P0D97: Battery Charger Coupler Unlock Control Circuit High

What does P0D97 mean?

P0D97 reports that the unlock control output sits higher than it should while the module is not driving it, or does not follow the command, which points to a release line touching a supply voltage. Such a fault is critical for safety logic: a release path that may be energised unintentionally could free the plug during current flow, so control units typically end the charging session or refuse to begin it while the code is active. No manufacturer documents P0D97 openly. CARB's comprehensive-component rules require output circuits to be checked for shorts and correct response, and the TE Connectivity actuator patent EP3252879B1 stresses that the lock position must be reliably detected to prevent unsecured charging. P0D96 is the short to ground, P0D93 the matching fault on the locking side.

The code tells you which monitor failed, not which part is broken. Test before replacing parts.

Symptoms

• Charging session stops or does not start
• Plug is not held firmly in the inlet
• Charging system fault message

Common causes

• High Unlock drive wire shorted to a supply wire in the harness
• Medium Internal short inside the lock actuator
• Low Unlock driver stage of the module stuck on

Likelihood is a general estimate across vehicles; your make and model may differ.