OBD-II code · Chassis
C0538 Motor Control B Circuit Low
Motor Control B Circuit Low: the signal voltage is below the expected range. Often a short to ground or high resistance in the wiring.
Is it safe to drive with C0538?
The car may go into limp mode (reduced power). Get it diagnosed before a long trip.
Common causes
- Most likelyWiring shorted to ground
- Less likelyConnector pins corroded - high contact resistance
- Less likelyHarness chafing through insulation
Symptoms
- ABS warning light on
- ESC/stability control deactivated
- Possible reduced brake assist
- Speedometer may behave erratically
Repair at a glance
- Difficulty
- Medium
- DIY friendly
- Best left to a mechanic
- Typical labour
- 0.5–3 h
- Emissions test
- Usually unaffected
- Parts involved
- Chassis Motor B, Motor Wiring
Code data: OBDex open dataset (CC0). Labour times are typical ranges, not a quote.