A load abnormality detecting system and method for detecting the burnout and short circuit of a load are provided. A voltage generator (10) generates a specified voltage Vs in accordance with a load current IL. A judging device (4) compares a signal corresponding to this voltage (Vs) with a specified reference value (T1, T2) to judge whether a load (2) has any abnormality. A selector (6) causes the burnout reference value (T1) to be inputted to the judging device (4) and controls the voltage generator (10) to use a first resistance value when checking the burnout of the load (2) while causing the short-circuit reference value (T2) to be inputted to the judging device (4) and controlling the voltage generator (10) to use a second resistance value when checking the short circuit of the load (2).