Shimano STEPS error E973: Freehub and rear derailleur setting mismatch
The drive system has detected that the freehub and the rear derailleur are not correctly paired or configured. As a result, assist may cut out, the bike may report zero speed, or shifting may stop responding until the fault is cleared. The display will keep showing E973 until the components are properly recognised again.
| Drive system | Shimano STEPS (E5000, E6100, E7000, E8000, EP6, EP801) |
| Severity | Dealer needed |
| Keep riding? | Ride with caution |
| Typical cost | An E-TUBE firmware and pairing session at a dealer typically runs 30 to 70 EUR as labour only; a replacement Shimano rear derailleur is around 180 to 320 EUR and a freehub body rebuild around 80 to 150 EUR, both plus fitting. |
Likely causes
- Firmware on the rear derailleur or drive unit is out of date or out of sync
- The rear wheel or freehub was replaced recently without re-pairing through E-TUBE PROJECT
- The rear derailleur was swapped, refitted, or reset without updating the system profile
- Corrupted E-TUBE PROJECT settings after a failed update or battery swap mid-flash
- Aftermarket freehub body that does not communicate the same ID as the original Shimano unit
- Loose or contaminated connection at the rear derailleur junction
- Battery dropped below safe level during a previous firmware update
How to fix Shimano STEPS error E973
- 1. Charge the battery to at least 50 percent before any update work.
- 2. Install the latest E-TUBE PROJECT software on a Windows PC or the mobile app.
- 3. Connect to the bike via Bluetooth or the SM-PCE02 wired link and let E-TUBE read every unit on the system.
- 4. Update the firmware on the drive unit, the battery, and the rear derailleur, then repeat the wireless pairing for the derailleur.
- 5. Perform a full power cycle: switch the system off, remove the battery for 30 seconds, refit, and switch on again.
- 6. Test ride at low speed and check that shifting and assist behave normally.
- 7. If E973 returns immediately, stop riding the bike and take it to a Shimano dealer for drivetrain diagnostic.
Warranty: A genuine Shimano component failure inside the two-year warranty window is normally covered, while crash damage, water ingress, and worn freehub pawls are not.
Typical cost: An E-TUBE firmware and pairing session at a dealer typically runs 30 to 70 EUR as labour only; a replacement Shimano rear derailleur is around 180 to 320 EUR and a freehub body rebuild around 80 to 150 EUR, both plus fitting.
Frequently asked
Can I reset Shimano error E973?
There is no user-level reset that clears E973, because the code is a configuration fault rather than a temporary sensor glitch. The system will only drop the code after E-TUBE PROJECT has re-paired the freehub and rear derailleur with matching firmware.
Is it safe to keep riding with E973?
Riding short distances at low speed to get to a workshop is usually fine, but expect assist to drop out without warning and the speed display to read zero. Avoid hills, traffic, and any ride where you depend on motor support.
Will Shimano fix this under warranty and what will it cost?
If the freehub or derailleur is a genuine Shimano part that has failed inside two years, the manufacturer usually covers the component and you pay only the labour. Out of warranty, expect 80 to 320 EUR for the part plus roughly 60 to 120 EUR for fitting and the E-TUBE session.
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.