C0073 indicates that the electronic brake/traction-control module has detected an invalid or missing "delivered driving torque" signal, which is the engine torque value shared over the vehicle data bus for traction and stability-control calculations. The code usually points to a data-communication or module-input problem rather than an engine mechanical fault.
Corroded, damaged, or poorly seated connectors and harnesses between the engine control module and the brake/traction-control module interrupt the serial-data signal that carries delivered torque information.
The module that receives and interprets the delivered driving torque message may fail internally, set false codes, or misread valid data from the engine control module.
An outdated or corrupted calibration can cause the ECM to broadcast an implausible torque value, or to stop broadcasting it, even though the module hardware is intact.
Weak batteries, poor grounds, or charging-system problems can disrupt bus communication and cause transient invalid-data faults across multiple modules.
A genuine engine-control-module fault is possible but uncommon; it should only be considered after wiring, connectors, the brake-control module, and software have been ruled out.
Usually no. C0073 is most often caused by communication wiring, connector, or brake/traction-control module issues. PCM replacement is rarely the correct fix.
The vehicle may still drive, but traction control, stability control, and possibly ABS functions may be reduced or disabled, so caution is warranted.
If the fault is intermittent, it may clear after ignition cycles; persistent C0073 requires diagnosis of the data bus and related modules.
Traction and stability-control systems need to know how much torque the engine is delivering so they can decide when to apply brakes or reduce power during wheel slip.