A method for obtaining an indication of a possible faulty load condition of a multi-phase electric motor with electric commutation and electric drive control having a drive unit which, per motor phase, comprises a high-side switch and a low-side switch, wherein the high-side and low-side switches of the motor phases are cyclically switched according to a switching scheme which generates time points at which the current experiences, in a motor phase, a zero crossing that, owing to the inductive load portion of the electric motor, is temporally shifted relative to that time point of the zero crossing which would occur with purely ohmic loads, wherein, without a faulty load condition, the time point of this zero crossing is within an expected value range which can be determined by the switching scheme, the ambient conditions and by diverse motor parameters, wherein, in case of an existing faulty load condition, the time point of this zero crossing is outside the expected value range, wherein, on the basis of the deviation from the expected value range, a conclusion can be made on the type of the faulty load condition, wherein, in said method, - during predetermined high-side and/or low-side phase connection occurring in the switching scheme, it is detected whether and when the current through the switched-on high-side or low-side switch becomes greater or smaller than a presettable threshold value which particularly is in the vicinity of the zero crossing, - wherein, from a presettable time point of the switching scheme, the time interval is measured within which the current flowing through the switched-on high-side or low-side switch of one of the motor phases rises above or falls below the presettable threshold value, wherein, in case of a PWM control, this time measurement can optionally extend over one or a plurality of PWM cycles, - wherein the measured time intervals of the individual motor phases are compared among each other, and/or the measured time intervals of each individual motor phase in itself are compared, temporally successively, to each other, and - wherein a deviation, from presettable expected value ranges, of the amount of the measured time intervals in the individual motor phases among each other and/or in one motor phase in sequential order, is evaluated as being an indication of a faulty load condition. - during predetermined high-side and/or low-side phase connection occurring in the switching scheme, it is detected whether and when the current through the switched-on high-side or low-side switch becomes greater or smaller than a presettable threshold value which particularly is in the vicinity of the zero crossing, - wherein, from a presettable time point of the switching scheme, the time interval is measured within which the current flowing through the switched-on high-side or low-side switch of one of the motor phases rises above or falls below the presettable threshold value, wherein, in case of a PWM control, this time measurement can optionally extend over one or a plurality of PWM cycles, - wherein the measured time intervals of the individual motor phases are compared among each other, and/or the measured time intervals of each individual motor phase in itself are compared, temporally successively, to each other, and - wherein a deviation, from presettable expected value ranges, of the amount of the measured time intervals in the individual motor phases among each other and/or in one motor phase in sequential order, is evaluated as being an indication of a faulty load condition. <EOS>