What causes electronic stability control to malfunction?
1) A faulty wheel speed sensor
Usually, the most common reason why the ESC light comes on (and stays on) is a faulty wheel speed sensor (also known as an ABS sensor). Because the electronic stability control system relies heavily on a variety of sensors that monitor the movement and direction of the car, it’s very likely that one of these speed sensors is the culprit.
2) Another sensor related to stability control
There could be an issue with another sensor related to the stability control system. For example, the steering angle sensor is a necessary component of the electronic stability control system. If the steering angle sensor fails, your car’s ESC system will not be able to compare the data from the brakes and wheels with the direction your car is steering. To check this, take your car to a repair shop.
3) Low Brake Fluid Level
Though rare, if the brake fluid level in the master cylinder gets too low, it can disable your ESC system.
Is it safe to drive with the ESC light on? Objectively speaking, it’s not. Driving with the ESC light on is significantly less safe because it means your car’s ESC and other traction devices are not working. This means you are more likely to lose control and not be able to recover your vehicle, which could lead to a more serious accident.
As long as you drive carefully, you’ll be fine, but we recommend taking your car to a dealer as soon as possible if your ESC light comes on.
Is there any reason to turn off stability control?
If you want to drive your sports car as fast as possible on a race track, turn off traction control. This makes everything feel a little better and keeps you from thinking the car is out of control and trying to throttle back on power when you want to go faster through a corner.
Plus, if you’re trying to drift on snow, sand, or asphalt in a drifting event, you should turn off traction control. This allows you to create maximum slip on the rear wheels and put power where you need it. All in all, if you want to have a little fun, turn off stability control.