OBD-II Code · Cruise
P0573
Cruise/Brake Switch A High
Severity
low
Lowest on our scale. Fix it when convenient.
Can you drive it
Only if running normally
A short trip to a shop may be reasonable if the light is steady and the car runs normally. Stop safely for a flashing light, severe shaking, overheating, loss of power, or another urgent warning. The code alone cannot confirm safety.
Indicative cost (USD)
$30–$150
Varies by vehicle, diagnosis, parts, and local labor. This is not a repair quote.
Brake switch circuit voltage high.
How a shop works this
Work from evidence to part, not the other way round. A code names a circuit or a symptom; it does not name the part that failed.
Note every code that is set, not just this one.
Codes that appear together usually narrow the cause faster than any one of them read alone.
Read the freeze frame — the conditions the fault was recorded under.
Cold or warm, idle or load, road speed and engine speed. A fault that only appears cold is a different fault from one that only appears under load, even with the same code on the scanner.
Confirm the fault is current rather than history.
Clear the code and see whether it returns under those same conditions. A code that does not come back may have been logged during a repair, a flat battery, or a bad connection that has since been disturbed.
Then work the likely-causes list in the order shown.
That order is what a shop checks first for this code — wiring and connections before the component they run to, because a connector costs nothing to inspect and is a common answer.
If the code comes back after a repair, the underlying fault is still there. That is the point to bring in a scanner with live data and freeze-frame, or a shop that has one.
Common symptoms
- Cruise inoperative
Likely causes
- Failed switchMost common
- Wiring short
Read the full diagnostic procedureP0573 is the opposite-polarity complaint to P0572: the PCM sees the brake switch A circuit stuck high (open) when it expects the switch to close as t…
P0573 is the opposite-polarity complaint to P0572
the PCM sees the brake switch A circuit stuck high (open) when it expects the switch to close as the pedal is depressed, so the module never registers a brake application. Cheapest-first ladder: verify the brake lights actually illuminate when the pedal is pressed, because P0573 with no brake-light function points to a failed switch, a blown stop-lamp fuse, or a disconnected switch connector; brake lights work fine but code still sets points to an internal second-pole failure on a dual-contact switch. Measure switch resistance across the PCM-side terminals with the pedal pressed and released. Caveat: do not chase wiring on this code until you have ruled out a faulty switch and verified the pedal bracket is not bent or the floor mat is not holding the pedal slightly off rest position. Replacing a TCM or ABS module on a P0573 is a common shop-level misdiagnosis costing $800 to $1,500 when the actual repair is a $30 switch.
Vehicle-specific patterns2014 to 2019 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks have a well-known dual-stage brake switch failure where the PCM-side contacts open prematurely; Mopar is…
- 2014to 2019 Ram 1500, 2500, and 3500 trucks have a well-known dual-stage brake switch failure where the PCM-side contacts open prematurely; Mopar issued an updated part number and the symptom is often paired with a no-crank because the switch also feeds the starter relay.
- 2010to 2015 Chevrolet Camaro and 2008 to 2014 Cadillac CTS set P0573 from the same GM integrated brake switch family as the trucks.
- 2006to 2012 Audi A4, A6, and Q7 commonly set P0573 from the F47 brake-pedal switch failing internally.
- 2003to 2009 Mercedes E-Class W211 has a documented stop-lamp switch failure that throws P0573 along with limp-home transmission behavior.
Estimated repair$40 to $260.
Look up another code
P0573 — frequently asked
What does a P0573 code mean?
Brake switch circuit voltage high.
What causes a P0573 code?
Common causes: Failed switch; Wiring short.
What are the symptoms of a P0573 code?
Typical symptoms: Cruise inoperative.
Is it safe to drive with a P0573 code?
Only if running normally. A short trip to a shop may be reasonable if the light is steady and the car runs normally. Stop safely for a flashing light, severe shaking, overheating, loss of power, or another urgent warning. The code alone cannot confirm safety. Estimated repair: $30-$150.
How do I diagnose a P0573 code?
Work from evidence to part, not the other way round. A code names a circuit or a symptom; it does not name the part that failed. 1. Note every code that is set, not just this one. 2. Read the freeze frame — the conditions the fault was recorded under. 3. Confirm the fault is current rather than history. 4. Then work the likely-causes list in the order shown.
More free tools