What Bafang says
The throttle has a fault. (Some Bafang user manuals list 04 as "the throttle is not back in its correct position" instead; either way, it's the throttle.)
Bafang's recommended steps
- Switch off. Let go of the throttle and check it springs back fully.
- Look at the throttle cable and plug for damage. Look; don't pull on it.
- If it keeps coming back, Bafang's service steps are for a shop: check the throttle's connection, then replace the throttle if needed.
Summarized from Bafang DP E180/E181 dealer manual (error 04), checked October 23, 2026. Follow the link for Bafang's exact wording.
If it keeps coming back
If the code comes back after a restart, have it checked by a mechanic who works on Bafang systems. Bikes Plus works on Bafang and Bafang-style systems all the time.
Write down the code and what you were doing when it appeared. That saves time at the shop.
Make sure it's a Bafang code
Error numbers mean different things on different systems. This page covers bikes with a Bafang display (the Bafang name or logo is usually on the display or its back), on Bafang mid-drive and hub-motor systems. Displays with a screen keep the last 10 codes in the INFO or ERROR menu. LED-only displays flash the code: the first light flashes the tens digit and the second the units, so two flashes then five is 25.