Volkswagen Polo Dashboard Warning Lights

The Volkswagen Polo has come a long way and is not more advanced than ever. With this comes a multitude of features and functions and yes, more things to go wrong. When you Polo throws up a warning light, you can find out what it means here.

Warning lights are called that for a reason. They’re there to warn you of a situation that could potentially arise (or has arisen) that requires your attention. It’s no different on the Volkswagen Polo. The latest generation Volkswagen Polo has a digital driver display. This makes life a lot easier as the warnings will come up as notes, alerting you to the fact that something is amiss, but clarifying what the problem is so that you can better understand it.

You’re still going to come across warning lights though and making sense of them will help ease your mind. Below, we’ve covered most of the warning lights you might encounter. Some of these may or may not apply to your vehicle, but you will still be able to make a match and see what action is required.

volkswagen polo dashboard warning lights

Warning lights are colour coded according to their severity.

Red: Stop as soon as it is safe and do not drive any further. Contact your roadside assistance or dealership immediately.

Amber: Serious warning. You will need to contact your dealership as soon as possible. You may continue driving, only if necessary.

Green: Normal operation and requires no action on your part – all is well.

White: Regular functions. These lights alert you that a specific function is in operation as intended.

Volkswagen Polo Warning lights

Red warning lights

AdBlue has run out. The car will not start until this has been refilled.

Airbag system fault. The airbag may fail to deploy in the event of an accident.

Bonnet open. Check to see that the bonnet is closed correctly. If the light remains on, consult a dealership.

Boot lid open. Check to see that the boot lid is closed. If the light remains on, consult a dealership.

Brake system fault. Check to see that the handbrake is not engaged. This light also indicates low brake fluid. If the handbrake is off and fluid level is within the limits and the light remains on, consult a dealership.

Doors ajar. Check to see that the doors are all closed properly.

Electronic parking brake engaged. Disengage the parking brake.

Engine cooling level. The vehicle is overheating. Stop the car immediately and switch it off. Check the coolant level once it is safe to do so.

Engine oil pressure. Oil pressure has dropped. Switch off the car immediately and do not restart it. Oil may need to be added. Check oil level.

Front Assist. The collision warning system has detected an obstruction. Brake or take evasive action.

Ignition switch fault. Do not switch off the car as you may not be able to restart it. An amber warning indicates that dealership attention is required.

Power Steering fault. Switch the car off, wait 30-seconds and restart the car If the light remains illuminated, consult your dealership.

Seat belt warning. A seatbelt is not done up or is faulty. Check to see that all passengers are buckled up.

Steering lock malfunction. Do not drive the car if the light is red. And amber light requires dealership attention.

Charging system fault. There is a fault with the alternator and the battery power is low. The vehicle may not restart or may die without warning.

Amber Warning Lights

Adaptive cruise control fault. ACC is not available. The sensor may be blocked. Switch the car off and back on to see if the fault persists.

Adaptive light system fault. Headlights will not dip automatically. Regular, dipped beams will still work though.

Adaptive suspension fault. No action is required. Contact your dealership.

Passenger airbag. The passenger airbag is disabled or faulty. Consult with your dealer.

Airbag and seatbelt system fault. There is a fault in the Supplementary Restraint System (SRS). Consult with a dealer.

Air suspension fault. The vehicle’s handling may be compromised. Drive carefully and consult a dealership as soon as possible.

ABS system fault. The ABS system has a fault and ABS and/or ESP may not work as intended. Regular braking should not be affected.

Automatic gearbox. This will be combined with a message telling you the appropriate action. Consult your dealer.

Blind spot monitor. A quick flash indicates that the system is armed and working. When the light is lit, there is a vehicle in your blind spot. Exercise caution when turning or changing lanes.

Brake lights fault. One or both of your brake lights are defective. Drive with caution and inspect the bulbs when able to.

Brake pad monitoring. Your brake pads are worn and need replacing.

Bulb monitoring. There is a defective or blown bulb on the vehicle. Inspect and replace as necessary.

Diesel particulate filter. Action is required. This may require you to cycle the filter by driving at above 60km/h with the engine speed between 1800 and 2500 RPM for 15-minutes. Also refuel the vehicle if the low fuel light is on at the same time.

Electronic parking brake. The parking brake is faulty. Consult a dealership.

Electronic Stability Program. A flashing light indicates that the ESP has been activated while driving. A solid light may indicate that the ESP has been turned off, or that there’s a fault in the system.

Check Engine. A flashing light may allow you to drive normally while a solid light may see the vehicle enter ‘limp mode’ (a safety system that will allow limited operation of the vehicle) consult with your dealership.

Engine management system. There is a fault with the engine management system. Consult with your dealership as soon as possible.

Engine oil level. A solid light indicates low oil level while a flashing light could indicate a sensor fault. Check the oil and consult with a dealership.

Front Assist. Front assist is not active and will not be able to alert you to potential hazards.

Tank cap warning. The fuel cap has not been replaced correctly. Pull over and check the cap.

Glow plug light (diesels only). The glow plugs are in operation and the vehicle can be started once this light goes off. If the light is permanently lit, consult with a dealer.

Headlight range control. There is a fault in the headlight range control system. Consult with your dealership.

Key not in vehicle. Cars equipped with a keyless start system require the key to be in close proximity. The key has strayed too far from the vehicle.

Lane Assist. The Lane assist system is active but isn’t able to detect any road lines.

Low Fuel. The fuel level is low. Refuel.

Power Steering. Power steering fault. This can be caused by a battery replacement, jump start or disconnected battery. Start the car and turn the wheel to the right and then to the left. Drive slowly for a short period and the light should go out. If the light remains lit, consult with your dealership.

Press clutch pedal. In manual cars, the clutch has to be depressed to start the car.

Rain and light sensor fault. Lights and wipers will still function as normal but will have to be activated manually.

Rear fog lights. Rear fog lights have been switched on. These are only used in poor visibility conditions during the day and not at night.

Recharge AdBlue. AdBlue level low. The vehicle may not start unless the level is topped up.

Recharge AdBlue. AdBlue level decreasing. A refill will be required in the near future.

Tow hitch fault. The retractable tow hitch has failed to engage or retract completely.

Tyre pressure monitor. Check the pressures in the tyres; one may be low. If tyre pressures are correct, you will need to reset the system and save the pressure reading.