Traction / Stability Control Light

What it means

A flashing light while driving is normal and means the system is actively preventing wheel slip. A light that stays on means the system has been disabled by a fault, and the car loses part of its protection on slippery roads.

Symptoms4

• The light flashes when accelerating on a wet or sandy road.
• A steady light that does not turn off after starting.
• The ABS light may come on together with it.
• More sliding than usual in corners.

Possible causes5

• Normal system intervention when grip is lost.
• A dirty or failed wheel speed sensor.
• A faulty steering angle sensor or one needing calibration.
• Mismatched tire sizes or pressures.
• A fault in the anti lock braking system, which shares components with stability control.

How to diagnose and fix6

1. If it flashes, ease off the throttle and drive smoothly until the wheels regain grip.
2. If it stays on, check that the system was not switched off with its button.
3. Turn the car off and restart it to see whether the fault was temporary.
4. Check tire pressures and confirm matching sizes.
5. Read the code to identify the responsible sensor and repair it.
6. Have the steering angle sensor calibrated after any wheel alignment.

Repair cost

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

The cause is often a fairly cheap sensor, but control module faults raise the cost.

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

Frequently asked questions