Zero error code 16
Headlight Short Fault
What it means
Headlight Short Fault
Headlight connection short detected by MBB.
Error — Issue detected, may affect performance.
What to do
- 1Check headlight wiring for short circuit.
Code 16 on the other dash
The number alone is not enough. A Gen3 dash reads code 16 as Headlight Short Fault; a Gen2 dash reads the same number as CIB Contactor Compromised. And the model name does not settle it: the S, SR, DS and DSR kept their names when they moved from the Sevcon dash to Cypher III in 2024, so it is the year that tells you which table applies.
Which bikes use this table
Cypher III dash: SR/F and SR/S (2020+), DSR/X (2023+), S/F, and the S, SR, DS and DSR from 2024, when those four moved to the FST platform.
Related codes
Other Gen3 Lighting codes:
Questions
What does error code 16 mean on a Zero Gen3 dash?
Headlight Short Fault. Headlight connection short detected by MBB. It is classed as error: issue detected, may affect performance.
What should I do about it?
Check headlight wiring for short circuit.
Does code 16 mean the same thing on a Gen2 Zero?
No. On a Gen2 dash, code 16 is "CIB Contactor Compromised" — a different fault entirely. The two tables share numbers but not meanings, so read the one that matches your dash, not your model name: the S, SR, DS and DSR kept their names when they moved to Cypher III in 2024.
See when this actually happened on your bike
A dash code tells you the fault; the log tells you the pack temperature, the state of charge and the ten minutes leading up to it.
Sources:
The code and its name are transcribed from Zero's own owner manuals; the severity, category and troubleshooting notes are ours. For official diagnostics, consult an authorized Zero Motorcycles dealer.