Dacia Sandero / Sandero Stepway Dashboard Warning lights Meaning
The Dacia Sandero was first released in 2007 and the second, current generation was released in 2012. The Dacia Sandero Stepway with its raised ride height and SUV appearance was released in 2008. Detailed below are the dashboard warning lights for the Dacia Sandero and Dacia Sandero Stepway.
Knowing Your Dacia Sandero Dashboard Warning Lights
The Dacia Sandero and Dacia Sandero Stepway Dashboard warning lights illuminate as symbols and in different colours. If you are unsure of what the symbol means, then take note of the colour.
As a general rule, blue and green coloured symbols are used for informational purposes – to let you know a utility has been switched on. Yellow or amber coloured symbols signal that a minor fault has occurred, something requires maintenance / servicing or that a utility that is on by default has been switched off.
Red symbols are urgent and will require immediate investigation. A red symbol may be accompanied by a chime and may also flash to alert you. A fault that triggers a red warning light can potentially cause damage to the vehicle and may also be a risk to the safety of the vehicle occupants. Some of the dashboard warning lights detailed below require that the vehicle is stopped immediately and to shut down the engine.
The various Dacia Sandero and Dacia Sandero Stepway dash lights are explained below. Each symbol meaning also has the appropriate action to take based on the manufacturers recommendations.
Name: Handbrake / Brake Fault
Urgency: High
Description: The Dacia Sandero red exclamation mark in a circle light is the handbrake or brake circuit incident warning light.
What to Do: If this symbol lights up, first check that the handbrake is not applied. Even if the handbrake is only partially on, it still triggers the light. If the handbrake is not on, it indicates low fluid levels in the brake circuit. It may be dangerous to continue driving – check brake fluid levels immediately.
Name: Malfunction (Red)
Urgency: Critical
Description: This symbol is the Dacia Sandero red electrical malfunction warning light. This lights up as the engine is started but should go out very soon after. If the light stays on or comes on when driving, it indicates a severe malfunction.
What to Do: If the red malfunction light comes on along with other warning lights and a beep, pull over as safely but as quickly as possible and switch off the engine. Do not restart the engine. Arrange for vehicle recovery.
Name: Malfunction (Orange)
Urgency: High
Description: The Dacia Sandero orange / amber electrical malfunction warning light lights up while driving along with other warning lights on the dashboard instrument panel.
What to Do: This warning light indicates an electric or electronic fault. You can continue driving carefully, but you must go immediately to a Dacia qualified engineer.
Name: Toxic Fume / Emissions
Urgency: Medium
Description: The Dacia Sandero engine light comes on when a fault has been detected with toxic emissions. This light may come on steady or flash.
What to Do: The check engine warning light may either illuminate steady or flash:
- Steady – Emissions filter related fault. Contact qualified engineer as soon as possible.
- Flashing – Immediately reduce speed until the light stops flashing. If the light continues to flash, emissions system damage may occur. Have vehicle checked.
Name: Coolant
Urgency: High
Description: Coolant is required to circulate the engine in order to keep it cool. If this light comes on the Dacia Sandero dashboard accompanied by a beep, it indicates the engine is overheating and the coolant needs cooling down.
What to Do: Pull over when safe to do so and allow the engine to cool down at idle speed for 3 or 3 minutes. This may be a symptom that coolant levels are low or that there’s a leak in the coolant circuit. Check levels. Continued driving with the coolant light flashing may result in engine damage.
Name: Engine Oil
Urgency: High
Description: Engine oil is required to circulate throughout the engine to keep internal components lubricated. If there isn’t enough oil, or oil pressure is low, insufficient lubrication may occur. The Dacia Sandero oil light illumining in red accompanied by a beep has two meanings:
What to Do: The oil warning light may indicate low oil level or low oil pressure:
- Low oil levels – Stop as soon as possible and switch off engine. Check engine oil level using the dispstick and add oil if required. Ensure you do not exceed the MAX. marker on the dipstick. Ensure warning light goes out after a short drive.
- Low oil pressure – If oil does not require topping up or the warning light remains on, switch off the engine and do not restart. Arrange recovery. Severe engine damage may occur.
Name: Preheater
Urgency: Low
Description: The ‘glow plugs’ preheating system is for diesel verisons of the Dacia Sandero / Dacia Sandero Stepway only. The warning lamp comes on when the ignition key is set to position M and goes out when the engine is ready to start.
What to Do: If the preheat / glow plugs light flashes when driving, it indicates a fault. A loss of power ‘limp mode’ may be noticeable. Have diagnostic scan to locate fault.
Name: Airbag
Urgency: Medium
Description: For the system to be in working condition, the Dacia Sandero airbag warning light must come on with ignition and shortly go out. If the dashboard light fails to come on at all, or flashes / permanently on when driving, it indicates a fault.
What to Do: Check the passenger airbag has not been manually disabled. There is a switch inside the passenger door. Alternatively, airbag system cables are located under the driver / passenger seats and can become dislodged. Check the connections.
Name: Low charge
Urgency: High
Description: The Dacia Sandero battery warning light should come on briefly with ignition. If it comes on when driving, it indicates the circuit is overcharging or has discharged. Likely faults are connections / wiring, alternator / generator or possibly the battery.
What to Do: The engine is likely to run for a short period of time only. To reduce further discharge, turn off any electrical utilities within the vehicle that are non-essential and make your way to a qualified engineer.
Name: ABS
Urgency: Medium
Description: If the Dacia Sandero ABS light comes while driving, the anti lock braking system will be unavailable. Other lights that are related to the ABS system can also come on at the same time – ABS and ESP for example (see below).
What to Do: Normal brakes will work as usual, but with ABS. Typical faults are ABS sensors, ABS wiring loom, reluctor ring defect. A defective battery can also trigger an ABS fault light. Diagnostic equipment is needed. If the ABS light and BRAKE light come on together, it indicates a fault with the braking system.
Name: Immobiliser
Urgency: Medium
Description: The Dacia Sandero engine immobiliser light will flash if the vehicle fails to recognise the coded ignition key.
What to Do: Use the second key supplied with the vehicle or replace the batteries inside the coded ignition key. If the light still flashes, there may be a fault in the system that required fixing.
Name: ESP
Urgency: Medium
Description: This is the Dacia Sandero Electronic Stability Program (ESP) and Traction Control System / understeer control (ASR) dash light. During critical driving conditions; avoiding an obstacle, loss of tyre traction on a bend for example, these systems begin working to help maintain stability. There are two instances where this light comes on:
What to Do: The ESP warning light may illuminate constantly or flash:
Always on – A fault has been detected with the ESP / ASR system, it is no longer operational and requires servicing.
Flashing – ESP / ASR is operational and is attempting to stabilise the vehicle.
Name: Tyre Pressure
Urgency: Medium
Description: Each of the wheels (except for the spare) has a sensor in the inflation valve that periodically measures tyre pressures. The tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) detects a loss of pressure and this dashboard warning light comes on. If a sudden underinflation occurs (puncture) tyre pressure warning light along with the red illuminate, plus a beep. You will need to stop immediately to change wheels.
What to Do: If the tyre pressure light comes on, check pressures as soon as possible and ideally when tyres are cold. Tyre pressures for your vehicle can be located on the inside driver door panel. The tyre pressure warning light flashes for several seconds, then stays on along with the orange light indicating that one of the tyre pressure sensors is faulty or missing. This will also be the case when fitting the spare wheel.
Name: Diesel Filter
Urgency: Low
Description: This light comes on the Dacia Sandero dashboard at startup but shortly goes out. If it comes on when driving, it indicates water in the diesel.
What to Do: Have filter drained of water.
Name: Low Fuel
Urgency: Low
Description: The Dacia Sandero low fuel warning light comes on accompanied with a beep, it indicates that there’s approximately 30 miles (50 km) worth of fuel left after the warning light first comes on.
What to Do: Refuel as soon as possible.
Name: Stop / Start
Urgency: Low
Description: If equipped, The Dacia Sandero engine stop / start system helps to improve fuel economy and reduce exhaust emissions by stopping the engine when the vehicle is at a standstill. On occasions however, the system does not work. The amber warning light will display when conditions are not met for the stop / start system to operate.
What to Do: Find out what these specific conditions are, see Dacia Stop / Start not working.
My dacia sandero hand brake light comes on now and again when applied. The red hand brake light lights up when i swich the engine on then goes out even if the handbrake is still on.. I would apply the handbrake when stopping and suddenly it would light up as that of being lazy.
Sounds like an electrical fault between the switch and the dash light.
my dacia stepway 2019 has had an orange warning light come up today ?electrical malfunction light /zig zag on dashboard.
its 1yr since i brought the car today,is it a maintenance light ?
Hello, no it’s not a maintenance light, it’s a fault light (orange being less serious than red). It’s a electrical fault. Often associated with an engine misfire. Ideally you need to have diagnostics and fault codes read to locate the problem.
I have a Dacia Sandero, and this orange light has lit on my dashboard, 53 weeks after purchasing the car!
Spoke to the dealer this morning, who said not to panic – will be sorted when I take the car in for service in a couple of weeks (earliest available slot).
If there’s no obvious signs that the engine sounds or runs rough, then it should be OK to wait.
Hi,
Did you get the diagnostics? What was the fault?i have the same problem!
Thanks in advance
Hi I have this , I have had green flag out no faults can be found , also had my local garage to have a look and still the same out come , I now have to book it in to a dealer has it still under warranty. But it’s running perfect.
I had almost the same problem,
When i start the car it runs normal without problem and with no warning lights then the
Toxic Fume / Emissions start flashing in orange
Then the
Malfunction light become on in Orange
and car start to have no power.
the diagnose said engine misfire in cylinder 1 & 4.
I changed the spark plugs and the ignition coils and problem remain unsolved.
Can you guide me for solution.
Many regards,
Moataz
This light is to do with servicing it comes on when the oil counter goes down to zero unfortunately it needs reset by diagnostic device , I hope that is good information for you
You are wrong about the zig zag light in the Dacia Sandero. It is 100% used as a service light/ maintenance light.
It doesn’t say that in the manual.
If the amber zig zag light is on with another amber light that means there is a problem and should be taken to garage
Yes thats correct the car and the spanner come on first right hand side letting you know it needs a service, this can be reset by yourself. The orange zig zag line on the left comes on approximately 1 week later it is a second attempt to get your car serviced.
You can not reset this orange zig zag line as it needs a diagnostic appliance.
If the amber light is on along with another amber light this indicates a fault and should be checked out.
*
My Sandero is a 68 plate and went in for service and MOT on Monday which it passed but on the return of my vehicle the orange box with zigzag was on so I asked the mechanic why. His reply don’t know you need to take to a diagnostic /electrical specialist. My neighbour has a diagnostic appliance so he plugged it in and it read No Codes and No Pending Codes so what do I do know? Paid £200 for service & MOT and the only light that was coming on before it went in was the car /spanner light!!
Just had this come on my dashboard as well. Same as stated mines 2019 also. Cant get checked out due to this lockdown at the moment.
Their is not an electrical problem at all it’s a con for you to be charged a diagnostic fee of £120 all it needs is it’s first service as I have just taken mine in today and that’s what I was told so no need to panic it’s nothing electrical
As said, in orange it’s a con, it’s the service light telling you that the service is due
Manual says that the orange electric warning light comes up along with the wrench icon (which appears when you start your car) to let you know that your oil change interval came. So, no, it’s not an electrical fault, just need to service your car.
YES it is. It comes on every year on the anniversary of its purchase. It is intended to send you running to a dealership to have it serviced. It can only be removed by a garage that has the appropriate programme and, if it doesn’t need a service they can charge for removing it. I would encourage all owners who experience this problem to write to Dacia and complain. Service Spanner can be removed by yourself. Thanks
Box with zigzag is as follows
Red this turns of as engine starts if it stays on you have a fault
Orange is just a oil service light that can be turned off by any vehicle diagnostics ( as long as they have rRenault software or their software covers Renault
The box with a zigzag glows red then orange this tells you that you do not have an engine or electrical fault but Dacia Renault cleverly incorporates an oil light reminder to fool you in to taking it into one of their service centers a kind of cash cow
Unfortunately I have located the wire that goes to the orange light and now just the red light comes on and goes out
Effectively removing the oil service light operation
YES it is. It comes on every year on the anniversary of its purchase. It is intended to send you running to a dealership to have it serviced. It can only be removed by a garage that has the appropriate programme and, if it doesn’t need a service they can charge for removing it. I would encourage all owners who experience this problem to write to Dacia and complain. Service Spanner can be removed by yourself. Thanks
Yes,it’s happen to me. Need service.
As did ours. It is poking you to get it serviced. But if it doesn’t need one you can go to some garages and they will remove it, but one year on it will come back. Very annoying feature. Hope that helps.
Only bought my dacia sander march last year and yesterday an electrical fault light came on in orange. My dealership is closed what do I do
Hi Rachel,
If the warning light is orange and your Dacia is still running, you could continue to use your vehicle for short, limited journeys until restrictions are lifted, or use public transport / taxis if that’s an option. With current government restrictions, there’s not much else you can do unfortunately.
my dacia is 13 months old too and this same amber warning light came on today, its missed its schedule service because of lock down , i am a nurse so am still working, just going to plod on with it and see how it goes , nothing else for it, as if we dont have enough to deal with currently , if i knew for sure it was just on because it missed a service id relax a little
Its telling you the car needs a service, on the old Sandero you could turn it off but not on the new one.
Dacia are forcing us to service our cars with them, This is my 3rd Dacia and love them, but because of this issue I will never buy again.
Hi
Can you tell us how to switch off the amber light ,google only shows the newer models .
Thanks
Marius
I bought my sandero a year ago tonorrow. I too had an orange light start today. Seeing all these posts I think it must be annual service due but it would be great to know 100% and also why cant they warn you about this? I am a keyworker too dealership closed and its making me nervous!
Check your dealers website as some service areas are open for key workers
Hi My 2013 Dacia has the electric warning light in orange but also a loss of power steering. It is not fuse 24 (handbook said power steering). It only happened after a battery change 2 weeks ago. Any ideas? Thank you…
Hi Ross,
Did you test the alternator?
Hi Ross I have the same problem. It occurred after some issue with electrics on a damp night. Got car going again but power steering issue remains. How did your resolve your issue?
Cheers
Hi I have just bought a 2015 Sandero Stepway manual 0.9 Tce with stop start. The stop start has never activated but I also have never seen the green or amber stop/start lights on the dashboard. Which dashboard dial should they appear in and approx. at which clock position? Have let it warm-up, no air-con, gear-stick neutral, clutch up so don’t know if a bulb has blown?
Hi Sue,
The start / stop symbols should appear in the digital display panel on the dial to the right on your instrument cluster. There are many checks that your Sandero goes through to implement auto stop, but the usual reason auto stop doesn’t occur is usually battery related. As batteries get older, they become less efficient at holding charge. Might be worth getting your battery tested, or if you have a battery charger or can borrow one, leave it on charge overnight and see if that helps with start stop. Frequent short journeys in your car also don’t allow the battery to properly charge.
Hi
Thanks for the rapid response – I will give charging the battery a go
I know recent mileage has been much lower than previous years so hopefully charging will perk it up enough otherwise I will get it tested/replaced
Sue
Bought new Sandero July 2019, 600 miles later both orange and red ziggies lit while on motorway. Couple of miles later both went out. Reported to dealer following day, they said OK if they’ve gone out??? Today, 12th AUG 2020 orange ziggy came on. Went to dealer, they say it needs a service, probably Pollen filter needs replacing? Strange, NO air con in the car? 2124 miles on clock. It’s going in next week for “Service” and oil and filter change (my request), we’ll see if the stench of Bovine Excreta is prevalent in the cab when I collect it.
Ian.
Dacia stepway sandero preheated symbol lights up bright and stays on then the steering goes into limp mode can you help.
Ive got a warning light come up on my stepway today. Only got it 2 weeks ago 17 plate.
Put petrol in for first time and the. sign is 2 dots and a car. Any ideas please
When I start my engine I have a light (next to the fuel) its an orange car & spanner.
Any ideas???
Hi Helen. As far as I’m aware, the car and spanner warning light is a service interval reminder.
Hi my orange spanner has come on with message check your sos (it has gone red) any idea what I should do?
Renault Sandero Stepway, engine light came on, car refused to start from there. Cranks like there’s no compression. Any idears?
Are there any dacia garages around East or north London
Hi Kingsley,
Yes, there’s a few: Dacia garages
Renault enfield
Hi the same thing has happened me too the orange malfunction light came on, my car is a yr old on Thursday the 17th of feb, but I only have 9,952 km on it yet, so I went to where the spanner is visible on my clock and I held the button down till it reset itself and the light went out when it reset itself, so this tells me it’s reminding you about your yearly service
I have a an orange electrical warning light on my Dacia Sanders can anyone recommend an obd2 scanner to buy so I can find the problem
Hi an orange light has appeared on my dashboard it looks like the speedometer and it say limit a little further up I can not find this fault on your site have you any idea
Hi Alison,
Could it be the speed limiter function?
Hi, I have a 2019 sandero 1st service with dacia no problems after, my 2nd service 8 weeks ago with halfords and 2day orange malfunction light came on and stays on along with spanner which comes on but goes of after engine starts any ideas what it means ?
It may just be that they have forgotten to reset the service parameter. Take it back in and they should be able to reset it in minutes
Hi,there is a red warning light “ABS” on my Sandero Steway’,what dies it meanTIA .
The ABS light remaining lit means that the anti-lock brakes aren’t working. This does not affect your normal brakes, though during heavy braking there is a risk of the wheels locking up. Usually an ABS fault is due to a wheel speed sensor.
Hi guy’s. Gt a 2011 Sandero Stepway. Airbag light comes on. Refuses to go off. Did a diagnostic test. Picking up a “BREAK IN CIRCUIT ” fault. Mechanic checked everything but no luck. The airbag on/off switch is working perfect. Any ideas?
Hello ,i am hoping you guys could help me , i have A Dacia sandero stepway model 67 plate and i have a orange warning light illuminated on dash board its the tyre pressure warning ,lamp on how do i clear this from the dash board it is the symbol with a wavy line in a box not the puncture lamp i hope you can understand my meaning
Hi, if you mean the light that looks like a heart beat in s box, that’s the same as mine and is an electrical fault light, I would like to know how to fix that myself. As for the tyre pressure light, that you can get rid of by clicking the button and the end of the wiper arm. When it reads set tp, hold the button in until it flashes. This resets it. Hope that helps regards that light.
Hi I have a sandero laureate 17 plate. Ive had it almost a year now. Just passed mot, service due, but now the electrical fault Amber light is on? I’m concerned after reading other messages that it’s a con and nothing actually wrong with car. I’m a student and live on a really tight budget, I can’t afford to pay out if there’s not actually anything wrong with the car. Advice please?!
Seems I have the same problem. My local garage tried to clear it. They said there is nothing wrong….that they can seen, suggested I get the opinion of an auto electrician.
hi my darcia sandero would not start today no noise or nothing from the engine has a green warning light above the orange battery sign cant find out what this is any ideas thank you
Hi Jean,
Green warning lights provide an indication that a vehicle utility or system is switched on, so it’s unlikely that it’s related to your issue – other than it’s something that has been left running overnight and drained your battery.
My Sandero 2016 has a red zig zag on dash and loss power steering
I have a warning sound and light when I drive over a certain bit of road. There is a dip in the tarmac so the car veers down and up fairly swiftly. There is a single beep and something lights up on the dashboard but it is there only for a second and I cannot see what it is. The sound also occurs on other uneven bits of road – bumps and dips. And no I don’t drive like a madman.
Hi Mark,
Being as it’s rough, bumpy ground, it would likely be something to do with ABS or ESC systems. You may perhaps have a wheel speed sensor that’s not as good as it could be and triggering a fault over the bumpy ground. Or the ESC system is activating. If it’s a piece of road that you drive on frequently, do you have a passenger that could record it on their phone whilst you’re driving?
My stepway 2019 dashboard turns on and off, I can’t see the petrol,speed limit and other things on the right. Then later it comes on again. What could be wrong?
Hi Sthe,
Sounds like an electrical intermittent short. It’ll be a case of checking fuse box, wiring / ground issue.
Hi
I have a 2015 stepway the car hasn’t been driven since Sunday and was fine then. This evening (thursday) the tyre pressure warning light came on and the red heart trace looking symbol in box and stayed on. Is it definitely a fault as when I looked it up it said to not drive as its a severe electrical fault. I haven’t had ot serviced had it 2yrs it’s passed the service date. Thank you
Hi Helen,
Have you checked tyre pressures? If all pressures are at the recommended levels, it’s likely a sensor issue inside one of the wheels. Sometimes when cars have been sitting around for a while, not moving, getting a bit damp, they can throw up all sorts of errors.
our sandero turbo engine light is amber and stays on. what do i do/
Hello Anne,
There are many internal components that can cause the engine light to come on. Usually, when the engine light comes on, a fault code is generated and stored. You can either purchase diagnostic equipment or take it to a garage to use theirs and have the fault codes read. This should point you into the right direction as to where the fault is. You can usually continue driving with the engine light on, but best to get it sorted asap before the problem worsens. If the engine light flashes or if it sounds like your engine is misfiring, get it sorted right away.
We have a sandero stepway 19 plate and we have a orange zigzag warning light what does it mean .
Have just rang the dealership regarding orange zigzag lines on my dashboard, and the dealer ship have said its to do with having a service, worth the phone call.
I have a 2019 Dacia Sandero that has 11300 km on it. At the one year mark from its last oil change, the zig zag indicator in orange and the wrench on the dash LCD appears.
To reset this counter, I simply turn on the car, motor idling. On the right signal lever, use the button on this lever to toggle the dash LCD to see the wrench (if the wrench does not appear constantly). I hold down the lever button until the wrench blinks and eventually the wrench and the zig zag indication disappears. I hope this helps someone.
Hi, the gauge for measuring how many miles are left, in my Stepway Essential, with the remaining petrol shows 5 mile steps. Is it possible to get it to show actual mileage?
Thx
Light for tyre pressure and now a message URGENT has come on
Hi Brian,
First up is to reset the tyre pressure monitoring system. Using the button on the end of the right-side steering column stalk and with the ignition on, keep pressing the button until you see ‘SET TP’. Press and hold the button until the text flashes. The tyre pressure system will then be reset.
Have you had any tyres / wheels changed? Sometimes the sensors is damaged during the process, or tyres / wheels that are not part of Dacia’s recommended specs may also throw up errors. Do all wheels fitted to the vehicle contain a sensor? Also, the tyre pressure monitoring system (TPMS) sensors contain a battery that lasts around 5-7, after which, they need replacing. You may need the sensors testing to ensure they’re all working and emitting data. During testing, you can also see battery status. If all sensors are working correctly, you’ll then need to look at the receiver.
I have 2014 stepway 90tci and I have amber tc and Abs light on anyone help was ok then come out next day and lights on
Hi Simon,
Diagnostics to scan for fault codes would be the first place to start, but if it’s an ABS / traction control ESC problem, it’s usually to do with a bad wheel speed sensor.
Dacia stepway sandero 2016 diesel my preheater lights up stays on and car goes to limp mode,lv’ taken car to garage for diagnostic but fault dose,not show up.
I have a 2013 Sandero 0.9 tce. The red zigzag electrical malfunction warning light is on and the gear change advice lights have stopped working. Does anyone know what might have caused this problem? All other dashboard lights are working as normal and the car is running ok. The rear wiper has stopped working but that might be a separate issue.
Greetings pls my Dacia Sandero 2009 model (stepway) Immobiliser red light is always blinking after parking or switching off the engine. Even if the doors are not locked, the Immobiliser red light keeps on blinking. Pls, what is the cause and the action to take?