What it means
The drive motor torque sensor reports a circuit intermittent fault. Wiring faults of this kind typically come from chafing, water ingress at connector seals, or pin push-back — a wiggle test on the harness while the code is active often confirms the location.
At a glance
- Usually lights the check-engine light
- The engine or gearbox may go into limp mode
How it works
The drive motor torque sensor feeds traction-motor torque information to the hybrid control system. This code sets when that sensor signal drops in and out or becomes unreliable intermittently, often as vibration or movement affects a connector, ground reference, or wire.
Common causes
Most likely first.
- Connector not seated
- Noisy ground reference
- Connector with intermittent contact under vibration
Symptoms
- Hybrid system or check-engine warning light on
- Intermittent reduction in hybrid power or acceleration
- Possible inconsistent power delivery
How to diagnose it
- Capture freeze-frame data and note when the fault occurred, then monitor the drive motor torque sensor reading for dropouts with a hybrid-capable scan tool.
- Inspect the sensor connector for incomplete seating, loose locks, corrosion, or terminals that have lost tension.
- Check the torque sensor harness routing for chafing or movement points, then carefully wiggle the harness while watching the live signal.
- Check the sensor ground reference and connector contact stability under the conditions described by the manufacturer's procedure.
- If the signal still cuts out with stable wiring and ground, test the drive motor torque sensor for intermittent failure.
Common fixes
- Seat and secure the torque sensor connector.
- Repair chafed wiring or a weak connector terminal.
- Restore a stable sensor ground reference or repair its wiring.
- Replace the drive motor torque sensor if it intermittently loses signal with sound wiring.
Can I keep driving?
Intermittent torque feedback can make hybrid power or acceleration inconsistent. Drive gently only if power remains predictable; stop if it cuts out, and avoid situations where sudden loss of acceleration would be hazardous.
A code shows where the control module detected a fault, not always which part failed. Check the causes in order and confirm with a test before replacing parts. Have several codes? Check them together
This is a generic code: it means the same on every make. The car’s maker may add more detail in its own service information.