If you see the traction control light come on in your Subaru Forester, it might be working as intended to keep your vehicle stable during treacherous road conditions. If the light stays on, though, something in your system is likely malfunctioning.
When you see that glowing light on your dash, you might jump straight to taking it to the car repair
shop—but do you need to? First, you should figure out why your Subaru Forester traction control light is on. We’ve got the most common causes below. Why your Subaru Forester traction control light turns on
If you’ve ever been driving your Forester down the road and spotted that glowing traction control (TCS) light
on the dash, it probably meant one of two things. Either the TCS is turned off—which will be indicated on the light—or the TCS is functioning exactly as it needs to be. Confusing, right? For Subarus, the TCS is part of a larger system called the Vehicle Dynamics Control System (VDC) which includes several other systems that work together to keep your Forester from skidding. The traction control system employs a variety of sensors that monitor how fast and what direction each wheel is going, which help prevent any skidding or loss of traction.
If the TCS sensors notice a problem, they shoot a message to the VDC, which then applies the brakes or increases the engine power to the proper wheel to regain stability. When this happens, you may see the TCS light pop up on your dash briefly. This light looks like a car with wavy lines coming from the wheels.
All of the systems in the VDC—including the TCS, Electronic Stability Control (ESC), Limited Slip Device (LSD), Anti-lock Braking System (ABS), Electronic Brakeforce Distribution (EBD), and brake assist—work together to keep your Forester from losing control. If any of these parts malfunctions, the TCS warning light (or other warning lights) may illuminate on your dashboard.
Let’s look at some of the reasons your Subaru could experience a traction control malfunction
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Temporary loss of traction
Lights on the dashboard are always a little alarming, but your traction control light is supposed to illuminate when it’s working—like when you’re driving in conditions where traction is an issue. For instance, if you’re driving in snow
or heavy rain, your wheels might lose some traction, which would cause your light to go on and off. If the TCS light stays illuminated—or there are other warning lights also illuminated—that’s an indication of a larger issue. If that’s the case, you’ll want to take your Forester to a mechanic to get it inspected
. Faulty wheel speed sensors
One of the biggest reasons your TCS could malfunction is a failing wheel speed sensor. These sensors are located at each wheel hub of your Forester, so they’re exposed to the elements—which lead to wear and tear. If this is the cause, your ABS system light
is likely to be illuminated as well. If these lights are illuminated, take your Forester to a repair shop or Subaru dealership to get the wheel sensors checked out. You may also be able to use an OBD-II scan tool to identify engine codes
related to these sensors. Anti-lock braking system (ABS) malfunction
The traction control system and the anti-lock brake system
are both part of the Vehicle Dynamics Control System (VDC). That means if something goes wrong with your anti-lock brakes, both the ABS system light and the traction control light will come on. Whether you have low brake fluid or a faulty brake pedal position sensor, you’ll want to take your Subaru to the mechanic to get the stability control system checked out ASAP.
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Low tire pressure
Another culprit of that TCS light is low tire pressure
. Your Subaru’s wheel sensors may interpret low tire pressure as a tire traction issue, triggering the TCS light. This could also be caused by a malfunctioning tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS). If your TCS light is on and you don’t see any other illuminated warning lights, you may want to start with checking your tire pressure.
Broken TCS/ABS control module
There’s a chance that the entire control module for the VDC—including the traction control and anti-lock braking systems—can fail. This could lead to your traction control light being switched on. Your check engine light might also turn on if this is the cause.
If the light remains illuminated when road conditions are normal, you’ll want to take your Forester into a mechanic to get the control module checked out.
Traction control system turned off
Your Subaru traction control system is always on. Even if you turn it off
with the button to the left of your steering wheel, it will turn back on after you turn your engine off and on again. Before you take your Subaru into the repair shop, make sure you haven’t turned your TCS system off by accident. If your TCS is off, the light will usually say “off” under the car icon, but that’s not always the case.
Can you drive with the traction control light on?
You can still drive your Subaru Forester if the traction control light is on, but be extra careful when road conditions are precarious.
Remember that if you only see the light when you’re driving in dicey road conditions, it’s working as it was intended! However, if the light stays on, something in the system isn’t working properly—and this could lead to skidding on slick roads. To stay safe on the road, make sure your TCS and entire VDC is working smoothly.
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