Traction Control / ESC Warning
Flashing: the system is actively preventing wheelspin. Steady: traction control or stability control is off or has a fault.
What it means
A brief flash while accelerating on a slippery surface is normal — the system is working. A steady light means the system is disabled (you may have pressed the 'TCS OFF' button) or has detected a fault, often shared with the ABS wheel-speed sensors.
Can you keep driving?
If it flashed on a slippery road and went out, nothing is wrong. A steady light means drive normally but with caution in rain and snow — you no longer have electronic skid protection. Get a steady light diagnosed within days.
What to do now
- 1
Check whether the traction-control-off button was pressed accidentally.
- 2
Restart the car — transient faults sometimes clear.
- 3
If the ABS light is also on, a shared wheel-speed sensor is the likely cause; have the codes scanned.
- 4
Drive gently in wet or icy conditions until repaired.
Likely causes
- • System manually switched off
- • Failed wheel-speed sensor (shared with ABS)
- • Steering-angle sensor calibration fault
- • Yaw-rate sensor or module fault
Typical fix cost
$0 if the system was switched off; $100–$300 for a wheel-speed sensor; $250–$800 for steering-angle or module work
Ranges reflect mainstream US parts-and-labor pricing; your vehicle and region will vary.