Parking Brake Light

What it means

The handbrake or electric parking brake is engaged. Driving with it applied overheats the rear brakes and can damage them and reduce braking performance, and on electric systems a flashing light indicates a fault.

Symptoms4

• The light shows a letter inside a circle.
• The car feels sluggish when accelerating.
• A burning smell from the rear wheels.
• A flashing light or fault message on electric parking brakes.

Possible causes4

• The parking brake has not been fully released.
• A seized handbrake cable due to rust.
• A faulty parking brake switch giving a false signal.
• A failed electric parking brake motor or module.

How to diagnose and fix5

1. Fully release the parking brake and confirm the light goes out before moving off.
2. If the car drags or you smell burning, stop and let the brakes cool.
3. If the light is off but the drag continues, have the cable and rear brakes checked.
4. If an electric parking brake light flashes, read the fault code and do not rely on it on slopes.
5. If the light stays on with a soft pedal, treat it as a brake system fault and stop.

Repair cost

In Saudi riyals; the highlighted part is the expected range for this fault.

Releasing the brake costs nothing, a cable or switch is cheap, and an electric parking brake motor costs more.

Prices are rough estimates for common cars at independent workshops and vary with the car and the source of the part.

Frequently asked questions