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Warning lights

Tire pressure (TPMS) light

One or more tires is significantly under-inflated — or, if flashing at start-up, the monitoring system itself has a fault.

Urgency:Service soon

Is it safe to keep driving?

Yes, briefly, unless a tire is visibly flat. Check the pressures at the next stop; an under-inflated tire overheats and can fail at highway speed.

Likely causes

  • Cold weather dropping pressure (about 1 psi per 10°F)
  • A slow puncture
  • A sensor battery that has run down (flashing light)
  • Pressures not reset after a tire change

Typical repair cost (US)

$0 – $250

Free air at the low end; a puncture repair or a new TPMS sensor at the high end.

A typical range, not a quote. Actual cost depends on the car, the shop and the fault.

What to do now

  1. Check all four tires against the pressure on the door-jamb sticker — not the number on the tire sidewall.
  2. If one tire keeps losing pressure, have it checked for a puncture.
  3. A light that flashes for a minute then stays on means a sensor fault, not low pressure.