P0562: System Voltage Low
Key takeaways
- P0562 means the engine computer measured supply voltage below what it needs, almost always a charging-system problem rather than a computer problem.
- Drive only short distances until it's tested: if the alternator isn't charging, the car runs on the battery alone and can die on the road.
- Check the battery terminals, main grounds and drive belt first; they are cheap and cause this code more often than people expect.
- Repairs at a US independent shop run from about $20 for cleaning terminals to $150–$350 for a battery and $400–$900 for an alternator.
What P0562 means
The engine computer is seeing less voltage than it should, which usually means the battery isn’t being charged properly.
Scanners call it System Voltage Low. The engine computer monitors the voltage on its own power supply. With the engine running, the alternator should hold that around 13.5–14.7 volts on most cars. When the voltage stays below a set threshold for long enough, the computer stores P0562. The code doesn’t say which part is at fault. It tells you the electrical supply is low, and the job is to find out why.
Is it safe to drive?
Short trips only, and not far. Unlike most engine-light codes, this one can leave you stranded. If the alternator has stopped charging, the car is running on whatever is left in the battery. When that runs out, the engine can stall, and on many cars power steering assist and dash displays go with it.
What changes the answer: a battery warning light, dimming headlights, a flickering dash, or warning messages piling up. Drive straight to a shop or home with accessories off. If the car cranks slowly or not at all after shutting off, see car won’t crank but has power.
Causes, ranked
| Cause | How you confirm it | Typical cost (US independent shop, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Loose or corroded battery terminals or cables | White or green crust; clamp turns by hand; voltage drop across the connection under load | $20–$120; $150–$400 for a battery cable |
| Worn-out battery | Fails a load or conductance test; slow cranking; 3–5+ years old | $150–$350 installed; $250–$450 for AGM |
| Alternator not charging | Running voltage near 12 V or below; battery light on; charging test fails | $400–$900 |
| Slipping or broken drive belt, weak tensioner | Squeal at startup or under load; glazed or cracked belt; tensioner bouncing | $100–$250 |
| Bad engine or body ground | Voltage drop between battery negative and engine block over about 0.2–0.3 V while cranking; corroded strap | $100–$250 |
| Known software or low-voltage issue on specific models | A manufacturer bulletin matches your car and codes | Often $0 under warranty |
What to check first
- Read the voltage. Engine off, then running at idle with the headlights and blower on. Many parts stores test the battery and charging system free. A $15–$25 multimeter works too.
- Clean and tighten the terminals. Check both ends of both battery cables, including where the negative cable bolts to the body and engine.
- Look at the belt. Cracks, glazing, a squeal, or a belt that has come off entirely.
- Load-test the battery. If it’s weak, charge it fully and test again before replacing anything.
- Test the alternator output once the battery is known good. Replace the alternator only when it fails under load with good connections.
- Check bulletins. GM has bulletins for 2019 and 2024 Silverado and Sierra trucks where low voltage also sets P0606 and can affect brake assist; Jeep has one for no-start on the 2020–2022 Gladiator; Ram and Ford hybrid bulletins are software updates. Honda and Acura note that P0562 stored alone with no symptoms on 2017 models can be cleared and rechecked.
If the battery keeps going flat even after these checks pass, the battery keeps dying guide covers parasitic drains.
What it costs
The cheap outcome is a cleaned or tightened terminal or ground for $20–$120. The common outcome is a battery at $150–$350 or a belt and tensioner at $100–$250. The expensive outcome is an alternator at $400–$900. A charging-system test costs little or nothing and tells you which one you need; skipping it is how people buy a battery for a car with a dead alternator. If your readings don’t add up, ask our AI mechanic with the numbers.
Related codes
P0563 is the opposite, System Voltage High, which points at the alternator’s regulator overcharging. P0560 is a general system voltage fault. Low voltage can also make other modules set communication or processor codes like P0606; fix the voltage first, then clear everything and see what comes back.
What owners report to NHTSA
18 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0562, 16 of them since 2015, across 14 different models. The component owners most often filed it under: electrical system.
Most-reported models
| Vehicle | Complaints | Model years reported |
|---|---|---|
| JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE | 3 | 2005, 2022 |
Manufacturer service bulletins that name P0562
36 technical service bulletins and manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA mention P0562, from 9 makes. A bulletin means the manufacturer has documented a known cause or a fix procedure for that model. Examples:
- GMC SIERRA 3500 (2024), bulletin 10251916: This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of Silverado and Sierra Setting DTC P0606 and either DTC P0562 or P0563.
- CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 (2024), bulletin 10251916: This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of Silverado and Sierra Setting DTC P0606 and either DTC P0562 or P0563.
- GMC SIERRA 2500 (2024), bulletin 11004881: This technical bulletin provides repair information to correct a customer concern of Silverado and Sierra Setting DTC P0606 and either DTC P0562 or P0563.
- JEEP GLADIATOR (2020, 2021, 2022), bulletin 10212317: Check Engine Light Is On, No Start. DTC?s P00FD, P0562, P26F3
- RAM 1500 (2021), bulletin 10190705: Flash: Hybrid Control Processor (HCP) Updates This bulletin involves updating the HCP with the latest available software. Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination. Upon further investigati…
- FORD ESCAPE (2020, 2021), bulletin 10201604: Some 2020-2021 Explorer/Aviator Hybrids, 2021 Corsair Hybrid, 2021 F-150 PowerBoost, and 2021 Mustang Mach-E vehicles may exhibit a no-start with a Stop Safely Now warning message in the instrument panel cluster (IPC). T…
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database and manufacturer communications file, snapshots September 2026. A complaint or bulletin that mentions a code is a report about that vehicle, not a statement that the code has one cause.
Frequently asked questions
Can a bad battery cause P0562?
Yes. A battery with a weak cell can drag system voltage down at startup and at idle with heavy loads. But a bad alternator ruins batteries too, so test the charging system before you buy a battery, or the new one will go flat the same way.
How long can I drive with P0562?
If the battery light is on or the voltage gauge is low, assume the alternator isn't charging and treat every trip as borrowed time: a healthy battery may carry the car anywhere from a few minutes to an hour or so, depending on the load. Turn off the A/C, heated seats and radio, and drive straight to a shop.
What voltage should my car show?
With the engine off, a charged battery reads about 12.6 volts. With the engine running, most cars charge at roughly 13.5 to 14.7 volts. A running reading near 12 volts or below means the alternator isn't keeping up.
Can I just clear P0562?
If it set once after a jump start, a dead battery or a battery disconnect, clearing it and watching for a return is reasonable. Honda and Acura have a service note saying the code alone, with no symptoms, often means nothing is wrong. If it comes back, test the charging system.