Electronic Stability Control: What is ESC in a car?

ESC, or Electronic Stability Control, is a safety system that is almost certainly fitted to your car today. Originally developed and introduced by Bosch and Mercedes-Benz in the 1980s, by the 1990s and 2000s, it was becoming increasingly vital to in-car safety, and in 2014 it was made standard on all new cars, by legislation, across Europe.

But what exactly is ESC? And how does it work? Well, on this page we’ll walk you through all of that, and explain exactly how ESC can save your life.

What is ESC in a car?

ESC — Electronic Stability Control — is an electronic safety system that works on the brakes and steering of your car to keep you from skidding out of control.

How does ESC work?

Different ESC systems will work in different ways, but generally speaking, they will automatically cut the engine’s power to prevent excessive skidding. Some will apply a car’s brakes if need be, and an ESC system can apply each brake individually to help bring an out of control car back into a straight line.

This works to maintain as much grip as possible in the event of a car skidding. This could be as a result of a slippery road surface or accelerating too hard, especially in tight corners. The ESC warning light will flash on the dashboard if the system has been activated.

What is the ESC warning light?

The ESC warning light will flash on the dashboard if the ESC system has been triggered by the car skidding or sliding. It will usually be accompanied by a grinding sound or sensation as the ESC and the traction control system apply individual wheel brakes to bring the car back under control. The ESC warning light is most commonly a small yellow triangle with an exclamation mark inside it, or an image of a car with wavy lines behind it.

What does it mean if the ESC light comes on?

If the ESC light has come on, it means that your car’s electronic safety systems have detected that you’ve been in at least a small skid, or that one or more of your wheels have lost traction and the car has moved off its current trajectory.
It’s entirely possible that the ESC system will activate without you having had any physical sensation of the car skidding, but that’s unlikely — normally the system will kick in just before or just after you’ve noticed an issue.

A brief flash of the ESC light is nothing to worry about — it’s most commonly triggered on wet days if you’ve driven through deep water and have briefly aquaplaned — but obviously if it stays on, it means that you’re in a severe skid and you need to act to regain control.

What does Service ESC mean?

If the ESC warning light comes on and stays on when you start your car, that means that there’s a fault in the system. That might be accompanied by a text message on your car’s dashboard screen which says ‘Service ESC’, ‘ESC Fault’, or something similar.

How to fix Service ESC

Often, a Service ESC light is just a temporary sensor issue, and the good old switch-it-off-and-switch-it-back-on procedure will clear the problem so you won’t have to worry about it. However, if the Service ESC light remains on, then you’ll need to bring your car to a garage as the fault is more serious, and it may require repair work. Don’t ignore a Service ESC light — it’s a serious issue, and you may be putting your life at risk if you drive with faulty ESC.

Which cars have ESC?

ESC (sometimes known as ESP) has been a legal requirement for all cars sold in the European Union since 2014. This continues to apply to new cars sold in the UK post-Brexit as well. Car manufacturers have used the tech long before that, however. These systems have been around since the ‘80s and gained traction (pun intended) in the early ‘00s. There’s a very good chance your car has some form of ESC, even if it’s quite old now.

ESC FAQs

Can I drive with ESC turned off?

Yes, you can, and sometimes it’s a good idea. If you’re on a race track, for instance, a skilled driver will be able to drive faster without ESC turned on. Or, if you’re on snow, you can sometimes get better traction and more momentum by driving with ESC off.

Can I drive with the ESC light on?

You can, and the car will function, but it’s not a good idea, as ESC is a major safety system and driving without it operating properly can put you and others in danger.

Is ESC light an MOT failure?

Yes, as ESC is a mandatory safety feature, so if the warning light is on and the system is not functioning correctly, that’s an MOT failure point.

Is ESC a required feature?

Yes. In 2014, the European Union introduced a requirement that ESC should be fitted as standard to all new cars, and the UK has continued to follow that requirement post-Brexit.

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