error message 

Terse, baffling remark used by programmers to place blame on users for the program's shortcomings.

error message by Eperdu October 12, 2003

error message 

From the minor to the global, a warning that something is not right.

She began to interpret the pandemic as a massive error message, a sign to humanity that it had lost its way, and would now be forced to re-order and reconsider.

error message by Monkey's Dad April 16, 2020

Error message of death 

The error message in a program that states
program has encountered an error and needs to close. Results in loss of data and intense frustration to the user.

in most computers that use windows, the error message of death has replaced the blue screen of death but it still angers the user.

Error message of death by grizzlymaster March 17, 2009