P0887: TCM Power Relay Control Circuit High
A generic powertrain (engine and transmission) trouble code, same meaning on every brand.
Around town only, and be mentally ready for the transmission to drop out of gear without warning - that is what losing TCM power does. No highway until fixed.
Symptoms
- Transmission suddenly in neutral or limp mode
- No shifting response
- Gear indicator blank or wrong
- Starts fine after a restart, then repeats
Likely causes, most common first
- TCM power relay control circuit shorted high
- Relay failed or socket corroded
- Wiring fault between computer and relay
- TCM driver stage fault
Read P0887 yourself before paying for diagnosis
A basic Bluetooth OBD-II scanner ($20-40) plugs into the port under the dashboard and shows this code with live sensor data on your phone - useful both for confirming the fix and for talking to a shop from an informed position.
What is going on and how it gets diagnosed
P0887 concerns the relay that feeds the transmission control module its power - specifically, the control side of that relay reading high when it should not. When TCM power flickers or dies, the transmission does not degrade gracefully; solenoids de-energize together and the box falls into its mechanical default, felt as a sudden neutral or a single harsh limp gear at speed.
The honest good news: the cheap suspects lead. A relay is pocket money and often swappable with an identical neighbor in the fuse box for an instant test; relay sockets corrode and spread their legs after years of heat cycles; and the wiring between computer and relay lives in a loom that chafes. The TCM itself is the last and priciest suspect, and modern ones need programming to the car. Until the cause is found, treat the car as one that may coast unexpectedly - surface streets, gentle gaps in traffic, no fast merges.
Repair options and cost
Typical US independent-shop ranges, parts and labor. Dealers run higher; regional labor rates vary.
Owner reports mentioning P0887
“While driving the vehicle, the check engine light and service transmission came on. It starting acting as though it was stuck in a higher gear. Going from a complete stop and accelerating, there was no power. After getting the code read, it was displaying p0887 "tcm power relay control circuit high." I've researched the issue and noticed that it has happen on a lot of the chrysler vehicles from 2014 to 2018.”2016 Jeep Cherokee · Jun 2020 · 90,484 mi
“While driving my check engine light came on and I got a "service transmission" message. I went and had it diagnosed at autozone. It came back with error code p0887- tcm power relay control circuit high. The light comes on and goes off but I am noticing a decrease in the acceleration power and at times the vehicle acts as if it is in neutral, I had to put the vehicle in park and then drive and it slowly started driving. *tr”2016 Jeep Cherokee · Jun 2020 · 76,500 mi
“Tl* the contact owns a 2016 jeep cherokee. While driving 45 mph, the vehicle jerked while shifting between first, second, and third gears, and lost power. In addition, the rpms failed to increase to 2,000 and the check engine warning indicator illuminated. The contact disconnected the battery cable, but the failure recurred. The contact used the lpb reader and received code: p0887 (tcm high voltage). The contact called east tennessee dodge chrysler jeep ram (2774 n main st, crossville, tn 38555, (931) 463-3640), but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred the contact to NHTSA. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.”2016 Jeep Cherokee · Aug 2019 · 30,000 mi
Show 2 more owner reports
“I was driving my 2016 jeep cherokee latitude 2.4l on a city highway when all of a sudden the service transmission light popped on and I could no longer accelerate past 45mph. Luckily I was able to react quickly with the hazard lights and make my way over to the shoulder. The engine light is now on and it is triggering code p0887. I know now that there have been several issues with the 9 gear transmission in previous year models as well that have been recalled. This is very concerning and I am afraid of driving my vehicle anywhere that has a speed limit above 35!”2016 Jeep Cherokee · Jul 2018 · 62,000 mi
“Transmission electronically shifted from drive to manual, while in traffic, three times so far. Service transmission, service emergency brake, traction control off, and mil illuminated(code p0887 stored). Software updates preformed in july. Transmission shifts erratically at low speeds since updates and problem back in october of 2016, with a rear end collision barely averted.”2014 Jeep Cherokee · Jul 2016 · 38,287 mi
Cars that report P0887 most often
Based on mentions of this code in NHTSA owner complaints.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with P0887?
Around town only, and be mentally ready for the transmission to drop out of gear without warning - that is what losing TCM power does. No highway until fixed.
How much does it cost to fix P0887?
Typical US repair costs range from $20 for the simplest fix (relay replacement) to $1,500 in the worst case. The right number depends on which cause your car has - see the causes list.
Related codes
The codes closest to P0887. They often appear together, and telling them apart is usually what narrows the diagnosis.
Definition per SAE J2012 standard nomenclature. Symptoms, causes and costs are editorial guidance - always confirm with a diagnosis of your specific vehicle.