OBD-II code · Powertrain (generic, extended)
P21C3 Reductant Heater Relay Control Circuit Low
DEF heater relay control line stuck low — short to ground. 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.
Is it safe to drive with P21C3?
Usually safe to drive in the short term. Get it diagnosed when convenient, sooner if the car drives differently.
Common causes
- Most likelyShort to ground
- Less likelyConnector pins corroded - high contact resistance
- Less likelyHarness chafing through insulation
Symptoms
- Check engine light or NOx warning on
- AdBlue/DEF level or quality warning
- Possible no-start countdown after ignore period
- Failed emissions inspection (NOx)
Repair at a glance
- Difficulty
- Medium
- DIY friendly
- Often, with basic tools
- Typical labour
- 0.5–2 h
- Emissions test
- Likely to fail
- Parts involved
- Reductant Heater Relay
Code data: OBDex open dataset (CC0). Labour times are typical ranges, not a quote.