Table of Contents

Introduction

Modern cars are equipped with top-notch safety features. Still, it does not mean you can neglect any warning signs that compromise your safety, especially regarding the warning lights on your car’s dashboard. StabiliTrak warning on your dashboard could mean some primary component failure that you must resolve immediately to prevent accidents. This article explains everything you need to know about StabiliTrak, including its primary functions, differences from ordinary traction control, the signs of StabiliTrak problems in your vehicle, and what to do in case of a Service StabiliTrak warning on your dashboard.

Why is StabiliTrak Important, and How does it work?

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A study released by NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) illustrates that around 1949 lives were saved in a year due to ESC features such as StabiliTrak.
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The US federal law has made it compulsory for every automaker to include traction control as a basic feature. StabiliTrak is an advanced type of traction control, and its availability in the vehicle makes it safer to drive.

StabiliTrak is a critical feature in modern automobiles that assists the driver in controlling the vehicle. The primary function of this feature is to keep the car in a straight line despite difficult driving conditions. Many driving conditions, such as snow or muddy road, affect a vehicle’s stability. Despite the efforts of the driver to keep the car in a straight line, the road conditions force the vehicle to fishtail. This is where StabiliTrak comes into play, as it uses sensors to figure out the car’s direction and the steering wheel’s position.

Suppose the vehicle is moving in a different direction than the position of the tires and the steering wheel; in that case, StabiliTrak sensors apply automatic braking pressure to particular wheels that allow the vehicle to straighten out and come back on its original straight-line track.

Although StabiliTrak is a crucial feature, modern drivers understand its importance while driving in slippery road conditions.

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However, many drivers ignore the ‘Service StabiliTrak light’ that blinks on the vehicle’s dashboard. It can be a vital sign of component failure or other challenges.
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Difference between Traction Control and StabiliTrak

StabiliTrak has become an essential feature for modern vehicles. Although many people confuse StabiliTrak with ‘traction control,’ it has more functions than simple traction control. We can start this discussion with the basic fact that StabiliTrak is a type of ‘Electronic Stability Control (ESC)’ that is a type of traction control. So, StabiliTrak is a type of traction control, but not all traction control functions are StabiliTrak.

Let us start with the primary function of control to analyze the difference between the two further. The traction Control System comes into play when a wheel slips, and the system applies the ABS (anti-lock braking system) to divert the power towards the non-slipping side. This power diversion allows the vehicle to move forward without slipping. On the other hand, StabiliTrak performs additional functions to maintain the car’s trajectory.

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The drivers mostly lose control of their vehicle on a snowy or icy road, where StabiliTrak thus applies braking pressure and optimum engine power to avoid slippage and accidents.

The sensors are further used to divert the vehicle back to its trajectory. In short, the function of traction control is to prevent the spinning of the wheels. In contrast, StabiliTrak works to stop a car from going off its trajectory, avoiding any major accident.
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Pros and Cons of StabiliTrak

Technology is not always perfect; the same is true with Stabilitrak. There are some minor downsides when using the Stabilitrak system, but its advantages outweigh any minor performance issues.

Pros
Cons
Prevents Accidents – The major benefit of StabiliTrak is that it analyzes the driving situation and assists drivers in preventing any dangerous situation. It communicates with the vehicle’s active and passive safety systems to maintain its trajectory.Weak Cornering Performance – StabiliTrak does not perform the same way at cornering as in straight tracks. Although this feature detects dangers, it does not prevent a fast cornering accident. So, the drivers should not involve in fast cornering by relying on this feature.
Automatic Brake Application – Another benefit of the StabiliTrak is the automatic braking application. When the vehicle sensors pick a possible loss in control, it applies ABS and optimum engine power. This not only allows the vehicle to return to its trajectory but also prevents it from going off-track.Inability in High-Performance Driving – Another downside of StabiliTrak is that it is not designed for high-performance driving. StabiliTrak functions best when the driver is driving at normal speed conditions. StabiliTrak does not function similarly in high-performance driving at high speed, increasing the chances of accidents.

Signs Showing Fault in StabiliTrak

Many signs in a vehicle’s performance illustrate fault in StabiliTrak.

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The primary sign of a fault in StabiliTrak is weak acceleration. The failure of Stabilitrak is evident when the engine is running, but the wheel does not turn at the same rate as the applied pressure on the accelerator. This instability indicates that StabiliTrak has failed and needs to be replaced.
  • Similarly, an erratic steering wheel can also signify a faulty StabiliTrak. In this case, the steering wheel starts turning itself when trying to steer.
  • Finally, if a car makes strange noises, especially rubbing or whirring sounds, it clearly shows StabiliTrak failure. If your vehicle is showing any of these three signs, you should take it to the repair shop so the professionals can alleviate any issue.
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Why does the StabiliTrak light come on Vehicle’s Dashboard?

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Many drivers assume that the StabiliTrak light is blinking on their dashboard due to some dirt in their vehicle’s sensors, and the light would stop blinking automatically.
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However, it is safer to go for StabiliTrak service as there can be different reasons for this error message. And some of these reasons can cause a potential accident. Following are some reasons that can cause the StabiliTrak light to blink on your dashboard:

Sensor Issues

As StabiliTrak is a type of Electronic Stability Control (ECS), several sensors are involved in its operation. These sensors range from power steering to output and input sensors performing different functions. For example, the power steering sensors provide information about how much assistance the vehicle needs while running. Similarly, the input signals give information on the steering angle to StabiliTrak. Finally, output sensors decide the power supplied to each vehicle wheel.

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Failure in any of these sensors will provide wrong information to ECS that will blink the StabiliTrak light on the vehicle’s dashboard.

The experts, in such cases, highly recommend visiting the vehicle dealership or a local technician to check all the sensors so the error does not escalate into a worse situation.

Powertrain Problems

Another primary reason for the StabiliTrak light blinking on the dashboard is your vehicle’s powertrain problems. The powertrain comprises different parts that provide torque to the wheels, and if any part is broken, the engine cannot provide optimum power. In this case, the StabiliTrak light blinks, indicating a failure in the powertrain.

Controller Defect

The electronic controller is responsible for collecting and analyzing the sensor’s data. Further, the controller guides the effective operation of the vehicle.

In case of failure of the controller, it will provide insufficient information to StabiliTrak, resulting in the StabiliTrak light blinking on the dashboard.

Faulty ABS Module

ABS constitute an essential part of StabiliTrak as it detects the slippage of tires. Thus, it reestablishes stability by engaging the brake discs.

Any fault in brake discs or the entire ABS module can also impact the functioning of StabiliTrak.

So, it is better to visit your technician at the earliest to detect the issue causing this light to blink, as it can result in the braking failure of your vehicle.
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How can StabiliTrak be serviced?

An ordinary driver cannot service StabiliTrak, given its complex system that an average driver cannot comprehend. Thus, it is crucial to visit a professional mechanic who understands this system’s sensors and complex electronics. Further, the skilled mechanics also own a sensor board that can detect issues in particular vehicle sensors causing this malfunction.

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Sometimes, the StabiliTrak light also appears without any malfunction. In such a case, drivers can perform a hard reset of the vehicle.
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Hard reset involve the following steps:

  • Turn off the vehicle for around 15-20 minutes.
  • Turn on the vehicle but do not start it.
  • Press the accelerator 5-10 times within 5 seconds. You can also press the clutch if your vehicle has a manual transmission.
  • Usually, the light goes off at this point. If it does not go off, then try another time.
  • If the light is still blinking, it is recommended to go for a professional check-up.

Conclusion & Key Takeaways

To sum it up, StabiliTrak is a key traction feature that prevents a car from slipping and maintains its trajectory. This stability is achieved through different sensors that collect information and passes it on to the StabiliTrak, then use optimum engine power and steering control to prevent a car from going off its trajectory. However, in some cases, the vehicle can blink a StabiliTrak light on the dashboard, which can signify StabiliTrak failure. Some reasons for malfunctioning the Stabilitrak system include sensor failure, power train problems, controller defects, and faulty ABS modules. All these problems can increase the chances of accidents, and professional consultation is necessary to alleviate these issues. However, there is a possibility that the StabiliTrak light is blinking without any component defect. Thus, the drivers should perform a hard reset test to check if the light goes off before consulting a professional mechanic.

FAQs

Some drivers use this feature when a car is stuck in mud or other drastic road conditions. However, it is suggested not to use this feature when a vehicle is stuck because StabiliTrak reduces the power of the vehicle to maintain its stability. In addition, in a condition where a vehicle is stuck, the driver needs to provide more power to the tires. Thus it is recommended to use other features, such as 4×4 instead of StabiliTrak, to tackle such driving problems.

It depends upon the origin of the problem. Occasionally, the StabiliTrak warning is due to malfunctioning of the StabiliTrak sensor. In this case, you can continue driving your vehicle in the same style. But in some cases, StabiliTrak error is coupled with ABS or Traction Control errors. If these lights start blinking on the vehicle’s dashboard, it is recommended to alter the driving style, as TRAC and ABS might be disengaged.

The StabiliTrak sign may appear without any actual error. If your vehicle is not showing any problems with traction, then it is recommended to stop the ignition and start your car again. If the problem persists, it is recommended to get the vehicle checked, as there can be any connection issue that the professionals can remove.

No StabiliTrak offers the increased feature of maintaining a vehicle’s trajectory in difficult driving conditions. Instead, traction control stops the vehicle’s tires from spinning, maintaining traction with the road.

It depends upon the model of your vehicle. Some makers, such as GMC, and Chevy, allow the driver to turn off StabiliTrak. In contrast, some Toyota and Volkswagen models do not offer manual usage of StabiliTrak. Of course, you can always check the vehicle’s owner’s manual to get an idea of whether this feature can be turned off or not.

References

About Author

Andrew Ray

Andrew is an automotive technician with 10 years of experience mainly in American and Japanese cars, covering everything from routine vehicle maintenance and engine inspections to tire rotation.