P0AF0: Drive Motor Inverter Temperature Sensor A Circuit High

P0AF0 reports a signal from inverter temperature sensor A above its valid range, which for an NTC sensor reads as an extremely cold inverter: open wire, lost ground or a broken sensor. GM's 2016 to 2019 hybrid tables set it below -50 °C for 2.6 of 3.65 s, but only after at least 90 s of inverter warm-up at 20 Nm or more, so a really cold car does not trigger it; Type B, two trips. The 2011 Volt uses below -58 °C (Type A), eAssist below -70 °C and the two-mode trucks below -40 °C (Type B). Kia's 2025 Sorento Hybrid bulletin lists P0AF0 with P0A3C and P1B77 after intermittent motor operation during engine clutch learning and fixes it with a motor control unit update.

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 and hybrid warning
Reduced electric drive power
Traction motor noise or inoperative A/C (Kia)

Most likely causes

Open sensor or circuit inside the power inverter module
Motor control unit software (Kia Sorento Hybrid 2025)
Loose or corroded connector at the inverter

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
Check the sensor's ground and make sure the signal wire is not receiving voltage from another circuit.
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 P0AF0 means

P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
0: Generic code: same on every make
A: Hybrid or air and fuel
F0: Specific fault in that system

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P0AF0?

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 P0AF0?

The most common causes are: open sensor or circuit inside the power inverter module; motor control unit software (Kia Sorento Hybrid 2025); loose or corroded connector at the inverter.

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.