Method and device for operating a brushless dc motor

A method of operating a three-phase brushless DC motor with pulse-width-modulation-controlled electronic commutation in the event of a malfunction, the method comprising:

• predefining a maximum number (n) of commutation steps, a direction of rotation of the motor, and at least two possible operating end states;
• selecting one of the at least two possible operating end states as a selected operating end state;
• upon an indication of the malfunction, rotating a rotor of the brushless DC motor by the predefined maximum number (n) of commutation steps in the predefined direction of rotation of the motor, and then setting the brushless DC motor to the selected operating end state.