Symptoms
- Red brake icon (often an exclamation point in a circle with parentheses) lit on the dash
- Brake pedal may feel normal, soft, or low
- Possible pulling to one side when braking
Likely causes
- CommonParking brake left partially engagedThe simplest and most common cause; check before anything else.
- CommonLow brake fluid levelFluid drops as brake pads wear, or from a leak.
- PossibleBrake fluid leak in a line, caliper, or master cylinderLeads to a soft or low pedal along with the light.
- PossibleWorn brake pads triggering a low-fluid sensorAs pads wear, fluid level in the reservoir drops naturally.
- Less commonFailing master cylinderMore serious and often comes with a sinking pedal.
What to do
- Make sure the parking brake is fully released.
- Check the brake fluid reservoir level against the min/max lines.
- Look under the car near each wheel and under the master cylinder for wetness or drips.
- Press the brake pedal firmly and note if it feels soft, spongy, or sinks toward the floor.
- If fluid is low and no leak is visible, top it off with the correct DOT-rated fluid and monitor.
- If the pedal feels different than normal or a leak is visible, do not drive the car.
- Have brake pads and the hydraulic system inspected by a mechanic to find the fluid loss source.
Tools and parts
Brake fluid, DOT rating from owner's manualSearch: “DOT 3 or DOT 4 brake fluid for your car”
When to call a pro
See a mechanic promptly, especially if fluid is low with no obvious cause or the pedal feels off.
Safety
Use caution
If the pedal feels soft, spongy, or sinks to the floor, do not drive; have the car towed and inspected before use.