What To Do When Your ADAS Warning Light Comes On

It can be unsettling when a dashboard light suddenly illuminates, especially if it relates to your vehicle’s advanced driver‑assistance systems (ADAS). These systems rely on cameras, radar sensors and software to provide lane keeping, adaptive cruise control, automatic emergency braking and more. Modern cars monitor the status of these components and will alert you with a warning light or message if something isn’t working as intended. Knowing what to do in that moment will help you stay calm and safe on the road.

What the ADAS warning light means

Each vehicle displays ADAS warnings differently, but most use a small icon showing a car with lane lines, a camera symbol or steering wheel. An amber light typically indicates the system is temporarily unavailable, while a red light or persistent message suggests a fault that needs attention. The cause could be simple—such as dirt or snow blocking a camera or sensor—or it could indicate that a component has failed or is out of calibration. Consult your owner’s manual for the specific symbol and wording used in your car.

ADAS features are designed to assist rather than replace the driver. As NHTSA explains, driver assistance technologies either warn you of an impending crash or take action to avoid a crash, but they are not a substitute for an attentive human behind the wheel . When a warning light comes on, you should assume that particular feature is not available and adjust your driving accordingly.

First checks to make while driving

If the warning light illuminates while you’re on the move, stay calm. Reduce your reliance on the affected assist function and take full control of the vehicle. Check the instrument cluster or infotainment screen for any accompanying text that might explain the issue. In many cases, the system will tell you it can’t see lane markings or that the sensor is blocked. Turn on your headlights and wipers if visibility is poor, and make sure you are within the lane lines so the camera has a clear view.

Avoid sudden reactions such as slamming on the brakes or turning off the ignition. The core safety systems—brakes, steering and engine—still operate normally even if an ADAS feature is offline. Focus on driving smoothly and safely until you can stop in a safe place to investigate.

Inspect for obstructions and environmental factors

Once you can pull over, check the areas where sensors live. Many forward‑facing cameras sit behind the windscreen near the rear‑view mirror. A film of dust, fog, snow or water droplets in this area can obstruct the camera’s view. Wipe the glass gently with a clean cloth and ensure any tint film hasn’t peeled away or bubbled. Radar sensors are often mounted behind bumpers or behind the car emblem. Remove any leaves, mud, ice or bug splatter that may be covering them. If your car has ultrasonic parking sensors, look for dirt or road grime that could trigger false alerts.

Weather can also play a role. Heavy rain, thick fog, low sun glare or falling snow can confuse sensors and prevent them from seeing the road clearly. Under these conditions the system may temporarily disable itself until visibility improves. In hot Australian summers, heat shimmer and glare can also reduce camera performance, so be patient and take over manually until conditions are suitable.

Restart and see if the warning clears

After cleaning sensors and ensuring there are no obvious obstructions, turn the vehicle off and restart it. Many ADAS errors reset themselves once the computer rechecks the sensors on start‑up. If the warning light disappears, the problem was likely temporary. As you resume driving, remain aware that the system might turn itself off again if the same conditions recur.

If the warning persists despite a restart and good visibility, the issue may be a more serious fault or a calibration problem. A camera could have shifted due to a windscreen chip repair, or a radar bracket may have been knocked out of alignment during a minor bumper tap. Our upcoming article on how minor accidents and windscreen chips can affect ADAS dives deeper into these scenarios. Continuing to drive with a faulty ADAS sensor won’t harm your vehicle, but you won’t have the benefit of that assist feature and may also see messages or chimes that become distracting.

When to seek professional help

If an ADAS warning light stays on after your own checks, schedule an inspection with a dealer or specialist. Technicians have diagnostic tools to read error codes, check sensor alignments and perform calibrations. In some cases, they may simply update the software or realign a camera. In others, a component like a radar sensor might need replacement. Don’t ignore persistent warnings; insurance companies and manufacturers may consider a disabled ADAS feature to be a safety defect.

It’s especially important to seek calibration after any repair that involves removing or replacing parts near sensors. Windscreen replacements almost always require a camera calibration, and even a wheel alignment can affect how a lane‑keeping system interprets the road. When you have modifications like bull bars, roof racks or aftermarket bumpers installed, verify that the shop accounts for your vehicle’s sensors and performs the necessary adjustments. Skipping this step is one of the top mistakes drivers make with ADAS, as we explained in our earlier article.

Conclusion

An ADAS warning light is your car’s way of telling you that a driver‑assist feature isn’t functioning correctly. By staying calm, cleaning sensors and restarting the vehicle, you can often resolve temporary issues yourself. Persistent warnings should be diagnosed by a professional to ensure your safety features are working as intended. Remember that these systems are there to assist, not replace, attentive driving. Staying informed and proactive will keep you safe on the road even when the technology needs a little help.