CONTROL APPARATUS FOR HYBRID ELECTRIC VEHICLE

A control apparatus for a hybrid electric vehicle including an engine, a starter and an electric motor that is connected to an electric storage device through a relay. The control apparatus executes an engine start control to crank and start the engine by using a selected one of the starter and the electric motor. The control apparatus detects presence or absence of failure of the electric motor, when executing the engine start control by using the electric motor with the relay being closed. When detecting the failure of the electric motor, the control apparatus causes the relay to be opened, and to suspend execution of the engine start control by using the electric motor, and is configured, when start of the engine is requested next, to execute the engine start control by using the starter while keeping the relay to be opened.