C0561 means "System Disabled Information Stored" — and GM's own service information says it is an informational code, not a fault. It is the brake module telling you that some other module asked it to switch stability control off. GM's bulletin on it carries an instruction in bold: "Do NOT replace the EBCM to resolve this concern." If a shop has quoted you a brake control module against this code alone, get a second opinion.
Jump to a section: What C0561 means · The two-part code form · Symptoms · Causes and how to confirm each · Affected vehicles · How it's diagnosed · Parts, labor and cost · Service bulletins · What other pages get wrong · FAQ
What C0561 Means
The electronic brake control module (EBCM) disables traction control and stability control when other modules report faults that would make those systems unsafe or unreliable to run. When it does that, it records C0561 as a note to itself. GM's service information puts it about as directly as it can:
"This DTC is for information only. As an aid to the technician, this DTC indicates that there are no problems in the ABS/TCS. The ECM and BCM should be checked for a possible fault."
— GM Service Information, Diagnostic Aids
And the circuit description explains the mechanism: "the electronic brake control module (EBCM) disables the traction control when other electronic control modules set DTCs for components that affect the operation of the traction control system."
So C0561 is a messenger. The message is: look somewhere else. On a 2013 Sonic GM is even more specific — "This DTC indicates there are no problems in the brake system. The Body Control Module, Engine Control Module, and Transmission Control Module should be checked for a possible fault first."
Two documented exceptions where C0561 is a real hardware fault rather than a messenger: on Two-Mode Hybrid trucks (RPO HP2), sub-types 4B, 54 and 59 describe genuine brake module and pressure modulator conditions; and C0561-43 on 2018–2023 Equinox and Terrain indicates physically damaged EBCM pressure sensors, where GM's stated repair genuinely is module replacement. Everything else points outward.
The Two-Part Code Form: C0561-XX
Unlike many GM codes, C0561 does have documented failure type sub-types, and reading yours matters — the correct diagnostic path diverges completely depending on the byte after the dash.
| Sub-type | GM descriptor | What it points at |
|---|---|---|
| C0561-4B | Calibration Not Learned | Two-Mode Hybrid — EBCM relearn required |
| C0561-43 | Descriptor not published by GM | 2018–2023 Equinox / Terrain — damaged EBCM pressure sensors after rear brake service. Park brake will not learn |
| C0561-54 | Temperature High — Solenoid Over Temperature | Two-Mode Hybrid |
| C0561-59 | Component Protection Time Out — Pump Motor Run On | Two-Mode Hybrid |
| C0561-71 | Invalid Serial Data Received | The most commonly seen. A module is sending the EBCM data it can't trust |
| C0561-72 | Alive Counter Incorrect / not updated | Serial data integrity |
| C0561-74 | Value of Signal Protection Calculation Incorrect | Serial data integrity |
| C0561-75 | Signal Above Allowable Range | Two-Mode Hybrid |
| C0561-77 | Engine Speed Out of Range | Sonic — points at the engine control module |
| C0561-78 | Acceleration Pedal Position Out of Range | Sonic — points at the engine control module |
| C0561-79 | Transmission Gear Invalid Data | Sonic — points at the transmission control module |
Sub-types are application-specific — the set your vehicle can produce depends on the platform. Don't treat any one list as universal. C0561-00 is not documented by any GM source we could find.
One genuinely useful detail on the most common sub-type: GM notes that C0561-71 may set after a programming event and will only clear after the engine has been started. If this code appeared straight after a module was reflashed, start the engine and re-check before diagnosing anything.
Symptoms of C0561
- "Service StabiliTrak" or "Service Stability System" message on the driver information centre — the signature complaint
- Traction Off indicator illuminated; traction control disabled until the code goes to history
- ABS usually still works. On most non-hybrid applications anti-lock braking stays live — it is stability and traction control that switch off
- On Two-Mode Hybrids, ABS, traction control and StabiliTrak are all disabled for the ignition cycle
- "Service Park Brake" message and a park brake that will not learn — that is sub-type 43 specifically
- Where C0561 rides along with a bus or ground problem: check engine light, reduced power, no-crank or no-start, hard shifting, door locks cycling while driving, erratic gauges, dead battery
The vehicle normally drives fine. Most owners report only the message and the loss of traction control on a slippery surface.
Common Causes of C0561 — and How to Confirm Each One
GM's procedural warning, which governs everything below: "The PCM or BCM will typically set a DTC when the EBCM sets this DTC. Address DTCs in all modules before trying to address DTC C0561."
— GM PIT4169F
| Cause | How to confirm it | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| A fault in another module — engine, body or transmission control | Scan every module, not just the brake module. GM warns the trigger may be a type "B" code that never lights the check engine lamp: "Please inspect the freeze frame and failure records in the PCM" | Most common by a wide margin |
| Serial data / GMLAN bus fault | Use the scan tool's Enhanced Diagnostics Data screen to identify which module is transmitting the invalid signal. If that module has no codes of its own, GM routes you to the U0100–U02FF communication codes | Especially with sub-types 71, 72 and 74 |
| An aftermarket device plugged into the diagnostic port — insurance dongle, tuner, fleet or telematics tracker | Look under the dash and unplug it, then retest. GM lists this by name: "C0561 stored in the EBCM leading to a traction control issue." A device contacting only one CAN line causes bus errors | Free to check, frequently overlooked |
| Poor or corroded ground connection | Inspect the ground points for looseness, poor crimp or adhesive contamination, then run GM's voltage-drop measurement procedure | GM wrote a dedicated bulletin on grounds G100–G107 for the Sonic |
| Loose or unseated connector pins | GM traced a whole family of codes including C0561 to unseated pins in the transmission connector. Inspect and reseat before condemning any module | Cheap to rule out |
| Low system voltage | The code's own enabling criteria require ignition voltage above 10V (8V on Sonic). Test battery and charging before accepting any C0561 as valid | Inferred from GM's conditions-for-running, not from a bulletin naming battery condition |
| Recent module programming (sub-type 71 only) | Start the engine and re-check. GM: this DTC may set after a programming event and only clears once the engine has run | Not a fault at all |
| EBCM or pressure modulator hardware | Last resort, and only for specific sub-types — hybrid 4B/54/59 after the pressure sensor parameter checks fail, or -43 with pressure sensors reading their default value | GM explicitly forbids this for ordinary C0561 |
Vehicles Documented for C0561
| Vehicles | Years | Documented as |
|---|---|---|
| GMC Sierra, Yukon and Denali models; Chevrolet Avalanche, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe; Cadillac Escalade | 2007–2013 | The core "Service Stability lamp, DTC C0561" population (PIT4169F) |
| GMC Terrain and Chevrolet Equinox | 2018–2023 | C0561-43, park brake will not learn after rear brake service (PIT5953) |
| Chevrolet Tahoe/Suburban, Silverado and GMC Sierra/Yukon Hybrid (RPO HP2); Cadillac Escalade Hybrid | 2008–2013 | Hybrid-specific sub-types with real hardware paths (PIT4383N) |
| Cadillac STS, SRX, CTS, ATS | 2006–2016 | No crank, multiple telltales, hard shifting — unseated transmission connector pins (PIC4740F) |
| Chevrolet Sonic | 2012–2013 | Ground inspection G100–G107 (PIC5879) |
| All GM passenger cars and trucks | 2024 and prior | Aftermarket diagnostic-port devices causing C0561 among other faults (13-08-116-001I) |
How C0561 Is Diagnosed
A basic code reader cannot do this job. C0561 is a chassis code living in the brake module, and the procedure needs a tool that can scan every module, display the two-part code including the failure type byte, read the engine module's freeze frame and failure records, reach the Enhanced Diagnostics Data screen, and perform bidirectional relearns. In practice that means GDS2/MDI, an older Tech2 on early platforms, or a professional aftermarket tool with full GM enhanced coverage.
- Run the Diagnostic System Check — Vehicle first.
- Scan all modules and record every code. Note the C0561 sub-type byte — the path forks on it.
- Inspect the engine module's freeze frame and failure records, including type "B" codes that set no check engine lamp. A clean dashboard proves nothing here.
- Diagnose and repair the other codes first. Do not chase C0561 itself.
- Look at the diagnostic port. Remove any aftermarket dongle, tuner or tracker and retest.
- If no other codes are present, use Enhanced Diagnostics Data to find which module is sending invalid data. If that module is clean, move to the U0100–U02FF communication codes.
- Inspect grounds and connector pin seating.
- Clear with a scan tool once the condition is repaired. History clears after 100 consecutive fault-free drive cycles on some platforms, 40 on others.
Parts, Labor Time and Cost
There is no "C0561 part." The code is usually informational; parts are for whatever underlying fault you identify. GM prohibits replacing the brake module for ordinary C0561. Everything below is sourced from GM's own parts catalogue or from GM bulletins.
| Part | GM part number | Fitment | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rear wheel speed sensor | 20938121 | 2007–2013 Silverado 1500 (all cabs) | $107.99 |
| Front wheel hub and bearing with speed sensor | 84856654 | 2007–2013 Sierra 1500 Crew Cab; 2007–2014 Yukon / Yukon XL 1500 | $433.84 |
| Front wheel speed sensor | 23498355 | 2014–2018 Sierra 1500; 2019 Sierra 1500 Limited; 2015–2020 Yukon / Yukon XL | $71.05 |
| Steering wheel position sensor | 19418403 | 2010–2013 Sierra 1500; 2010–2014 Sierra 2500HD/3500HD; 2010–2014 Yukon / Yukon XL | $104.76 |
On 2007–2013 full-size trucks and SUVs the front wheel speed sensor is integrated into the hub and bearing assembly — it is not sold separately, which is why that line is the expensive one.
Two-Mode Hybrid brake modules and modulators are on GM TAC restriction — EBCM 25909777 and 20946763, BPMV 15879113, 25914986 and 25922981 cannot be ordered without a GM Technical Assistance Center case. GM's note on those: "Do NOT erase DTCs in any of the modules — especially on intermittent concerns." Pricing is not publicly catalogued.
We are not listing a brake module part number for 2007–2013 non-hybrid trucks. GM's catalogue does not publish one for those applications, modules are VIN and RPO specific, and they require programming and setup after fitting. Ordering one from a generic listing is how people end up with an expensive part that will not configure.
| Operation | GM labor operation | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Re-torque obviously loose or disconnected grounds | 5480018 | 0.5 hr |
| Ground connection repair, all others | 5430962 | Published time |
| Suspected tampering — claim code where an aftermarket port device is root cause | 0600014 | 0.2 hr |
| Wheel speed sensor replacement, one side | 2410020 | 0.7 hr |
| Brake module with pressure modulator replacement | 2410330 | Published time |
The ground and tampering operations come from bulletins that name C0561. The wheel speed sensor and module times come from other GM bulletins — they are valid GM labor operations for repairs a C0561 diagnosis may lead you to, but they are not labor operations for C0561 itself. GM publishes no labor time for diagnosing C0561, and its own C0561 bulletins carry none.
One warning worth reading before you book: for the sub-type 43 park brake issue, GM states plainly that the repair "is not a warrantable repair" and would not be covered under warranty — because it is caused by retracting the caliper pistons incorrectly during a brake job.
GM Bulletins That Name C0561
These were verified by opening each PDF and confirming the code appears in the text.
| Bulletin | Subject | Vehicles |
|---|---|---|
| PIT4169F | Service Stability Lamp DTC C0561 — the definitive bulletin. Contains "Do NOT replace the EBCM" | 2007–2013 Sierra, Yukon, Denali, Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, Avalanche, Escalade |
| PIT5953 | Service Park Brake message, park brake will not learn, C0561-43 after rear brake service | 2018–2023 Terrain and Equinox |
| PIC4740F | No crank, multiple warning telltales, transmission shifts hard — unseated connector pins | Cadillac STS, SRX, CTS, ATS |
| PIC5879 | Inspect grounds G100 through G107 | 2012–2013 Sonic |
| PIT4383N | Two-Mode Hybrid TAC part restriction for EBCM and BPMV | 2008–2013 hybrid trucks and SUVs |
| 13-08-116-001I | Aftermarket diagnostic-port interface devices causing multiple issues | 2024 and prior GM passenger cars and trucks |
No recall and no special coverage names C0561. There is a thematically similar recall — NHTSA 19V-889 / GM N192268090, December 2019, covering 463,995 2019 Silverado 1500, Sierra 1500 and Cadillac CT6 for brake module software that disables stability control and ABS for one ignition cycle. We opened the defect report: C0561 does not appear in it. It is adjacent, not the same thing.
What Other C0561 Pages Get Wrong
This code attracts more bad information than most, and it is expensive misinformation because it points people at brake hardware. Four things to be careful of:
- "C0561 is a vacuum sensor code." At least one major automotive site titles C0561 "Vacuum Sensor A/B Correlation," and another states that C0561-71 indicates a problem with the brake booster vacuum sensor. Both are wrong. GM's descriptor for -71 is "Invalid Serial Data Received."
- "Wheel speed sensors are a top cause." Repeated everywhere, and contradicted by GM's own text, which says C0561 means there are no problems in the ABS/TCS. A failing wheel speed sensor sets its own code in the C0035–C0050 family. Buy a speed sensor against that code, not against this one.
- "Special Coverage 14515." Cited as C0561-related. No such bulletin exists. The real throttle body special coverage is 14582, it does not contain C0561, and it does not cover the 2007–2013 trucks that dominate C0561 complaints.
- Sub-type tables listing C0561-00. No GM source documents a -00 for this code. The sub-types that are real are listed further up this page, and they vary by platform.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is C0561 serious?
The code itself is informational, but what triggered it may not be. Your brakes still work — ABS typically stays live on non-hybrid vehicles, and it is stability and traction control that switch off. That said, driving without stability control in poor weather is a genuine reduction in safety margin, and the underlying fault that disabled it needs finding.
Do I need a new brake control module for C0561?
Almost certainly not. GM's bulletin on this code says in bold: "Do NOT replace the EBCM to resolve this concern." The code means the brake module is working correctly and is reporting that another module asked it to stand down. The exceptions are narrow — specific hybrid sub-types, and C0561-43 on 2018–2023 Equinox and Terrain.
What does C0561-71 mean?
"Invalid Serial Data Received." Another module is sending the brake module data it cannot trust. It is the most commonly seen sub-type. One useful detail: GM notes that C0561-71 can set after a module has been reprogrammed and will clear once the engine has been started — so if this appeared right after a reflash, start the engine and re-check before diagnosing.
Why does C0561 come with no other codes showing?
Because the code that caused it may not light the check engine lamp. GM warns technicians specifically that the trigger can be a type "B" code, and tells them to inspect the engine module's freeze frame and failure records rather than trusting the dashboard. You need a tool that reads all modules, not just the engine.
Can a plug-in insurance or tracking device cause C0561?
Yes, and GM documents it by name. A bulletin covering all GM cars and trucks up to 2024 lists "C0561 stored in the EBCM leading to a traction control issue" as a known symptom of aftermarket devices plugged into the diagnostic port. A device that contacts only one CAN line causes bus errors. Unplug it and retest — it costs nothing to rule out.
Will C0561 clear itself?
It goes to history once the condition stops, and clears from history after a run of fault-free drive cycles — 100 on some platforms, 40 on others. But it will keep coming back until the underlying fault in the other module is repaired.
My park brake won't learn after a brake job and I have C0561-43. What happened?
That is a specific, documented failure on 2018–2023 Terrain and Equinox: the brake module's pressure sensors were physically damaged by retracting the caliper pistons incorrectly during the rear brake service. GM's repair is module replacement, and GM states plainly that it is not a warrantable repair because of how the damage occurs.
Does C0561 mean the same thing on every GM vehicle?
The base meaning holds, but the sub-types and the paths differ by platform. On a Sonic the sub-types point at the engine and transmission modules. On a Two-Mode Hybrid they describe real brake hardware conditions. On a 2008 Captiva Sport, C0561 isn't a brake code at all — it lives in the power steering control module and produces a "Service Power Steering" message. Read the full description off the tool.
Shop the Parts Mentioned
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MOTOPOWER MP69033 OBD2 Scanner — $49, reads and clears engine-side (P) codes with live data and freeze-frame. A chassis code like this one needs a scanner that covers chassis systems.
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VDIAGTOOL BT500 Battery Tester — $57.53, tests battery health, cranking and charging on 6V/12V/24V systems with ripple analysis and a voltage waveform — rules out low system voltage, a common trigger for spurious module-communication codes.
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ACDelco Gold Negative Battery Cable — addresses marginal voltage supply issues.
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Battery Terminal Cleaning Brush — clears corroded connections adding resistance.
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95-Piece Mechanics Tool Set (Metric & SAE) — for module access and wiring inspection.