Posted on 1/30/2026
Seeing the traction control and ABS lights on at the same time can make your stomach drop. The car may still drive normally, the brakes may feel fine, and you start wondering if it is a sensor glitch or something you can ignore for a few days. The truth is, you can often drive the vehicle carefully, but you should assume the safety systems that help you in slick or panic situations may not be working. Knowing what those lights usually mean and when the situation becomes risky helps you decide what to do next. What ABS And Traction Control Actually Do ABS helps prevent wheel lock-up during hard braking. Instead of the tires skidding, ABS rapidly pulses brake pressure so the tires keep rotating and you can maintain steering control. Traction control helps prevent wheelspin during acceleration by reducing engine power and, on some vehicles, applying brake pressure to a spinning wheel. When both lights are on, it often means the car has disabled these systems because i ... read more