P0AEA: Hybrid/EV Battery Temperature Sensor D Circuit Low

P0AEA means the voltage of battery temperature sensor D is below its valid range. GM uses NTC thermistors with a pull-up on the sensing board, so a low voltage reads as an extremely hot cell, usually from a short to ground. Thresholds vary: above 160 °C in 8 of 10 samples in the 2016 and 2019 tables; above 95 °C in 30 of 40 on the 2011 and 2013 two-mode hybrids; below 0.3 V, about 90 °C, in 7 of 10 in the eAssist table 13OBDG05C; above 87.5 °C for 1.4 s within 2 s in a 2018 controller. All are Type B, two trips. Volt bulletin 18-NA-342 lists P0AEA among codes that can set falsely and calls for a software update first. A genuinely hot pack would trip lower limits earlier, so treat it as electrical.

High severity. Can I keep driving?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.

Symptoms

Malfunction indicator lamp after two trips
Charge and drive power strongly limited
Battery cooling running more than usual

Most likely causes

Sensor D signal wire shorted to ground
Temperature sensor D internally shorted
Outdated controller software (GM Volt, bulletin 18-NA-342)
Moisture or damage on the battery sensing board

What to check, in order

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

Read the codes with a hybrid-compatible scanner and write down the freeze frame data
With the connector unplugged, check whether the signal wire is making contact with ground.
Make sure the battery cooling air intake is clean
Check the 12 V auxiliary battery, which can also trigger warnings
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 P0AEA means

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

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P0AEA?

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 P0AEA?

The most common causes are: sensor D signal wire shorted to ground; temperature sensor D internally shorted; outdated controller software (GM Volt, bulletin 18-NA-342).

Related codes

Sources

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.