P0BDE: Drive Motor Inverter Temperature Sensor E Circuit High

P0BDE means the signal of inverter temperature sensor E is above its valid range. For GM's NTC thermistor with pull-up that reads as an extremely cold phase W in the motor A inverter, typically an open circuit, lost reference ground or a failed sensor. GM sets it below -50 °C, but only after at least 90 s of inverter warm-up at 20 Nm or more, so a genuinely cold car does not trip it: 2.625 of 3.65 s, Type B, two trips, in the 2016 and 2018 tables, 6.25 of 8.75 s, Type A, in a 2019 table. The 2011 Volt uses below -58 °C (Type A), the 2012 and 2013 two-mode trucks below -40 °C (Type B). The controller usually limits power to protect the unmonitored phase.

Symptoms

• Malfunction indicator lamp and hybrid warning
• Reduced electric drive power once the inverter has warmed up

Most likely causes

• Open thermistor or broken connection inside the power inverter module
• Loose or corroded connector at the inverter
• Lost sensor reference ground on the sensing board

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. Check the sensor's ground and make sure the signal wire is not receiving voltage from another circuit.
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 P0BDE means

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

Frequently asked questions

Can I keep driving with code P0BDE?

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 P0BDE?

The most common causes are: open thermistor or broken connection inside the power inverter module; loose or corroded connector at the inverter; lost sensor reference ground on the sensing board.

Related codes

• P0BDDDrive Motor Inverter Temperature Sensor E Circuit Low
• 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
• P0BD4Drive Motor Inverter Temperature Sensor C Circuit High
• P0BE3Drive Motor Inverter Temperature Sensor F Circuit High
• 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.