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Collision Warning and Intervention

Collision warning and intervention systems in the news. In August of 2022, six leading organizations that are committed to consumer safety and education — AAA, Consumer Reports, J.D. Power, National Safety Council, PAVE, and SAE — came together to develop the standardized naming conventions for Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS) technologies.

This post addresses Collision Warning and Collision Intervention System and Malfunction Indicators, a subset of ADAS. We address them directly below.

The newly recommended naming conventions are simple, specific, and based on system functionality. We have advocated for these changes for years and welcome them, but we will continue to include the old names where necessary.

Unfortunately the absolutely outlandish number of indicators used are not addressed! And the list continues to grow…

Further, it is important to note that the organizations are only asking automakers to adopt the standardized terminology, a move that would go a long way in reducing reduce consumer confusion about the intent and functionality of these systems. We’ll do our best to help here and in other posts.

PCS stands for Pre Collision, or Crash, System. FCW stands for Forward Collision Warning System. Another is CMBS or Collision Mitigation Brake System. Yet another is the very awkward sounding Pre-safe Seat Belt (PSB) system. This one has a warning image in the message center in gray scale, like the seated figure shown to the right, along with a text warning. How about Panic Brake Assist (PBA), Forward Emergency Braking (FEB), Predictive Forward Collision Warning (PFCW) or Smart Brake Support (SBS)? They play in the same ball park, but don’t have their own text symbols!

• Before continuing, is one of these truly your symbol?? If yes, then read on below. 
• Otherwise, you can return to our main Text Symbols page and scan again!

The end result is yet another advanced system that has managed to resist finding a standardized name. The systems discussed here use radar while others use cameras, which can be found here.

These systems, and those that follow, are all moving in the direction of automatic braking, which all manufacturers have promised to install in all passenger vehicles by roughly 2020.

Regardless of name or acronym, the systems, if fitted, minimize the risk of injury if a crash becomes unavoidable. The vehicle will alter its suspension and brake settings (apply the brakes) and the front seat belts are tightened. If one of these indicator symbols is shown on your instrument cluster, it indicates a problem with the system and the vehicle should be taken to your dealer or authorized repair facility.

A more recent addition is this Emergency Steering Warning Light indicator, and is part of Forward Collision-Avoidance Assist (FCA). The system is intended to assist steering — and hence the steering wheel — to aid in avoiding a collision with an oncoming vehicle from the front or the side or if a pedestrian or other obstacle is detected. It will be seen in yellow/amber/orange when all or part of FCA is disabled or malfunctioning. It will blink in red when steering assistance is required.

Another recent (2024) addition is this Pre-Collision Assist indicator. Pre-collision assist detects and warns of approaching hazards in the road and provides multiple levels of assistance to help avoid a collision if you are rapidly approaching another stationary vehicle, a vehicle traveling in the same direction, or a pedestrian or cyclist in your path. The system offers an alert first, then brake support and automatic emergency braking, if needed.

The image with the line drawn through it says that the system is malfunctioning. Continue on for additional information regarding system problems.

Many More Versions

The images here are of a Collision Warning System active and another with the word OFF added, meaning the system has been deactivated. They are seen as a car in a lane with wavy lines radiating away in four directions. And the word OFF in the one case, all in red.

It is important to note that many systems can only warn of a potential collision audibly and take no active measures to protect you. Check your owners manual carefully. And regardless of whether the system is active or not, it should never be relied upon to avoid a collision without the driver’s help!

This symbol is a Rear Collision Warning indicator. While it resembles many of the symbols already seen on this post, it is specifically used to warn of a possible collision from behind. The difference is that the car in front is seen in full and the one behind is only partially visible. The roles are reversed in collision warnings with a car in front.

These two are Intersection Collision Warning symbols and warn of a possible collision from the side. They are always seen in red. Oddly, the first image is of the right side of a vehicle and warns of a possible collision on the left. And conversely the second indicator is of the left side of a vehicle and warns of a collision from the right!

A common problem is dirt on the sensors or cameras in the front of the vehicle and often a simple car wash or cleaning will resolve the issue. The symbol to the left showing an arrow piercing the top side of a car is used by manufacturers for what they call the City Safety System to indicate that sensors mounted in the windshield are blocked by dirt or debris.

The first symbol in this set also points to debris blocking the camera at the front of the vehicle, and again a car wash is likely all that is needed. This, and the next two symbols, are the only ones to attempt a representation of seeing. They are also in black and white and will be displayed in the information screen along with a text description of the problem. The image, unlike the next two gives no indication itself of a problem.

These next two do indicate a problem. The first to the left adds an exclamation point and indicates a fault with the forward facing camera. A qualified service shop will be needed. The second, with the line drawn through the car and the radiating lines, indicates that the camera is temporarily unavailable due to its temperature being too high or too low. Camera function will return when the proper temperature range is restored.

These symbols indicate that the Forward Collision Warning system has been turned off. Some manufacturers use the picture symbol with the word OFF, while others add OFF to the system’s acronym. The image symbols are intended to look like cars crashing into each other, and does the job.

The symbol to the left, which adds the exclamation point in the triangle alert and an arrow indicating the direction of travel, illuminates when the brakes are applied automatically, which would be an obvious distraction to the driver at a clearly bad time.

If any of these lights remain illuminated, it indicates a problem with the system that will require your dealer or authorized service center to resolve. The light to the left is a trouble light only. See your favorite service center. And note that if there are any additional illuminated warning symbols, most likely they will need to be addressed first.

These indicators to the left are Front-end Collision Warning indicators, although the symbols show the back-end of a car. The manufacturers use the same symbol for both a warning that the system has a problem or if a collision is imminent. We’ve shown them d, which is used when a potential collision is detected. It may flash red as the condition worsens and/or when the relative speed between the two vehicles is large.

It will illuminate in yellow/amber when associated with the Active Cruise Control system and a vehicle driving ahead is detected. The indicator will flash if the system is not operating properly. In this case, the active cruise control will be deactivated and the brakes will be applied until the driver resumes control by either pressing on the brake or accelerator pedal.

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Remember that only proper service and repair procedures will ensure the safe and reliable operation of your car. In addition, proper safety procedures and precautions, such as the  use of safety goggles, the right tools and the equipment should be followed at all times to eliminate the possibility of personal injury or improper service which could damage the vehicle or compromise its safety.

These posts are for information sharing purposes only, and should not be used in lieu of an OEM service manual or factory authorized service procedure. We are not in the auto repair business nor do we publish automotive service manuals. Nothing we include on these pages and posts has been reviewed, approved or authorized by any vehicle manufacturer.

Technology is always changing and what is current and accurate today may be literally out-of-date and inaccurate tomorrow. And when it comes to the current state of flux in the auto industry, nothing is more true.

Marc Favreau

The author has 25 years of automotive experience and has assembled the most extensive collection of symbols and warning lights anywhere (over 1,000!) and can help you open and start any keyless start car with a dead key fob battery. BA, St. Joseph’s College, ME: MS, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, NY