Error code · ABS and chassis

C0161 — ABS/ESC: brake switch circuit fault

Don’t put off the repair

For makes: Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC

A fault code doesn’t yet mean the unit or sensor itself is faulty: often it’s the plug and connector leading to it.

Possible causes

What you can do yourself

  1. Cruise control, ESP and traction control may not work. The brakes work as usual.
  2. Check that the brake lights come on when you press the pedal: if not, check the brake light fuse and the sensor connector by the pedal.
  3. If the brake pedal sensor was replaced or removed, or the body or engine unit replaced or reprogrammed, the sensor’s home position must be learned with a scanner (on GM — in both units).

Stop and don’t drive on if:

  • The red brake light is on, or the brake pedal feels soft or sinks
  • The steering became very heavy, or the car pulls to one side when braking
OOleg’s tip: check the connector

Often the cause is simple — there is no contact in the connector (plug). Look at the connector from the back: remove the rubber seal and you will see whether a wire is corroded or has come off completely. Corrosion shows up as green deposits. Ideally, gently pull each wire towards you one at a time: a sound wire stays in place, while a corroded one simply comes off — it needs to be repaired.

Unplug and inspect connectors with the ignition off.

This is the GM meaning (Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC). On other makes this number means something else: if your car isn’t made by GM, change the make at the top.

Source: GM PIT5122D (static.nhtsa.gov)

The explanation comes from the error code reference in the AvtoElektrik PRO app.

Need a mechanic’s help?

Couldn’t fix it yourself? Oleg, an auto electrician, does computer diagnostics and repairs: he comes out anywhere in Almaty or sees you at his workshop.

Want to figure it out yourself?

Oleg’s course “Car computer diagnostics with a scan tool”: how to hook up a scanner, read codes and live data, and use them to find the cause. The first lessons are free.

Scan tool diagnostics course →

Nearby codes

All codes in C01xx–C04xx →

Who keeps this reference

The reference is kept by Oleg Dmitriev, an auto electrician from Almaty with 26 years of experience: computer diagnostics of cars and trucks, repair of control units (ECUs). Can’t find the cause? Message him.