P0A61: Drive Motor A Phase V Current Low

P0A61 indicates that phase V of drive motor A carries, or reports, too little current when it should be near its peak, pointing to an open phase V circuit. GM uses the same peak-axis test as for phase U on the 2016 Chevrolet Volt motor control processor and in its 2018 hybrid tables, here with the rotor within 30 degrees of the V phase axis: inverter above 50 V in normal PWM, squared current command above 900 A2 in 2016 and 4,900 A2 from 2018, a peak phase current under 9 A for 0.4 s within 0.6 s, Type A with MIL on the first trip. On inverters that sense only two phases a dead V sensor also corrupts the calculated third phase. A Caterpillar patent detects such a sensor by a near-zero phase reading. P0A62 is the high side, P0A5E and P0A64 cover U and W.

Symptoms

• MIL and propulsion system warning
• Jerky or weak electric drive

Most likely causes

• Open circuit in the phase V cable, connector or terminal
• Phase V current sensor reads zero
• Phase V switch of the inverter not conducting
• Open winding of phase V in drive motor A

What to check, in order

Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.

1. Read the codes with a hybrid-compatible scanner and write down the freeze frame data
2. With the connector unplugged, check whether the signal wire is making contact with ground.
3. Make sure the battery cooling air intake is clean
4. Check the 12 V auxiliary battery, which can also trigger warnings
5. Leave any high-voltage measurements to a specialized repair shop

Good to know

• It can trigger limp mode.
• It affects emissions.

What each character of P0A61 means

• P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
• 0: Generic code: same on every make
• A: Hybrid or air and fuel
• 61: Specific fault in that system

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P0A61?

If the car still runs, drive as little as possible and go to a specialized repair shop. Do not touch the orange cables: they carry high voltage.

What causes code P0A61?

The most common causes are: open circuit in the phase V cable, connector or terminal; phase V current sensor reads zero; phase V switch of the inverter not conducting.

Related codes

• P0A60Drive Motor A Phase V Current
• P0A62Drive Motor A Phase V Current High
• P0A5EDrive Motor A Phase U Current Low
• P0A64Drive Motor A Phase W Current Low
• P0A6ADrive Motor B Phase V Current Low

Sources

• gsi.ext.gm.com: 16OBDG01 Hybrid Diagnostics
• gsi.ext.gm.com: 18OBDG01 Hybrid Diagnostics
• patents.google.com: en

Values and procedures vary by manufacturer. If it affects brakes, steering, fuel or high voltage, see a professional. Updated: 2026-11-04. How we build these pages.