George
Member
Here are common error messages that may appear on the dashboard of electric vehicles (EVs) and their potential causes:
1. Battery Management System (BMS) Error
Description: Indicates a problem with the system that manages the battery's charge and health.
Possible Causes: Faulty sensors, degraded battery cells, or issues with the BMS software.
Action: Pull over safely and contact your service center.
2. Low Battery Warning
Description: Alerts the driver when the battery's charge is critically low.
Possible Causes: The car’s battery is nearly empty, and charging is required.
Action: Find a charging station immediately.
3. Charging System Fault
Description: Indicates a problem with the charging system.
Possible Causes: Faulty charging cable, broken charger port, or charger communication issue.
Action: Check the charging equipment, try another charging station, or contact service.
4. Electric Drive System Fault
Description: There is an issue with the electric motor or drivetrain system.
Possible Causes: Faulty motor, wiring issue, or sensor problem.
Action: Safely stop the vehicle and contact the service center for diagnostics.
5. Powertrain Malfunction
Description: General warning about the powertrain (battery, motor, or transmission).
Possible Causes: Faulty inverter, damaged motor, or malfunctioning control unit.
Action: Safely pull over and have the vehicle inspected by professionals.
6. Regenerative Braking System Error
Description: There is an issue with the regenerative braking system.
Possible Causes: Faulty regenerative braking software, sensor failure, or hardware malfunction.
Action: Reduced braking efficiency may occur; seek immediate maintenance.
7. Service Vehicle Soon / Maintenance Required
Description: The car requires routine maintenance or has detected an issue that needs attention.
Possible Causes: Sensor checks, software updates, or general maintenance needs.
Action: Schedule a service appointment with your dealership or repair shop.
8. Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Error
Description: Indicates that tire pressure is either too low or too high.
Possible Causes: Flat tire, over-inflated tire, or faulty tire pressure sensor.
Action: Check tire pressure and fill or release air as necessary, or replace the sensor.
9. Traction Control System (TCS) Warning
Description: The traction control system has detected a problem or been disabled.
Possible Causes: Wheel slippage, faulty TCS sensor, or mechanical issues in the drivetrain.
Action: If it persists, have the system checked.
10. Battery Cooling System Error
Description: Indicates a fault in the battery cooling or heating system.
Possible Causes: Cooling fans, temperature sensors, or coolant levels may be malfunctioning.
Action: Overheating can cause permanent damage, so seek service immediately.
11. High Voltage System Error
Description: Problem with the car's high-voltage system that powers the motor and battery.
Possible Causes: Faulty wiring, damaged high-voltage components, or malfunctioning inverter.
Action: Stop driving immediately and contact a professional technician.
12. Brake System Warning
Description: General brake system fault, which may impact brake performance.
Possible Causes: Brake fluid level issues, sensor failure, or braking system malfunction.
Action: If braking feels abnormal, stop driving and seek immediate service.
13. Airbag System Warning
Description: A problem with the airbag system has been detected.
Possible Causes: Faulty airbag sensor, wiring, or deployment system issues.
Action: Get it checked by a professional, as it may affect airbag deployment in an accident.
14. Parking Brake Error
Description: The electronic parking brake system is malfunctioning.
Possible Causes: Failed motor, software glitch, or sensor malfunction.
Action: Use caution when parking and seek service.
15. Lane-Keeping Assist or Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Error
Description: A malfunction has been detected in the vehicle’s advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS).
Possible Causes: Sensor misalignment, software glitch, or camera malfunction.
Action: These features may be disabled until serviced.
16. Steering Assist Fault
Description: The steering assistance system is not functioning correctly.
Possible Causes: Electrical fault in the steering system or software issue.
Action: Steering may become harder; take the car to a service center for a check.
17. Blind Spot Monitoring Error
Description: The blind spot monitoring system is malfunctioning.
Possible Causes: Sensor or camera failure.
Action: Drive with caution, as the blind spot system may not be reliable until repaired.
18. Collision Warning/Automatic Emergency Braking Fault
Description: The forward collision warning or automatic braking system is not working properly.
Possible Causes: Sensor obstruction (dirt or debris), misalignment, or software error.
Action: Avoid relying on these systems until repaired.
19. Battery Overheating Warning
Description: The vehicle's battery is getting too hot.
Possible Causes: Prolonged high-speed driving or charging in hot temperatures.
Action: Safely stop the vehicle and let the battery cool down, then seek service if the issue persists.
20. Gear Selector Fault
Description: Issue with the gear selector, potentially causing the car to not shift properly.
Possible Causes: Sensor or mechanical issue.
Action: Seek service immediately if shifting is erratic.
21. Key Not Detected
Description: The vehicle cannot detect the key fob.
Possible Causes: Key fob battery is dead, or the signal is blocked.
Action: Replace the fob battery or move the key closer to the vehicle.
22. Suspension System Fault
Description: A problem has been detected in the air or adaptive suspension system.
Possible Causes: Leak in the air suspension, sensor fault, or control system issue.
Action: Ride quality may degrade; have the system checked by a service center.
23. Door Ajar Warning
Description: A door is not fully closed.
Possible Causes: Faulty sensor or an actual door not properly latched.
Action: Check and close all doors securely.
24. Lighting System Error
Description: Fault in one or more of the vehicle’s lighting systems.
Possible Causes: Burnt-out bulb, faulty lighting control unit, or wiring issue.
Action: Replace the bulb or seek service if the issue is more complex.
These error messages typically differ slightly depending on the manufacturer and model. EVs with sophisticated software systems will also provide additional troubleshooting information or steps when these errors occur. Always consult the owner’s manual for the specific vehicle in question when you encounter any dashboard warning.
1. Battery Management System (BMS) Error
Description: Indicates a problem with the system that manages the battery's charge and health.
Possible Causes: Faulty sensors, degraded battery cells, or issues with the BMS software.
Action: Pull over safely and contact your service center.
2. Low Battery Warning
Description: Alerts the driver when the battery's charge is critically low.
Possible Causes: The car’s battery is nearly empty, and charging is required.
Action: Find a charging station immediately.
3. Charging System Fault
Description: Indicates a problem with the charging system.
Possible Causes: Faulty charging cable, broken charger port, or charger communication issue.
Action: Check the charging equipment, try another charging station, or contact service.
4. Electric Drive System Fault
Description: There is an issue with the electric motor or drivetrain system.
Possible Causes: Faulty motor, wiring issue, or sensor problem.
Action: Safely stop the vehicle and contact the service center for diagnostics.
5. Powertrain Malfunction
Description: General warning about the powertrain (battery, motor, or transmission).
Possible Causes: Faulty inverter, damaged motor, or malfunctioning control unit.
Action: Safely pull over and have the vehicle inspected by professionals.
6. Regenerative Braking System Error
Description: There is an issue with the regenerative braking system.
Possible Causes: Faulty regenerative braking software, sensor failure, or hardware malfunction.
Action: Reduced braking efficiency may occur; seek immediate maintenance.
7. Service Vehicle Soon / Maintenance Required
Description: The car requires routine maintenance or has detected an issue that needs attention.
Possible Causes: Sensor checks, software updates, or general maintenance needs.
Action: Schedule a service appointment with your dealership or repair shop.
8. Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) Error
Description: Indicates that tire pressure is either too low or too high.
Possible Causes: Flat tire, over-inflated tire, or faulty tire pressure sensor.
Action: Check tire pressure and fill or release air as necessary, or replace the sensor.
9. Traction Control System (TCS) Warning
Description: The traction control system has detected a problem or been disabled.
Possible Causes: Wheel slippage, faulty TCS sensor, or mechanical issues in the drivetrain.
Action: If it persists, have the system checked.
10. Battery Cooling System Error
Description: Indicates a fault in the battery cooling or heating system.
Possible Causes: Cooling fans, temperature sensors, or coolant levels may be malfunctioning.
Action: Overheating can cause permanent damage, so seek service immediately.
11. High Voltage System Error
Description: Problem with the car's high-voltage system that powers the motor and battery.
Possible Causes: Faulty wiring, damaged high-voltage components, or malfunctioning inverter.
Action: Stop driving immediately and contact a professional technician.
12. Brake System Warning
Description: General brake system fault, which may impact brake performance.
Possible Causes: Brake fluid level issues, sensor failure, or braking system malfunction.
Action: If braking feels abnormal, stop driving and seek immediate service.
13. Airbag System Warning
Description: A problem with the airbag system has been detected.
Possible Causes: Faulty airbag sensor, wiring, or deployment system issues.
Action: Get it checked by a professional, as it may affect airbag deployment in an accident.
14. Parking Brake Error
Description: The electronic parking brake system is malfunctioning.
Possible Causes: Failed motor, software glitch, or sensor malfunction.
Action: Use caution when parking and seek service.
15. Lane-Keeping Assist or Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Error
Description: A malfunction has been detected in the vehicle’s advanced driver-assistance system (ADAS).
Possible Causes: Sensor misalignment, software glitch, or camera malfunction.
Action: These features may be disabled until serviced.
16. Steering Assist Fault
Description: The steering assistance system is not functioning correctly.
Possible Causes: Electrical fault in the steering system or software issue.
Action: Steering may become harder; take the car to a service center for a check.
17. Blind Spot Monitoring Error
Description: The blind spot monitoring system is malfunctioning.
Possible Causes: Sensor or camera failure.
Action: Drive with caution, as the blind spot system may not be reliable until repaired.
18. Collision Warning/Automatic Emergency Braking Fault
Description: The forward collision warning or automatic braking system is not working properly.
Possible Causes: Sensor obstruction (dirt or debris), misalignment, or software error.
Action: Avoid relying on these systems until repaired.
19. Battery Overheating Warning
Description: The vehicle's battery is getting too hot.
Possible Causes: Prolonged high-speed driving or charging in hot temperatures.
Action: Safely stop the vehicle and let the battery cool down, then seek service if the issue persists.
20. Gear Selector Fault
Description: Issue with the gear selector, potentially causing the car to not shift properly.
Possible Causes: Sensor or mechanical issue.
Action: Seek service immediately if shifting is erratic.
21. Key Not Detected
Description: The vehicle cannot detect the key fob.
Possible Causes: Key fob battery is dead, or the signal is blocked.
Action: Replace the fob battery or move the key closer to the vehicle.
22. Suspension System Fault
Description: A problem has been detected in the air or adaptive suspension system.
Possible Causes: Leak in the air suspension, sensor fault, or control system issue.
Action: Ride quality may degrade; have the system checked by a service center.
23. Door Ajar Warning
Description: A door is not fully closed.
Possible Causes: Faulty sensor or an actual door not properly latched.
Action: Check and close all doors securely.
24. Lighting System Error
Description: Fault in one or more of the vehicle’s lighting systems.
Possible Causes: Burnt-out bulb, faulty lighting control unit, or wiring issue.
Action: Replace the bulb or seek service if the issue is more complex.
These error messages typically differ slightly depending on the manufacturer and model. EVs with sophisticated software systems will also provide additional troubleshooting information or steps when these errors occur. Always consult the owner’s manual for the specific vehicle in question when you encounter any dashboard warning.