What the Cruise Control Symbol Looks Like

The cruise control symbol most commonly appears as a small speedometer icon, often with a pointer or arrow, and it may light up green when active. Some cars simply show the word CRUISE, while adaptive cruise systems add a car icon and distance bars or radar‑style waves in front of the vehicle. Variations exist by brand and model year, but a speedometer motif is the universal theme.

The Classic Cruise Control Icon

In most vehicles with traditional (non-adaptive) cruise control, the cluster shows a stylized speedometer. It’s typically a circular gauge outline with tick marks and a needle or arrow, indicating the system is holding a set speed. Depending on the automaker, the symbol may appear alone or alongside brief text such as CRUISE or SET, and it’s usually illuminated in green when actively controlling speed.

Variations Across Manufacturers

Automakers use slightly different graphics for the same function. The following examples describe how common brands depict cruise control, helping you match what you see on your dash:

• Toyota/Lexus: A speedometer with an arrow for standard cruise; older models may show CRUISE or CRUISE MAIN. Radar cruise variants add a small car with distance bars ahead.
• Honda/Acura: A speedometer or the words MAIN/CRUISE for basic systems; adaptive versions show a car icon with bars indicating following distance.
• Ford/Lincoln: A speedometer with a pointer for standard cruise; adaptive systems add a car and separation lines, sometimes within or near the speedometer icon.
• GM (Chevrolet, GMC, Buick, Cadillac): Speedometer with arrow, occasionally paired with CRUISE; adaptive versions show a car with bracketed distance markers.
• Volkswagen/Audi: A speedometer symbol for basic cruise; ACC introduces a car with lines or a radar motif in front.
• BMW/MINI: Speedometer icon, with SET or the set speed shown in the cluster; ACC overlays a target vehicle and distance bars ahead of your car graphic.
• Mercedes-Benz: Speedometer-style symbol for cruise; DISTRONIC (adaptive) shows your vehicle with stylized arcs or a car ahead to indicate gap control.
• Hyundai/Kia/Genesis: Speedometer for standard cruise; SCC (Smart Cruise Control) displays a car with distance bars and often a green highlight when engaged.
• Subaru: Speedometer icon for cruise; EyeSight ACC shows your vehicle with a car ahead and lane graphics, plus following distance indicators.

While graphics differ, if you see a speedometer icon alone, it’s typically standard cruise control; adding a car and spacing bars indicates adaptive functionality.

Adaptive Cruise Control Symbols (ACC)

Adaptive cruise control adds visual elements to show that the system is managing both speed and following distance. Look for these common cues:

• Car with distance bars: Your vehicle icon with horizontal bars ahead that expand or contract as you adjust following distance.
• Car plus radar waves: Stylized arcs or waves in front of a car, implying sensor-based distance keeping.
• Speedometer plus car: A combined symbol showing the classic gauge with a vehicle, signaling set speed and target vehicle tracking.
• Lead vehicle highlight: A small car icon ahead of yours that turns solid or changes color when a vehicle is detected.

If the symbol shows your car and a target ahead, you’re looking at ACC, not basic cruise. The system often adds lane or steering icons when lane centering is also active, but those are separate features.

Colors and What They Mean

Instrument cluster colors help you understand whether cruise is available, on, or actively controlling speed. Here’s how colors are typically used:

• White or gray: System is on or available but not set to a speed.
• Green: Cruise control is engaged and actively maintaining the set speed.
• Amber/yellow/orange: A warning or fault; the system may be limited or unavailable (for example, due to a sensor issue on ACC).
• Flashing green/amber: Transitional state or alert, such as canceling due to braking or losing a target vehicle with ACC.
• Red: Usually not the cruise icon; more often a forward-collision warning or brake alert separate from cruise control.

Color conventions can vary slightly, but green is the near-universal indicator for active control, while amber suggests caution or a limitation.

Related Indicators and Text

Alongside the main symbol, you may see brief text or auxiliary icons that clarify what cruise control is doing:

• CRUISE or MAIN: Indicates the system is switched on but not engaged at a specific speed.
• SET: Confirms a speed has been stored and is being maintained.
• Speed readout: The set speed displayed numerically in the cluster or head-up display.
• Distance or gap icon: On ACC, shows the following distance setting (often adjustable via steering-wheel buttons).

These extras help you tell the difference between simply turning the system on and actually engaging it to hold a speed and distance.

When the Symbol Is Missing or Different

Some older cars only show text (CRUISE) without the speedometer icon, while a few modern digital clusters present cruise status within a driver-assist view rather than as a standalone symbol. Motorcycles and heavy vehicles may use brand-specific icons. If your display looks unfamiliar, check the instrument cluster section of your owner’s manual for icon definitions.

Quick Identification Tips

If you’re trying to confirm whether a dash icon is cruise control, use these quick checks:

• Look for a speedometer shape; that’s the most consistent visual cue.
• Check color: green usually means it’s actively controlling speed.
• For ACC, find a car icon with distance bars or radar waves in front.
• Press the cruise button; the icon should appear or change state if you’ve found the right symbol.
• Compare with the legend in your vehicle’s manual to confirm.

These steps generally distinguish cruise control from other driver-assistance icons like lane keep or collision warnings.

Summary

The cruise control symbol typically resembles a speedometer, often with a pointer or arrow, and lights green when actively holding speed. Some vehicles spell out CRUISE, while adaptive systems add a car icon plus distance bars or radar waves to show following control. Colors indicate status—white for ready, green for engaged, amber for limited or fault—and auxiliary text like SET confirms a stored speed. When in doubt, consult your vehicle’s manual to match the exact icon used in your cluster.

What does the Adaptive Cruise Control icon look like?

The Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) symbol is generally a speedometer icon with a car and often an arc or lines indicating the following distance in front of it. While the exact design varies by manufacturer, the presence of a vehicle icon is a common feature that differentiates it from standard cruise control. The symbol’s color also indicates its status: a white symbol typically means the system is ready, while a green symbol shows it’s actively maintaining the set speed and following interval.
 
Key features of the ACC symbol:

• Vehicle icon: Opens in new tabThe presence of a car in the symbol is the defining characteristic of ACC, distinguishing it from basic cruise control. 
• Following distance indicators: Opens in new tabSome ACC symbols include lines or bars to represent the set following distance to the vehicle ahead. 
• Color changes: Opens in new tabThe color of the icon changes to reflect the system’s status, such as white for active but not yet following, and green when actively maintaining speed and distance. 
• Color variations: Opens in new tabThe warning light or symbol for ACC can vary by manufacturer, with some using yellow or red to indicate system issues or standby mode. 

How to interpret the symbol:

1. Appearance: When you turn on ACC, a white icon, which may look like a speedometer with a car on top, appears in your instrument cluster or on the Head-Up Display (if your vehicle has one). 
2. Activation: The symbol turns green once you set a cruise speed and a following interval, confirming that the system is active and maintaining both the set speed and a safe following distance. 
3. Status changes: The icon will change or a message will appear to inform you when the system is on standby, unavailable, or if there’s a malfunction, such as a blocked sensor. 

How do I check if my car has cruise control?

To check if your car has cruise control, look for buttons or a stalk on your steering wheel or steering column with symbols like “CRUISE,” “SET,” “RES,” or a speedometer icon. If you find these, you can then consult your car’s owner’s manual to learn how to activate and use the specific system. 
Steps to Check for Cruise Control

1. Inspect the steering wheel and column: Opens in new tabLook for any buttons or a lever on the steering wheel itself or on the steering column, which is the part of the steering column that connects the wheel to the dashboard. 
2. Identify cruise control buttons: Opens in new tabThe controls will often be labeled with words like “CRUISE,” “SET,” “RES” (resume), or “CANCEL”. A speedometer icon is also a common indicator. 
3. Check the owner’s manual: Opens in new tabIf you’re unsure, the most reliable method is to check your car’s owner’s manual, which will detail all the features your car is equipped with. 

What to Look For

• Steering Wheel Buttons: Opens in new tabMany cars have buttons on the steering wheel for controlling cruise control. 
• Stalk Lever: Opens in new tabSome older vehicles or specific models might have a stalk or lever on the steering column, similar to a turn signal or windshield wiper control. 
• Adaptive Cruise Control: Opens in new tabSome modern vehicles also feature adaptive cruise control, which uses radar or cameras and may have a different set of controls or indicators. 

If you find these features, your car likely has cruise control. You can then refer to your owner’s manual to find the specific instructions for your vehicle’s system.

What button is cruise control?

The button for cruise control is typically found on the right-hand side of the steering wheel or sometimes on a stalk on the steering column. It’s often a single button labeled ON/OFF or DRIVE ASSIST to activate the system, and it’s accompanied by other buttons for SET, RESUME, CANCEL, and +/- to control speed. When active, a cruise control indicator will light up on the dashboard.
 
Where to Find the Controls

• Steering Wheel: Opens in new tabMost modern vehicles have cruise control buttons directly on the steering wheel, usually on the right side. 
• Steering Column Stalk: Opens in new tabIn some cars, you’ll find a separate lever or stalk, often near the windshield wiper controls, that manages the cruise control system. 

Common Cruise Control Buttons

• ON/OFF or DRIVE ASSIST: To turn the cruise control system on or off. 
• SET: To set the vehicle to the current speed. 
• +/- (Plus/Minus): To increase or decrease the set speed, often in 1-mph increments. 
• RESUME: To return the vehicle to the last set speed. 
• CANCEL: To temporarily disengage the cruise control without shutting off the entire system. 

How to Use Cruise Control

1. Turn On: Press the ON/OFF or DRIVE ASSIST button to activate the system. 
2. Set Speed: Accelerate to your desired speed, then press the SET button to engage cruise control. 
3. Disengage: Press the CANCEL button, tap the brake pedal, or, in a manual car, depress the clutch pedal to disengage the system. 
4. Resume: To return to your set speed, press the RESUME button. 

What is the cruise control symbol?

The cruise control symbol is a speedometer with an arrow, or a car icon within a speedometer. For standard cruise control, it usually lights up green to show the system is active and has set a speed, or is white/yellow when active but not set. In contrast, adaptive cruise control often displays a car icon with a smaller vehicle or arc in front of it, indicating it maintains a safe distance from the vehicle ahead. The exact appearance and color indicators can vary by manufacturer.
 
Standard Cruise Control Symbol

• Appearance: A speedometer with an arrow or pointer. 
• Color: Green often means the system is on and has set a speed, while a yellow or amber light indicates it’s enabled but not set, or there’s a system issue. 

Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) Symbol

• Appearance: Often a speedometer with a vehicle icon on top, or an arc with a triangle pointing through it, sometimes with a car icon near it. 
• Function: The car icon indicates the system is in adaptive mode, automatically adjusting speed to maintain a safe distance from the car in front. 
• Color: A white icon might mean the system is maintaining the set speed, while a grey or white symbol could show it’s on standby or unavailable. 

What to Do If You See an Orange/Yellow Light

• Standby Mode: If you’ve turned on cruise control but haven’t set a speed, the light will typically be amber or yellow, according to YourMechanic. 
• System Warning: A flashing or steady orange light can signal a problem with the system, says Jerry. 
• Next Steps: Check your owner’s manual for specific instructions, or contact a mechanic if the light persists, as it could indicate an electrical or sensor issue.