Seeing the warning light on the dash of your Nissan car is not a pleasant experience at all. If you are observing the warning light with the star between two cars (sometimes it also says OFF), it tells you that the collision warning system is off and can't help you avoid accidents, so you must be more careful behind the steering wheel.
Front collision warning light highlights
- Common reasons:radar blocked, software issues, radar broken
- How to fix:clean the radar area, disconnect the battery for some time
- Possible consequences:smart functions won't work
- Priority level:Low
- Can you drive?Yes
- DIY repair:Possible
- Repair price range:$0-$550
So, in this short article, I will tell you why the light may go on and what exactly you can do to fix it.
Also, you may want to have a look at my other articles about the master warning light in Nissan vehicles and the service-engine-soon light. I hope this will help you learn more about your car!
Why is the collision warning system light on?
This light is called an AEB/FEB warning light in the driver's manual. It stands for Automatic Emergency Braking and Forward Emergency Braking.
So, if you see the warning light with two cars and the star between them, it means the Intelligent Collision Warning System is deactivated in your vehicle.
If you own a Nissan car with the ICC (Intelligent Cruise Control system), your AEB sensor is under an extended warranty. There is a service bulletin number NTB19-033a that covers this sensor. It appears that it fails a lot in Nissan cars. As I understand, they will replace it free of charge in any Nissan cars made after 2018.
But the broken sensor is not the only possible reason why you see the AEB/FEB light with the star in your car. Here are some more:
1) Weather conditions
Thick fog or heavy rain may make the sensor malfunction. If the brain of your Nissan gets wrong readings from the sensor, it will deactivate the Front Emergency Braking system. Also, some cruise control features will not work like the car won't be able to keep the set distance from other cars or brake automatically.
2) Sensor is blocked
If there is something that covers the sensor area like heavy snow buildup or maybe some tuning thing, the system may be deactivated due to poor signals from the sensor. The sensor is located under the front bumper, near the right front headlight.
3) The AEB system was deactivated manually
This seems pretty weird to me but Nissan thinks it's OK to turn on the warning light even if you deactivate the front emergency braking system on your choice. Once you do that, the warning light is on and it starts getting on your nerves.
To turn it back on, you will need to press one of the arrow buttons on the left side of the steering wheel. Then choose the "Emergency Brake" section, select "Emergency Braking" and then push the scroll dial to turn it back on if it's currently off.
4) Sensor or wiring issues
Pretty often, the problem is still because of the sensor failure. In this case, you will get at once several warnings and messages. At least, the AEB/FEB and the ICC lights will be on. According to the service bulletin mentioned above, the Nissan technician will provide several checkups and then replace the sensor and calibrate it.
What are the DIY fixes for this light?
Well, there are several things you may try doing to deal with this warning light in your Nissan vehicle:
- Just wait till the weather is better. If the light happens to pop up during harsh weather conditions, just wait. It will most likely be OK after the weather is better.
- Check if something is covering the sensor area. Very often, the sensor area may be covered with snow or ice and it will disturb the sensor from proper operation.
- Check the settings. Using the settings menu in your car, check if the Emergency Braking is activated.
- Check the 12V battery. If you see the warning light with a star flashing before you start the engine, the problem may be with the low voltage of your car battery (however, it's a pretty rare thing to happen).
- Turn the vehicle off and then on again. Modern cars are just like gadgets. Sometimes, the complicated electronics will work well after restarting.
If nothing helps, you may need to go to the dealership. Ask your dealer to see if your car is eligible for the extended warranty covering the ICC sensor. If it is, the technician will do the job free of charge. If not, the sensor will have to be checked and recalibrated. If the sensor is faulty, it will need to be replaced which is, unfortunately, a pretty expensive task.
If you have experience dealing with the AEB/FEB warning light in a Nissan vehicle, please share it in the comments below!
About the authors
The CarAraC research team is composed of seasoned auto mechanics and automotive industry professionals, including individuals with advanced degrees and certifications in their field. Our team members boast prestigious credentials, reflecting their extensive knowledge and skills. These qualifications include: IMI: Institute of the Motor Industry, ASE-Certified Master Automobile Technicians; Coventry University, Graduate of MA in Automotive Journalism; Politecnico di Torino, Italy, MS Automotive Engineering; Ss. Cyril and Methodius University in Skopje, Mechanical University in Skopje; TOC Automotive College; DHA Suffa University, Department of Mechanical Engineering
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