Quick answer: On a 2015 Fiat 500, red lights (oil pressure, engine temperature, brake) mean pull over and stop as soon as it’s safe. Amber or orange lights (check engine, ABS, TPMS, EPS) mean something needs attention, but you can usually keep driving carefully until you can get it looked at. If two or more lights come on together, treat it as urgent no matter what color they are.
The 2015 Fiat 500 uses a straightforward analog cluster, so once you know what a handful of symbols mean, the rest of the dashboard falls into place. This guide covers what’s specific to the 2015 model year, based on the official 2015 owner’s manual, and links out to full guides for the lights that come up most often.
What’s Specific to the 2015 Fiat 500 Cluster
The 2015 500 was sold with two engines (a 1.4L and a 1.4L Turbo) and two transmissions (a 5-speed manual and a 6-speed automatic), and the exact cluster layout depends on trim. Eco models get a dedicated eco-index gauge where other trims have a standard gauge, while Pop, Lounge, and 500C models use a slightly different cluster face. The warning symbols themselves and their colors don’t change between trims, just the gauges around them.
Several of these lights also pair with a short text message on the EVIC (the small display between the gauges), not just an icon. A loose gas cap, for example, shows a “GASCAP” message rather than lighting a dedicated symbol, and clears once you tighten the cap and press the trip reset button. It’s worth reading the message, not just the light, before you decide how urgent something is.
If you’re trying to match a symbol you don’t recognize, our Fiat 500 Warning Lights guide covers the full icon set with pictures.
Quick Comparison: 2015 Fiat 500 Warning Lights
| Light | Color | Can you drive? |
|---|---|---|
| Oil Pressure | Red | No, stop immediately |
| Engine Temperature | Red | No, pull over and let it cool |
| Brake Warning | Red | Depends, check the parking brake and fluid first |
| Airbag | Red | Yes, but get it fixed right away |
| Check Engine (MIL) | Amber | Yes if steady, no if flashing |
| ABS | Amber | Yes, but you lose anti-lock assist |
| TPMS | Amber | Yes, just check tire pressure |
| EPS (Power Steering) | Amber | Yes, but steering gets heavier |
| Generic Warning (triangle) | Amber | Depends on the paired message |
Red Warning Lights on the 2015 Fiat 500
Oil Pressure Warning Light
Comes on when oil pressure drops too low to properly lubricate the engine. Stop as soon as it’s safe and check the oil level before driving farther. Continuing on low oil pressure can seize an engine within minutes. See our Fiat 500 oil warning light guide for what to check next.
Engine Temperature Warning Light
Comes on when the engine is overheating, whether or not the gauge itself shows “H”. The 2015 manual’s sequence: pull over, turn off the A/C if it’s running, shift to neutral and idle, and if the temperature doesn’t drop, shut the engine off and call for a tow. Never open a hot cooling system while it’s under pressure. Full details in our Fiat 500 temperature warning light guide.
Brake Warning Light
Normal if it’s lit because the parking brake is engaged with the ignition on. If it stays lit with the parking brake fully released, it usually points to low brake fluid or a fault in the brake system, worth checking before driving much further. See the Fiat 500 brake warning light page for the full breakdown.
Airbag Warning Light
Should flash briefly, about 4 to 8 seconds, at startup, then go off. If it doesn’t come on during that check, stays on afterward, or lights up while driving, the airbag system has a fault and may not deploy properly in a crash, worth a prompt dealer visit even though the car is still drivable. See Fiat 500 airbag warning light for more.
If the airbag warning light stays on, it is also worth checking whether your vehicle has any open safety recalls. You can search your VIN using the NHTSA recall lookup.
Amber and Orange Warning Lights
Check Engine Light (Malfunction Indicator Light)
Fiat calls this the MIL in the 2015 manual. A steady MIL means the engine control system flagged something and wants a diagnostic scan soon. A flashing MIL is more serious, usually a misfire that’s actively damaging the catalytic converter, and continuing to drive on it can turn a sensor problem into a costly exhaust repair. Our Fiat 500 check engine light guide covers the codes that show up most.
ABS Light
Means the anti-lock braking system isn’t active, not that your brakes don’t work. Regular braking still functions, you just lose anti-lock assist during a hard stop or on a slippery surface, worth getting scanned soon, especially before winter. Details here: Fiat 500 ABS warning light.
TPMS (Tire Pressure) Light
Means at least one tire has dropped below the recommended pressure. Add air to the number on the driver’s door jamb, not the max pressure on the tire’s sidewall. The light typically clears on its own after driving above 15 mph for up to about 20 minutes, once the sensors register the new pressure. More in our Fiat 500 TPMS light guide.
EPS (Electric Power Steering) Light
Means the electric power steering has a fault. Steering still works, you just lose the power assist, so the wheel gets noticeably heavier, especially when parking or moving slowly. Full guide: Fiat 500 EPS power steering light.
Generic Warning Light (Triangle with Exclamation Point)
Fiat’s catch-all indicator. What it means depends on the message next to it on the EVIC, anything from a door not fully closed to a hill-start-assist fault. Check the Fiat 500 triangle warning light guide to match the message to the fix.
What to Check First
Before assuming the worst, run through this whenever a light comes on:
- Read the EVIC message next to the icon, it often narrows down the problem before you open the hood
- Check the oil level and coolant level if a red light is involved
- Check all four tire pressures if it’s the TPMS light
- Note whether the light is steady or flashing, since flashing almost always means stop sooner
- Note whether anything else changed at the same time, a smell, a noise, a handling difference
Can You Reset the Warning Lights Yourself?
Only one 2015 Fiat 500 light has an official manual reset, the oil change reminder. To clear it: turn the ignition to ON without starting the engine, press the accelerator pedal fully and slowly three times within 10 seconds, then turn the ignition back to OFF/LOCK.
Every other light, check engine, ABS, airbag, brake, EPS, is tied to an actual fault. Clearing it without fixing the cause, or disconnecting the battery to force it off, just means it returns once the car rechecks itself, and with the MIL, driving on an unresolved fault can make the eventual repair more expensive.
When to Stop Driving
Stop as soon as it’s safe for the oil pressure light, the engine temperature light, a flashing check engine light, or a brake warning light that stays on with the parking brake released. Treat it as urgent, too, if two or more lights come on together, especially a charging or battery warning alongside anything else, since that combination usually means the electrical system itself is failing.
FAQs
What does the yellow triangle mean on a 2015 Fiat 500? It’s the generic warning light, and the specific issue shows as a short message on the EVIC display next to it, anything from a door that isn’t fully closed to a system fault. Read the message before assuming the worst.
Can I drive a 2015 Fiat 500 with the check engine light on? Usually yes, if the light is steady and the car is running normally. If it’s flashing, stop driving and get it towed, since a flashing MIL almost always means an active misfire that can damage the catalytic converter.
Why is my 2015 Fiat 500 stuck in third gear? That’s Transmission Limp Home Mode. The car’s computer locks the automatic transmission in third gear when it detects a condition that could damage it further, and the check engine light may come on at the same time. It’s safe to drive gently to a shop, but not for regular use until it’s diagnosed.
Why did the TPMS light come back on after I already added air? The system needs to see the corrected pressure while you’re driving, not just when the car is parked. Give it a short drive above 15 mph, up to about 20 minutes, and the light should clear once the sensors report back.
How do I reset the oil change light on a 2015 Fiat 500? Turn the ignition to ON without starting the engine, press the accelerator pedal all the way down slowly three times within 10 seconds, then turn the ignition off.
Bottom Line
Most 2015 Fiat 500 dashboard lights fall into one of two buckets: red lights that mean stop now, and amber lights that mean get it checked soon. Learn the handful of red ones, oil pressure, engine temperature, and a brake light that won’t turn off, and the rest is mostly a matter of getting the car scanned before a small issue turns into a bigger one. For the full symbol reference across every 500 model year, see our Fiat 500 Warning Lights hub.
