P0573

Brake Switch A Circuit High

Q: Is it safe to drive with P0573?

Yes. Your brakes work normally — the code mainly disables cruise control and may affect transmission lockup. Fix it to restore cruise and clear the light.

Q: Can I just clear P0573?

It'll return until the switch or wiring is corrected. Clear it after adjusting or replacing the brake switch to confirm the repair.

Cruise control / brake switch Generic OBD-II Low

What it means

P0573 means the ECM/PCM sees the brake-switch A signal stuck high (as if the brake were always pressed, or the signal shorted to voltage). The brake switch tells the computer when you're braking, so cruise control typically stops working and transmission lockup may behave oddly. Braking itself is not affected — this is a signalling fault, usually a misadjusted switch or a wiring problem.

Low

Can I keep driving? Safe to drive — the main effect is that cruise control won't work; braking itself is unaffected.

Real-world scan data

Seen in

208

scans in the past year

Found in

<0.1%

of scans

0.1%

of scans that found faults

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

Cruise control won't engage or drops out
Check-engine light on
Possible harsh or delayed torque-converter lockup / shift behaviour
Brake-light or brake-switch related warning in some vehicles

Common causes

Most likely first

Misadjusted or faulty brake-light switch at the pedalLikely
Corroded or damaged connector or wiring in the brake-switch circuitCommon
Short to voltage on the brake-switch signal lineCommon
ECM/PCM fault (rare)Less often

How to diagnose & fix

Work through it in order

Check and adjust the brake-pedal switch — many P0573 cases are just a switch out of position.
Inspect the switch connector and wiring for corrosion, chafing, or a short to power.
With a scan tool, watch the brake-switch state while pressing the pedal; a stuck 'high' reading confirms the fault.
Replace the brake switch if it doesn't toggle correctly, then clear and re-test.

FAQ

Quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0573?+

Yes. Your brakes work normally — the code mainly disables cruise control and may affect transmission lockup. Fix it to restore cruise and clear the light.

Can I just clear P0573?+

It'll return until the switch or wiring is corrected. Clear it after adjusting or replacing the brake switch to confirm the repair.

Read & clear P0573 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