P0562

System Voltage Low

Charging / electrical Generic OBD-II High

What it means

P0562 means the ECM has seen the vehicle's electrical system voltage stay below the normal range (roughly 13.5–14.5V with the engine running). It usually points to a charging-system problem — a failing alternator, weak battery, or bad connection — rather than the ECM itself. Because everything electrical runs off that voltage, ignoring it can lead to stalling and a car that won't restart.

High

Can I keep driving? Risky — low system voltage means the charging system is failing; the car can stall or fail to restart once the battery drains, so address it promptly.

Real-world scan data

Seen in

3,153

scans in the past year

Found in

0.5%

of scans

0.9%

of scans that found faults

Appears alongside · share of P0562 scans

P0113in 12.8% of scans

P0335in 9.1% of scans

P0685in 8.8% of scans

Figures reflect only diagnostic scans recorded through our own apps and tools. Cars are typically scanned because a symptom or warning light prompted it, so these counts describe our scan records — not the incidence of faults in any model, and not the quality, reliability, or safety of any vehicle. No comparison between manufacturers or models is implied. All trademarks belong to their respective owners; no affiliation or endorsement is implied.

Common symptoms

What you'll notice

Battery or charging warning light on the dashboard
Dim or flickering headlights and interior lights
Hard starting, or stalling and no-restart once the battery is depleted
Erratic electrical accessories (windows, radio, gauges)

Common causes

Most likely first

Failing alternator or worn/slipping drive belt — most commonLikely
Weak or failing batteryCommon
Loose or corroded battery, ground, or alternator cable connectionsCommon
Failed voltage regulator (often internal to the alternator)Less often
Wiring fault in the charging circuit, or rarely the ECMLess often

How to diagnose & fix

Work through it in order

Measure battery voltage with the engine off (should be ~12.6V), then running (should rise to ~13.5–14.5V) — a low running value points at the charging system.
Inspect and clean the battery terminals and grounds, and check the drive belt's tension and condition.
Load-test the battery; replace it if it's weak or old.
Test the alternator's output under load; replace the alternator or regulator if it can't hold charging voltage.
Repair any damaged charging-circuit wiring, then clear and re-test.

FAQ

Quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0562?+

Not far. If the alternator isn't charging, the car is running off the battery and will eventually stall and refuse to restart. Get the charging system tested before driving any distance.

Can I just clear P0562?+

It will come straight back while system voltage stays low. The code clears itself once the charging system holds proper voltage again — fix the alternator, battery, or connections first.

Read & clear P0562 yourself

Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.

▶ Get it on Google Play

✓ Verified name — SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6Guidance reviewed by OBD DashX