Wheel logo

Don’t Ignore These Brake Light Switch Failure Symptoms in Your Car

Brake Light Switch Failure Symptoms

By Fifth Gear AutomotivePublished about a year ago 3 min read

There are numerous warning lights located on the dashboard of your car that play a crucial role in detecting and warning you if anything is wrong in your car. The failure of the brake light switch is a scary scenario that can pose a safety hazard for you and needs to be addressed immediately.

There are certain symptoms exhibited by your vehicle when the brake light switch fails & you mustn’t ignore it. Here in this article, we will discuss the symptoms associated with brake light switch failure in your car.

Continuous Illumination of Brake Light

One of the prominent symptoms associated with malfunctioning brake light switches in cars is when you get to see the warning light flashing continuously on the dashboard even though you have checked everything and there aren’t any faults in your braking system.

The continuous illumination is caused by faulty internal circuits in the switch that fail to disconnect even when the brake isn’t engaged. Most of the time drivers tend to ignore this symptom and keep on driving only to realize later that they have to completely replace the brake light switch for their negligence which could have been avoided.

The moment you notice that the brake light is flashing on the dashboard and the switch isn’t responding to your inputs then you must get in touch with a certified mechanic immediately to get the switch inspected and remedial measures initiated accordingly.

Car Doesn’t Shift Out of Park

Another leading symptom associated with a faulty brake light switch is when you experience trouble shifting your car out of the park. There are many parks that are manufactured in such a way that it is impossible to shift out of the park unless the brake pedal is pressed.

However, if you are driving with a bad brake light switch in your vehicle then it can play spoilsport with your vehicle. Due to the malfunctioning brake light switch, the interlock mechanism goes haywire and no matter how hard you try, your vehicle just refuses to shift out of the park.

The transmission control module controls the shifting of the gears in your vehicle including that of the parking gear mechanism and when it fails to get any signals then it doesn’t let the vehicle shift out of park. When you are faced with this kind of situation then inspect the brake light switch to ascertain whether the problem is caused due to it or not & to replace the faulty brake light switch.

Illuminated ABS Warning Light

The Anti-lock Braking System (ABS) is one of the most important warning lights on the dashboard that monitors the entire braking system and is triggered due to a failing brake light switch. The ABS is completely dependent on the brake light switch for its efficient functioning and its failure often triggers the warning light.

Besides that, due to a failing brake light switch in your vehicle, the functioning of the ABS also gets jeopardized and this is not at all a desirable condition for driving. The malfunctioning of the ABS will adversely affect your car’s ability to maintain proper traction & balance while driving and applying the brakes.

This is a very dangerous situation to drive in and you mustn’t waste any time in getting in touch with a certified mechanic who with the help of advanced diagnostic tools & equipment will subject the entire braking system along with the brake light switch to thorough inspection and initiate corrective measures as needed.

Brake Light Doesn’t Turn On

Now, the moment you press the brake pedal in your car, the brake lights must illuminate the back of your car. However, if it fails to turn on then it signifies something is seriously wrong and your brake light switch might be the culprit behind the problem.

This is a dangerous situation to get yourself into because the drivers at the back of your car won’t know when you are slowing down or intend to stop your car and it can lead to accidents.

Finally

The above-discussed factors are some of the symptoms associated with a malfunctioning brake light switch in your car. Whenever you face any problems with the brake light switch of your car then don’t take it lightly and get in touch with the professionals to diagnose & fix the issues.

industry

About the Creator

Fifth Gear Automotive

Fifth Gear Automotive is one of the most sought-after high-end cars auto repair and maintenance shop located in Lewisville and McKinney. We are having years of experience in looking after a host of luxury cars like American & European cars.

Reader insights

Be the first to share your insights about this piece.

How does it work?

Add your insights

Comments

There are no comments for this story

Be the first to respond and start the conversation.

Sign in to comment

    Find us on social media

    Miscellaneous links

    • Explore
    • Contact
    • Privacy Policy
    • Terms of Use
    • Support

    © 2026 Creatd, Inc. All Rights Reserved.