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Brake Lights Not Working

Brake lights that do not come on usually have blown bulbs, a blown fuse or a faulty brake light switch at the pedal; if all of them fail together, the switch or fuse is the most likely cause.

High risk

Fix this immediately. Drivers behind you cannot see when you brake, which greatly raises the risk of a rear-end collision.

Short answer · Why are my brake lights not working?

When you press the pedal, a switch closes and power reaches the brake lamps. If one lamp is out, the bulb or its holder is usually at fault. If all are out, check the fuse and the pedal switch. A faulty switch can also affect cruise control, start-stop and gear selection on automatics because those systems use the same signal.

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Safe checks you can do

  1. Ask someone to check while you brakeOr reverse up to a wall or window and look for the glow.
  2. Check the bulbsReplace any blown bulb with the correct type.
  3. Check the fuseIf all lamps are out, the fuse is a quick check.

Questions that narrow it down

  1. Are all brake lights out?Fuse or pedal switch.
  2. Is only one out?Bulb or holder.
  3. Does cruise control also not work?Brake light switch is likely.

Possible causes

Listed without ranking. Use the questions above to see which ones fit your car.

  1. Blown bulbMost common for a single lamp.
  2. Blown fuseAll lamps out.
  3. Faulty brake light switchAll lamps out or stuck on.
  4. Corroded holder or plugIntermittent lamp.
  5. Wiring faultOften at the boot hinge.

Questions about Brake Lights Not Working

Is the high third brake light required?

In many countries yes, and it is checked at inspection.

Can brake lights stay on all the time?

Yes, a faulty switch can do that and drain the battery.