The Lemon IndexAn ABS light means the anti-lock system has switched itself off. Normal braking usually still works.
Fix soon. Normal brakes usually still work, but the wheels can lock in a hard stop. Get it checked soon.
A dirty or failed wheel speed sensor. Then: a damaged sensor wire or tone ring; low brake fluid.
Owners describe this in 19,928 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Ram pickup.
Cars owners report it on most
Complaints describing this symptom, by model, all years. Raw counts, not a failure rate: popular models get more complaints.
Model years that report it most
| Model year | Complaints | Share |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 Ram pickup | 1,425 | 35% |
| 2003 Ford Windstar | 647 | 43% |
| 2002 Ford Windstar | 593 | 44% |
| 2001 Ford Windstar | 505 | 30% |
| 2017 Ram pickup | 357 | 19% |
| 2000 Ford Windstar | 304 | 18% |
| 2007 Toyota Camry | 281 | 8% |
| 2010 Toyota Prius | 207 | 7% |
| 2008 Ford Escape | 144 | 6% |
| 2016 Ram pickup | 125 | 6% |
| 2012 Toyota Prius | 116 | 16% |
| 2003 Toyota Sequoia | 114 | 17% |
Each row is that model year's record in NHTSA complaints, not the history of any one car. Share = complaints describing this symptom out of every complaint we hold for that model year (shown when the year has 50+ complaints).
Where it makes up the biggest share
2002 Ford Windstar · 44% 2003 Ford Windstar · 43% 2018 Ram pickup · 35% 2009 Volkswagen Golf · 34% 2001 Ford Windstar · 30% 2013 Toyota Prius · 19% 2017 Ram pickup · 19% 2011 Toyota Prius · 18%
Model years with 150+ complaints in our data and 10+ describing this symptom, ranked by share. A high share means owners of that year who complained often mentioned it.
The details
Common causes of ABS light on
- A dirty or failed wheel speed sensor
- A damaged sensor wire or tone ring
- Low brake fluid
- A failed ABS module or pump
- A blown fuse or low battery voltage
General causes, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause with tests before replacing parts.
Is it safe to drive with the ABS light on?
Fix soon. Normal brakes usually still work, but the wheels can lock in a hard stop. Get it checked soon.
Get help right away if the red brake light is on too; the pedal feels different.
Of the 19,928 complaints describing it, 3% mention a crash, 2% say the car was towed, 2% mention a fire and 1% report an injury.
What the complaints show
The parts owners filed these complaints under: service brakes, hydraulic (38%), service brakes (38%), electrical system (20%), electronic stability control (esc) (9%). A complaint can list more than one.
Median odometer reading when owners reported it: 81,058 miles.
Most reports by make: Ford (4,071), Chevrolet (2,584), Ram (2,165), Toyota (2,039), Dodge (1,346).
What owners say it cost to fix
Repair bills owners named in complaints that describe this symptom (brakes repairs): the middle half ran $1,000 to $3,300, typical $2,000, from 324 bills.
Each figure is one repair bill as an owner wrote it in a complaint, not a quote for your car. Prices vary with the part, the shop and the year.
Engine codes that come up with it
C1391 C0020 C1185 C2200 C1256 C1194 C1250 C1198
Trouble codes owners named in these complaints more often than in other symptom complaints. Look up any code →
Related symptoms
Grinding noise when braking Brake pedal goes to the floor Brakes not working Car shakes when braking Squeaky brakes Brake pedal hard to push
Quick answers
What causes ABS light on?
An ABS light means the anti-lock system has switched itself off. Normal braking usually still works. Common causes: a dirty or failed wheel speed sensor; a damaged sensor wire or tone ring; low brake fluid; a failed ABS module or pump; a blown fuse or low battery voltage.
Is it safe to drive with the ABS light on?
Fix soon. Normal brakes usually still work, but the wheels can lock in a hard stop. Get it checked soon.
Which cars have this problem most?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners describe it most on the Ram pickup, Ford Windstar and Toyota Prius. These are raw counts, so popular models rank higher; complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
How much does it cost to fix?
In 324 repair bills owners named in complaints describing it, the middle half ran $1,000 to $3,300. The right repair depends on the cause.
Counts: NHTSA owner complaints whose text describes this symptom (we matched owners' own wording, then read samples to check the matches). A complaint is an owner's report, not a diagnosis or proof of a defect. Causes and advice are general information in our own words, not repair advice for your car. Every symptom · Engine code lookup