Brake Light Stays On When Car Is Off (Troubleshooting Guide)

Discovering that your car brake light stays on even after turning off your vehicle can be quite confusing. This is especially true if you do not have a clue what causes this issue. However, understanding the cause of the problem and how to fix it can help put your mind at ease.

Brake light stays on when car is off mostly due to a faulty brake light switch or the brake light switch grommet/ brake pedal stopper. A stuck brake pedal and faulty wiring can also make the light stay on.

In this article, we will explore all the potential culprits behind your brake light getting stuck on when your vehicle is turned off. We will also share helpful tips for fixing this issue to ensure your car braking system performance remains top-notch.

Brake Light Stays On When Car Is Off Common Causes

The most common causes for the brake light to stay on when your car is turned off are listed below:

Faulty brake light switch

One of the most common culprits behind the brake light staying on when you turn off your car is a faulty brake light switch.

This switch is used to turn the brake lights on whenever you press the brake pedal and is located near the brake pedal.

However, if this switch is stuck in the “ON” position, it will make the brake light remain in the ON position even after you turn on your car.

To test if the switch is failing, try pulling your car brake pedal up using your foot to see if the brake light turns off. If it does, this confirms that the switch is the problem. Switch replacement is a simple DIY task that you can do on your own.

If you are not comfortable doing the fix, you can let a professional mechanic handle it for you.

Damaged brake light switch stopper

A damaged brake light switch can also potentially cause the brake light to remain continually on.

The stopper is essentially a rubber or plastic part that goes into your car brake pedal. Its work is to push brake light switch to the OFF position whenever you brake.

However, the stopper tends to wear off over time or can get damaged. This makes it unable to push the switch back to the resting position after you release the pedal.

In other words, the switch stays engaged and consequently, the brake light remains continually engaged.

Stuck brake pedal

Your brake pedal may also fail to return to its original potion after you press it down. In this case, you have a stuck brake pedal that may also cause the light to stay on.

As we said earlier, depressing the brake pedal triggered the brake light switch. Therefore, if you release the pedal and it is stuck, it means the brake light switch stays engaged—causing the brake light to remain engaged.

A stuck brake pedal can be a result of corroded brake pedal components or the presence of debris in the brake pedal assembly.

A sticky pedal issue should be fixed as soon as possible. Otherwise, it may cause damage to your vehicle brake pads and rotor.

Faulty wiring

The brake light staying on could also be caused by faulty wiring in your brake circuit system. For instance, frayed/damaged wires and shorted wires can cause continuous electricity flow, causing the light to stay on.

If you have ruled out all the above issues, then you should inspect the wiring connected to your brake light for damages or loose wiring. If you found any issues with the wiring, have a qualified technician fix it for you.

We found this helpful video explaining why brake light is stuck when you turn off your vehicle.

Video:

What To Do If Brake Light Stays On When The Car Is Off

If your vehicle brake light stays on when the car is off, we advise you to disconnect the car battery immediately until the underlying issue gets resolved. This is an important step to help keep the brake light from draining your car battery.

Once the battery is disconnected, then you can go ahead and diagnose your car for the cause of this problem. Below, we have outlined some tips on how to troubleshoot the problem:

• Test the brake light switch: Locate the switch near your brake pedal. Gently pull up the pedal to see if the light turns off. If it does, then the switch is bad and needs replacement.
• Check the brake light switch stopper: The stopper is located near the brake switch so you should easily spot it when testing the switch. If you can’t find it, scan the floor for a plastic stopper that may have broken into pieces. You can fix a broken stopper by replacing it with a new one.
• Inspect the wiring: Ensure that no wiring connected to brake lights has any damages or loose connections. An auto technician should promptly fix any wiring issues present.
• Brake pedal position: Visually inspect your pedal surrounding area for visible obstructions such as debris, floor mats, and other objects likely to limit its movement. Also, try gently pressing and releasing the pedal to see if it moves freely.
• Consult a professional: If none of the above steps helps solve the problem, then you’ll need to take your car to a certified auto mechanic or dealer for further assistance. These professionals have the necessary tools and expertise to diagnose and fix the problem correctly.

Why You Have One Brake Light Stuck On?

In some cases, only one brake light stays on. When this happens, you should check the harness and wiring connected to the stuck-on brake light for any shorts, damaged, or loose connections.

You can also try pulling the harness and cleaning it to see if the problem resolves.

You will also need to inspect the stuck on brake light bulb. Ensure it’s properly seated in its socket and functions correctly. When necessary, replace the bulb with an appropriate type.

Sometimes the filament inside the bulb may become loose on one side and get in contact with power from running light filament. This necessitates the need to change the bulb.

Another possible reason behind this issue is the tail light and brake light cables being swapped. This is the issue experienced by this car owner. This can happen if cable connectors for the light are identical, making you easily confuse them.

If you’re still not able to identify the underlying problem and resolve it, then you’ll need to consult an auto mechanic.

They’ll be able to perform a more in-depth diagnosis of your car, discover the reason the light stays on, and recommend the best repairs to fix the issue.

Is It Illegal To Drive With Brake Lights Stuck On?

Yes, it’s illegal to drive with brake lights stuck on, though it depends on your area of jurisdiction. However, it’s considered illegal to drive your car with brake light that stays on in most areas.

Thus, driving with a brake light stuck on may lead to violation of regulations, attracting penalties and fines.

As you already know, brake lights act as a crucial safety feature as they alert the drivers behind you when you’re slowing down or making a stop. This enables the motorists to act on time and prevent potential accidents.

If the lights stay continually on, they may easily confuse the driver and they won’t be able to tell whether you’re slowing down or not.

This can easily disrupt traffic flow and create unsafe driving conditions on the road. In a worst-case scenario, it can lead to accidents, and you can easily be rear-ended by drivers behind you.

To ensure you comply with your area traffic regulations, we advise you to address the issue of brake light staying on before you can start operating your car.

Get a mechanic to diagnose your car and find the exact reason why the light stays continuously on. The mechanic can then go ahead and resolve the issue for you.

If you’re experiencing the issue where the brake light stays on when the car is off, you may also find our article on oil light come on when I brake helpful. This article provides insights into possible causes and solutions when the oil light illuminates while braking. Additionally, if you’re wondering how long you can drive with your brake light on, our article on how long can you drive with your brake light on offers guidance on this topic.

FAQs:

Do brake lights come on when car is off?

No, brake lights are not supposed to come on when car is off. If they do, it is a sign that you have a problem with your vehicle brake light switch, sticky brake pedal, or issues with the electrical system that requires fixing.

What causes brake lights stay on when car is off Honda Civic?

The most common cause for brake lights to stay on when the Honda Civic is off is a faulty brake light switch or damaged switch stopper. The best solution here is to replace the damaged switch or switch stopper.

Why do my tail lights stay on when the car is off?

Your tail lights can stay on when your vehicle is off due to a faulty brake light switch or stopper, bad wiring, or faulty tail light plug. It could be misaligned, stuck, or damaged, making the lights stay continuously on.

Conclusion

The issue of brake light staying on even when the car is turned off is quite common. The most common culprits behind this issue include a malfunctioning brake light switch, a damaged brake light switch stopper, a stuck brake pedal, or even faulty wiring. In cases when you only have only one brake light stuck on, the problem is usually the brake light wiring or the bulb itself.

When your car experiences an issue with the braking light stay on, we advise you to act promptly to resolve it. The brake light staying on can cause a lot of confusion to other road users and lead to unsafe driving conditions. Follow our troubleshooting guide above to identify the cause of this issue or get a qualified auto mechanic to diagnose and resolve the problem for you.