P0BDD: Drive Motor Inverter Temperature Sensor E Circuit Low

P0BDD reports that the signal of inverter temperature sensor E, the phase W thermistor of GM's motor A inverter, sits below its valid range. GM uses an NTC thermistor with a pull-up on the sensing board, so a short to ground appears as an impossibly hot inverter. Thresholds: above 170 °C for 2.5 of 3.5 s, Type B, two trips, in the 2016 and 2018 tables; above 159 °C for 6.25 of 8.75 s, Type A, in a 2019 table; above 130 °C, Type A, on the 2011 Volt; above 125 °C, Type B, on the 2012 and 2013 two-mode trucks. A real overheat of that phase is reported separately as P0C13. With the sensor inside the inverter, the usual fix is the inverter assembly.

Symptoms

• Malfunction indicator lamp and hybrid warning
• Drive motor A power strongly limited
• Reduced regenerative braking

Most likely causes

• Shorted thermistor or signal line inside the power inverter module
• Signal shorted to ground in external wiring, where the design has any
• Moisture or coolant inside the inverter housing

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 P0BDD means

• P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
• 0: Generic code: same on every make
• B: Subsystem depends on the code range
• DD: Specific fault in that system

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P0BDD?

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 P0BDD?

The most common causes are: shorted thermistor or signal line inside the power inverter module; signal shorted to ground in external wiring, where the design has any; moisture or coolant inside the inverter housing.

Related codes

• P0BDEDrive Motor Inverter Temperature Sensor E Circuit High
• P0BDBDrive Motor Inverter Temperature Sensor E Circuit
• P0BDCDrive Motor Inverter Temperature Sensor E Circuit Range/Performance
• P0BDFDrive Motor Inverter Temperature Sensor E Circuit Intermittent/Erratic
• P0BD3Drive Motor Inverter Temperature Sensor C Circuit Low
• P0BE2Drive Motor Inverter Temperature Sensor F Circuit Low
• P0C13Drive Motor A Inverter Phase W Over Temperature

Sources

• gsi.ext.gm.com: 16OBDG02 Hybrid Diagnostics
• gsi.ext.gm.com: 18OBDG02 Hybrid Diagnostics
• gsi.ext.gm.com: 19OBDG01 Hybrid Diagnostics
• gsi.ext.gm.com: 11OBDG01 HYBRID Diagnostics

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.