Bad Car Thermostat Symptoms: 9 Warning Signs and What to Do Next Category Bad Thermostat Symptoms Bad car thermostat symptoms usually include overheating, a temperature gauge that swings unexpectedly, slow engine warm-up, weak cabin heat, coolant leaks, or a P0128 check-engine code. If the gauge enters the red zone or steam rises from... By Car Thermostats, 5 September, 2026