Nissan Altima Dashboard Lights

Picture this: you're driving down the streets of Beaver Falls, Aliquippa, and Zelienople when suddenly a light on your dashboard turns on. It looks familiar. You've seen this light before when you turn your car on or when your parking brake is activated, but you've never seen it after you've been driving for some time.

If you're trying to figure out what the lights mean, then we here at Beaver County Nissan are here to help. We've put together this list of common Nissan Altima dashboard lights.

Keep reading to learn more about these lights and what they mean.

Malfunction Indicator Light (MIL)

This orange light that looks like an engine is something you may see for a variety of reasons. Most often, you'll see this dashboard indicator either as a steady or blinking light.

If this light is blinking, it could indicate that an engine misfire has been detected. Should this be the case, it is recommended to see a mechanic to prevent poor drivability, potential damage to the system, and reduced fuel economy.

If the malfunction light is steady while the engine is turned on, three different reasons could be to blame:

• Loose/missing fuel cap
• No fuel
• Emission control system malfunction

If the malfunction light appears because of an issue with your fuel cap or lack of fuel, the light should turn off after a few trips. If, however, everything seems in order after checking the fuel cap and fuel level, this could indicate an emission control malfunction. A mechanic will need to inspect your Nissan Altima to resolve this issue.

Power Steering Warning Light

You may notice that every time the ignition switch of your Nissan Altima is in the ON position, a steering wheel and exclamation mark appear on the dashboard. The light should turn off after starting the engine, indicating that power steering is operational.

You may notice the power steering warning light is illuminated either when the engine is in the OFF position or while it's running. For both situations, you'll still have control over the vehicle, but greater steering effort will be required. Areas you may particularly notice greater effort would be when turning or driving at low speeds.

If your Nissan Altima power steering warning light appears when driving or when the engine is off, visit our dealer's service department for assistance.

Nissan Altima Brake Warning Light

This dashboard light, which could either appear as BRAKE or an exclamation mark inside two circles, functions for both the parking brake and the foot brake.

Parking Brake Indicator (if equipped)

If the ignition is ON and this light appears on your dashboard, check to see if the parking brake is activated. If so, releasing the parking brake should trigger the dashboard light to turn off.

Low Brake Fluid Warning Light

If this light is still on when the parking brake isn't applied, it could mean that your Nissan Altima is running low on brake fluid. If this is the case, it's recommended that you safely pull over and check the fluid levels of your car. If the levels are correct, visiting our service center can help resolve the issue.

Schedule Service Today

There are several Nissan Altima dashboard lights that you may see activate for a variety of reasons. Some lights, like the malfunction indicator light and power steering warning light, will turn on with your car. If these lights remain illuminated, there may be a problem that should be addressed by a mechanic.

Thankfully, for those in the Beaver Falls, Aliquippa, and Zelienople areas, our certified technicians at Beaver County Nissan can help.

Schedule a service appointment with us today!