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
- Brake pedal switch
- The brake light bulbs or their circuit
- The brake light fuse (STOP)
What you can do yourself
- Check that the brake lights work: ask someone to watch while you press the brake. If they don’t light, drivers behind won’t see you braking — fix it as soon as possible.
- Check the switch at the brake pedal: whether the plastic stop is broken and whether the plunger is pressed.
- If the selector also won’t leave P or Check Engine is on, the same switch is a common cause: per Hyundai reports it failed when hot.
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.
Find the part on Kaspi ShopBefore buying, check the part number or match the part by VIN in the Kaspi “Garage”.
ESC is the Hyundai and Kia stability control system (the same as ESP). This is the Hyundai and Kia meaning. On other makes this number means something else: if your car isn’t a Hyundai or Kia, change the make at the top.
Source: Hyundai QIR, NHTSA PE09-003 (stop lamp switch), static.nhtsa.gov
The explanation comes from the error code reference in the AvtoElektrik PRO app.