Method (15, 16) for diagnosing defects of phase current sensors (10) in a control system (1) of a synchronous rotary electrical machine (2) of a motor vehicle, wherein said method takes into account differences Id, Iq between measurements provided (14) by said sensors (10) and nominal values of said phase currents (Ia, Ib, Ic) in order to diagnose defects if said differences Id, Iq are substantially non-zero (19), said differences Id, Iq being calculated (18) in a rotating Park reference frame (17) and being separate from an electromechanical model of said machine (2), a faulty sensor among said sensors (10) being identified by comparing to a measured electrical angle θ of said control system (1) a residual electrical angle θres defined by the equation:
- θres=arctan(−Ĩq/Ĩd)
- where Id, Iq are said differences.