under 40 mph. The red traffic jam assist warning light illuminates informing that the system has been switched off after multiple driver intervention requests.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 air suspension warning light. Description: The air suspension warning light illuminates in red or yellow and may display the following messages: ▷ Red warning light message: Air suspension: service mode. Vehicle can be moved but handling may be impaired. This means that service mode has been activated. You can continue driving but vehicle may not handle as expected. Have your vehicle check by Audi service to have service mode deactivated. ▷ Red warning light message: Air suspension: malfunction! You may continue driving slowly at max. XX mph (km/h). There is a malfunction with the air suspension system. You can continue driving at the speed specified. Vehicle stability may be reduced. Have system checked as soon as possible. ▷ Yellow warning light message: Air suspension: vehicle too low. Limited ground clearance. The ground clearance of the vehicle is too low. Before continuing, wait until the air suspension has restored normal ground clearance.

	Symbol name: Audi Q5 drive system warning light. Description: These warning lights relate to the drive system and may illuminate in red or yellow. Depending on your version of Q5, a warning message may also display. ▷ Red warning light message: Drive system: malfunction! Safely stop vehicle. The red drive system warning light requires that you stop as soon as safely possible and discontinue driving. The brake booster system and power steering may be affected. ▷ Yellow warning light message: Drive system: malfunction! Please contact Service. If the yellow drive system warning light illuminates, you can continue driving. Have fault corrected as soon as possible.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 Electronic Stability Control warning light. Description: Electronic Stability Control (ESC) helps to keep the vehicle stable when a loss of traction is detected. The warning light either illuminates constantly or flashes: ▷ Light stays on If the ESC warning light stays on even though the ESC system has not been manually switched off, there's a fault with the system. Vehicle stability may be reduced. ▷ Flashes The ESC warning flashing is an indication that the system is actively operating in an attempt to stabilise the vehicle. ESC + ABS If the ESC warning light illuminates along with the ABS (anti-lock braking system) light along with the message: Stabilization control (ESC/ABS) malfunction!, the electronic differential lock or ABS system is malfunctioning. Normal brakes will still work without the benefits of ABS. ESC will not function in this situation. You can still drive the vehicle but certain stability features are disabled.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 brakes overheating warning light. Description: The thermometer inside a yellow circle is the brakes overheating warning light. The following message may display: Brakes overheating. Please shift to D. This warning light usually displays after a heavy load has been applied to the brakes causing them to overheat. Use engine braking instead by allowing the car to slow down using the engine rather than the brakes. Place the transmission into 'D'. ▷ Brake booster: limited functionality. You can continue driving. The brake booster is a system that provides extra force when applying the brakes to the foot pedal. In this instance, the brakes and brake pedal may not perform as expected. The brakes will still work, but have the system repaired as soon as possible.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 ABS warning light. Description: ABS, or 'anti-lock braking system' is a safety function designed to provide the driver with control of the steering during heavy braking. The ABS light illuminating indicates a failure of the system. This is frequently due to the wheels speed sensors. Normal brakes remain unaffected in the event of an ABS fault.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 Airbag warning light. Description: If the airbag warning lights remains constantly lit, it indicates a fault in the airbag or seat belt restraint system. Have the airbags serviced as soon as possible as they may not deploy in the event of an accident.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 brake pads warning light. Description: This warning light illuminate when the brake pads are work and require replacing. This symbol may illuminate along with the red brake warning. Have your brake pads replaced as soon as possible.

	Symbol name: Audi Q5 tyre pressure warning light. Description: The tyre pressure warning light comes on for two possible reasons: ▷ Constantly on: Indicates one or more tyres have a loss of pressure. Stop as soon as possible whilst avoiding harsh braking or steering and check or replace the affected wheel. ▷ Flashing: The warning light flashes for one minute then remains on indicating a fault with the tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS). The Audi Q5 uses ABS sensors to detects a loss of pressure in the tyres. If there's a fault with the ABS system, the TPMS may not function. Proper tyre pressure can be found on the tyre pressure label inside the driver's door. After tyre pressures have been altered, the new values must be stored in the system. For details on how to store new pressure values, see Audi Q5 / SQ5 tyre pressure reset.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 check engine warning light. Description: The check engine warning light also known as the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) is an On Board Diagnostic System that monitors exhaust emissions. The check engine warning light comes on when poor quality emissions have been detected. The poor emissions are due to a fault. Be particularly careful if the check engine warning light flashes as this can be an indication of engine misfire that can damage the emissions control system / catalytic converter. If the check engine light flashes, reduce speed and engine load immediately until the light stops flashing. Have vehicle booked in to have fault diagnosed immediately.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 engine speed limitation warning light. Description: If this warning light illuminates, the engine speed will be limited to that displayed in the instrument panel. This is to protect the engine from overheating. If the engine temperature seems within the safe limits and the warning light remains on, there is a fault that requires diagnostic equipment to read codes. The fault is often due to a sensor. When this warning light is on, the engine may experience reduced power, often known as limp mode. The engine speed limitation warning light may illuminate along with the drive system warning light or depending on your Audi Q5 date of manufacture, the EPC warning light
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 EPC warning light. Description: The EPC (Electronic Power Control) illuminates while driving as an indication of a fault being detected in the engine electronics. Diagnostic equipment is required to locate and read fault codes in order to repair.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 engine warm-up request warning light. Description: This warning light comes on due to fuel entering the engine oil. This happens due to frequent short drives or very low outside temperatures. Driving until the engine is warm will the fuel in the engine oil to evaporate. When the fuel has evaporated, the warning light will go out. whilst the warning light is on, avoid high engine loads and high speeds.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 windshield wiper warning light. Description: If this warning light comes on, there's a fault with the windshield wipers.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 glow plugs warning light. Description: For diesel versions of the Audi Q5 only, when you switch the ignition on, wait for the glow plugs light to go out and immediately start the engine. The glow plugs light illuminates very briefly if the engine is warm of the outside temperature is warm. If the glow plug warning light illuminates while driving, there is an engine control malfunction. The engine should be checked immediately - diagnostic equipment is required. If the glow plugs warning light fails to illuminate at all, there is a fault with the glow plug system.

	Symbol name: Audi Q5 battery in key warning light. Description: This warning light comes on when the battery inside the vehicle key has low power or is exhausted. The battery requires replacement. For further information, see Audi Q5 key battery change guide.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 bulb failure warning light. Description: This warning light comes on when one or more vehicle bulbs have failed. The following message may display: ▷ Vehicle lights: malfunction! Please contact Service In this instance, there is a malfunction in the headlights or the light switch.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 dynamic headlight range control warning light. Description: The Audi dynamic headlight range control system automatically adjusts the headlights to provide optimum range based on the weight of the vehicle and whilst braking and accelerating. This warning light illuminates when a fault has been detected. The following message may display: ▷ Headlight range control: malfunction! If the fault is not rectified, your headlights may cause high glare for oncoming drivers.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 adaptive headlights warning light. Description: Adaptive headlights automatically adjust the the curves of the road to provide optimal visibility for the driver in low-light conditions. If this warning light comes on, the adaptive headlights are not working, but normal headlights will remain operational. The following message may display: ▷ Audi adaptive light: malfunction!
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 light / rain sensor warning light. Description: This warning light indicates a malfunction with the light / rain sensor. This sensor is responsible for automatically switching on the wipers and headlights. You can continue to operate the wipers and headlights normally through manual operation.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 side assist warning light. Description: Audi side assist helps drivers to change lane safely by providing a warning to the driver if the system has determined that the driver is crossing lanes unintentionally. If the side assist warning light illuminates, it may be due to the sensors located on the rear bumper being obstructed by dirt, snow, a sticker etc.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 pre sense warning light. Description: Audi pre sense is a safety function associated with driving aids including adaptive cruise control, side assist, lane assist etc. The system comprises of radar and camera systems to monitor road and traffic conditions. A common reason for the pre sense warning light to illuminate is due to a radar unit or camera being obscured by dirt, snow etc. Always keep the area clean and free from stickers or debris.
	Symbol name: Audi Q5 DPF warning light. Description: The DPF, or 'diesel particulate filter' traps harmful soot that would otherwise be released into the environment. The DPF is usually cleaned periodically without driver knowledge, on occasion however, driver intervention is required. Diesel engines are designed for long journeys. The DPF warning light may illuminate if short trips are taken only. If the DPF warning light comes on, the filter requires cleaning. How to clean the Audi Q5 DPF Drive for about 15 minutes with the gear selector lever in the S position at a minimum speed of 37 mph (60 km/h) and an engine speed of approximately 2,000 RPM. The temperature increase that will result from this can burn off the soot in the filter. The symbol will switch off when the cleaning is successful. If the warning light remains on, have your vehicle checked by an Audi workshop as damage may occur.