diff --git a/src/app/dashboard/fuel/fuel-view.tsx b/src/app/dashboard/fuel/fuel-view.tsx
index c1adb9e..bea74da 100644
--- a/src/app/dashboard/fuel/fuel-view.tsx
+++ b/src/app/dashboard/fuel/fuel-view.tsx
@@ -184,6 +184,12 @@ function StatusBadge({ status, variancePct }: { status: FuelStatus; variancePct:
   );
 }
 
+const DISMISS_ERROR_COPY: Record<string, string> = {
+  bad_id: "That vehicle id is malformed.",
+  not_found: "Vehicle not found.",
+  update_failed: "Server update failed. Please try again.",
+};
+
 export function FuelView({
   rows,
   vehicles,
@@ -338,8 +344,16 @@ export function FuelView({
         { method: "POST" },
       );
       if (!res.ok) {
-        const data: { error?: string } = await res.json().catch(() => ({}));
-        throw new Error(data.error ?? `Dismiss failed (${res.status})`);
+        let slug: string | undefined;
+        try {
+          const data: { error?: string } = await res.json();
+          slug = data.error;
+        } catch {
+          /* non-JSON body — fall through */
+        }
+        const friendly =
+          (slug && DISMISS_ERROR_COPY[slug]) ?? `Dismiss failed (${res.status})`;
+        throw new Error(friendly);
       }
       // Re-pull server data so the overlay becomes a no-op and any
       // other server-side state stays in sync.
@@ -540,6 +554,7 @@ export function FuelView({
                         href={vehicleHref(v.id)}
                         onDismiss={handleDismiss}
                         busy={busyId === v.id}
+                        disabled={busyId !== null}
                       />
                     </li>
                   ))}
@@ -553,6 +568,7 @@ export function FuelView({
                         href={vehicleHref(v.id)}
                         onDismiss={handleDismiss}
                         busy={busyId === v.id}
+                        disabled={busyId !== null}
                       />
                     </li>
                   ))}
@@ -788,11 +804,13 @@ function AlertCard({
   href,
   onDismiss,
   busy,
+  disabled,
 }: {
   v: VehicleSummary;
   href: string;
   onDismiss: (id: string) => void;
   busy: boolean;
+  disabled: boolean;
 }) {
   const dominant = v.alert > 0 ? "alert" : "warn";
   const toneClasses =
@@ -867,10 +885,10 @@ function AlertCard({
           type="button"
           onClick={(e) => {
             e.preventDefault();
-            e.stopPropagation();
             onDismiss(v.id);
           }}
-          disabled={busy}
+          disabled={disabled}
+          aria-busy={busy}
           aria-label={`Mark ${v.description} as seen`}
           className="inline-flex shrink-0 items-center gap-1 rounded-md border border-border/60 bg-card px-2 py-1 text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground transition-colors hover:border-[#F2B165]/60 hover:text-foreground focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-[#F2B165] disabled:opacity-50"
         >
@@ -887,11 +905,13 @@ function AlertListRow({
   href,
   onDismiss,
   busy,
+  disabled,
 }: {
   v: VehicleSummary;
   href: string;
   onDismiss: (id: string) => void;
   busy: boolean;
+  disabled: boolean;
 }) {
   const dominant = v.alert > 0 ? "alert" : "warn";
   const stripeColor =
@@ -948,10 +968,10 @@ function AlertListRow({
         type="button"
         onClick={(e) => {
           e.preventDefault();
-          e.stopPropagation();
           onDismiss(v.id);
         }}
-        disabled={busy}
+        disabled={disabled}
+        aria-busy={busy}
         aria-label={`Mark ${v.description} as seen`}
         className="ml-2 inline-flex shrink-0 items-center gap-1.5 rounded-md border border-border/60 bg-card px-2 py-1 text-xs font-medium text-muted-foreground transition-colors hover:border-[#F2B165]/60 hover:text-foreground focus-visible:outline-none focus-visible:ring-2 focus-visible:ring-[#F2B165] disabled:opacity-50"
       >