P0E3D concerns the lamp or LED that shows the state of the pilot connection to the charging station, not the pilot signal itself. Low means the driver circuit reads too little voltage, typically because the line to the LED is shorted to ground. No manufacturer documents P0E3D publicly. GM's Volt tables for 2011 and 2012 (11OBDG01, 12OBDG01A) fold this case into the older open-circuit code P0D2B: a ground short is detected while the LED is commanded on, with 12 failed samples out of 15 at one sample every 100 ms, Type B. The current code set gives the ground short its own code, while P0E3E takes the short to voltage. The indicator stays dark or wrong, charging normally continues. Pilot line faults are P0CF3 and P0CF4.
Medium severity. Can I keep driving?If the car is running normally, drive in moderation to a repair shop. If it loses power or another warning appears, do not continue.
Symptoms
- Pilot indicator stays dark when it should light
- Charging itself usually unaffected
Most likely causes
- Wire to the indicator LED shorted to ground at the charge port
- Shorted LED or indicator unit
- Faulty output driver in the controlling module
What to check, in order
Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.
Good to know
- Repair difficulty: medium
What each character of P0E3D means
- P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
- 0: Generic code: same on every make
- E: Subsystem depends on the code range
- 3D: Specific fault in that system
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep driving with code P0E3D?
If the car is running normally, drive in moderation to a repair shop. If it loses power or another warning appears, do not continue.
What causes code P0E3D?
The most common causes are: wire to the indicator LED shorted to ground at the charge port; shorted LED or indicator unit; faulty output driver in the controlling module.
Related codes
- P0E3EControl Pilot Indicator Control Circuit High
- P0D2BControl Pilot Indicator Control Circuit/Open
- P0CF3Control Pilot Circuit/Open
- P0CF4Control Pilot Circuit Range/Performance
Sources
- gsi.ext.gm.com: 11OBDG01 HYBRID Diagnostics
- gsi.ext.gm.com: 12OBDG01A HYBRID Diagnostics
- law.cornell.edu: 13 CCR 1968.2
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.