Updated Editor reviewedBy CarFaultIQ Editorial Team
At a glance
Immediate warning-light answer
This light has two distinct meanings. Flashing while driving means traction control is actively working — the system is limiting wheelspin right now. Staying on steadily means the system has faulted or been switched...
This light has two distinct meanings. Flashing while driving means traction control is actively working — the system is limiting wheelspin right now. Staying on steadily means the system has faulted or been switched off.
Possible system
Brakes
Urgency
Moderate (not yet verified)
Imported default, pending review
Can I drive?
Drive with caution
Drive with caution, particularly in wet, icy or loose conditions, since wheelspin will no longer be managed automatically while this fault is active.
Evidence/confidence
Editor reviewed
Editorial review
If this light appears with brake, steering, airbag, overheating, oil pressure, fuel, smoke, or fire symptoms, treat it as safety-critical.
Short answer
This light has two distinct meanings. Flashing while driving means traction control is actively working — the system is limiting wheelspin right now. Staying on steadily means the system has faulted or been switched off.
SeverityModerateDrive?Drive with caution
Key takeaways
Flashing means working; steady means unavailable.
A traction light with an ABS light usually means one shared wheel speed sensor.
Can I still drive with this?
Drive with caution
Drive with caution, particularly in wet, icy or loose conditions, since wheelspin will no longer be managed automatically while this fault is active.
SeverityModerate
Moderate
Explore vehicle evidence related to this system
Choose your vehicle to see how often owner complaints and official records for it concern Stability & traction control, and in which model years.
This shows records about a system, not whether a particular car has this problem.
Traction control light
This light has two distinct meanings. Flashing while driving means traction control is actively working — the system is limiting wheelspin right now. Staying on steadily means the system has faulted or been switched off.
Common triggers
Normal activation on a slippery surface, shown by a brief flash
A wheel speed sensor fault, which traction control shares with ABS
The system manually switched off, on vehicles that allow it
A steering angle or yaw sensor fault on vehicles where stability control is integrated
What to check
Distinguish flashing from steady — flashing is the system working, steady is the system unavailable
Check whether the system was switched off using the dashboard button
Check whether the ABS light is on as well, which points at a shared wheel speed sensor
Have it scanned if the light is steady with the system switched on
What this light means
This light has two distinct meanings. Flashing while driving means traction control is actively working — the system is limiting wheelspin right now. Staying on steadily means the system has faulted or been switched off.
Possible systems involved
stability
Common triggers
Normal activation on a slippery surface, shown by a brief flash
A wheel speed sensor fault, which traction control shares with ABS
The system manually switched off, on vehicles that allow it
A steering angle or yaw sensor fault on vehicles where stability control is integrated
Check this before driving
Distinguish flashing from steady — flashing is the system working, steady is the system unavailable
Check whether the system was switched off using the dashboard button
Check whether the ABS light is on as well, which points at a shared wheel speed sensor
Have it scanned if the light is steady with the system switched on
Frequently asked questions
It flashes when I accelerate on a wet road — is that a fault?
No, that is the system doing its job. Brief flashing under acceleration on a slippery surface is normal operation.
Why is the ABS light on too?
Both systems read the same wheel speed sensors. A single failed sensor commonly disables both functions at once, which is a useful diagnostic clue.
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