Error: All Data Mapping activites are failing

Error:

We are encountering a strange error whereby all the Data mappings giving the below error at run time:

"Invalid byte 2 of 3-byte UTF-8 sequence"

After trying to access the XSL tab of a Data Mapping, it responds XSL is invalid.

Cause:

Please check your Value Maps and see if there's any special character like single quote or $ or other special characters in the values you have provided in the value map. Since the value map is referred by all Maps you will face this error in all the mappings when you validate by clicking on the XSL tab.

Solution:

Please Remove the special characters and save the value map.