Abstract: In a method for detecting an inverter hardware failure in an electric power train comprising high voltage cables, at least one electric machine and at least two inverter legs with two power electronic switches respectively for pulse-width-modulating a DC voltage from a high voltage battery for energizing the at least one electric machine, and including at least one mid-pack voltage sensor for detecting isolation faults, wherein all power electronic switches are demanded to open; at least one of the power electronic switches of one of the inverter legs is opened and closed at a time at a given duty cycle and a given frequency; a mid-pack voltage is measured using the mid-pack voltage sensor; the closed switch is identified as functional in case a common mode voltage is detected by the mid-pack voltage sensor or otherwise the closed switch is identified as non-functional.