Shimano STEPS error E299: Drive Unit Locked in Safe Mode
The drive unit detected tampering, usually an aftermarket tuning chip or speed-limiter device, and switched itself into Safe Mode to protect the system. As a result, motor assistance is cut off, the speed reading may show zero, and walk assist is disabled until the fault is cleared. The bike still rolls, but only as an unpowered bicycle until the code is removed.
| Drive system | Shimano STEPS (E5000, E6100, E7000, E8000, EP6, EP801) |
| Severity | Dealer needed |
| Keep riding? | Do not keep riding |
| Typical cost | Dealer diagnostics and Safe Mode clearing typically run EUR 40-90, and if tampering has damaged the drive unit, a replacement unit fitted can cost EUR 600-900. |
Likely causes
- Aftermarket tuning chip or dongle fitted to the motor cable or speed sensor
- Speed-limiter manipulation module wired into the drive unit
- Non-genuine dongle designed to mimic Shimano components
- Modified drive unit firmware installed by a third-party tool
- Residual fault memory from a tuning device that was already removed
- Damaged or spliced speed sensor wiring from a previous modification attempt
How to fix Shimano STEPS error E299
- Switch the system off and remove the battery before any inspection.
- Look at the motor cable, speed sensor lead, and display connector for aftermarket dongles or splices.
- Remove any tuning chip, speed-limiter module, or non-genuine wiring accessory found.
- Refit the battery and power the system on to see whether E299 clears automatically.
- If the code stays on after the device is removed, do not keep trying to power cycle it.
- Take the bike to an authorised Shimano dealer so Safe Mode can be cleared with the E-Tube diagnostic tool.
Warranty: Tampering-related faults are excluded from Shimano warranty cover, so any repair linked to an aftermarket tuning device is normally charged to the owner; a genuine component defect inside two years would usually be covered, but modifications void that cover.
Typical cost: Dealer diagnostics and Safe Mode clearing typically run EUR 40-90, and if tampering has damaged the drive unit, a replacement unit fitted can cost EUR 600-900.
Frequently asked
Can I reset shimano error E299 myself?
You can remove the tuning device yourself, but the Safe Mode flag itself has to be cleared by an authorised Shimano dealer with the E-Tube diagnostic tool. Powering the system off and on will not erase the tamper record once it has been logged.
Is it safe to keep riding with shimano E299?
No, the motor cuts assistance and walk assist is disabled, so the bike behaves like a normal unpowered bicycle on routes you may have chosen expecting support. The fault will not clear while you are riding, so the only real option is to remove the cause and book a dealer visit.
Will Shimano cover E299 under warranty?
No, tampering-related faults sit outside Shimano warranty terms and any repair caused by a tuning device is billed to the owner. If a dealer inspects the bike and finds no modification, a genuine drive unit defect inside the two-year window would normally be covered.
Related Shimano STEPS codes
Manuals and video
Official source: si.shimano.com
Not an official Shimano STEPS document. Compiled from workshop experience and public service information; details can differ per system version and bike brand.