Skip to content
Language: EN
Download

OBD2 fault codes

What each generic OBD2 code means, in plain English: what the car has seen, why it usually happens, what you’ll notice and whether you can keep driving.

Most searched

How to read an OBD code

A fault code has a letter and four characters. The letter tells you which part of the car it comes from:

  • P, powertrain: engine and gearbox.
  • C, chassis: brakes, ABS, steering and suspension.
  • B, body: airbag, locking, climate control and lights.
  • U, the communication network between control units.

The first digit tells you who defines it. 0 is generic: it’s set by the SAE J2012 standard and means the same on any make, and so are P2xxx, P34xx and U0xxx codes. 1 belongs to the manufacturer, and each make uses it its own way. The rest points to the system and the specific fault: among P0 codes, for example, P03xx is ignition and P04xx is emissions control.

Here you’ll find every generic engine and network code explained in our own words. To read the ones on your car you need an OBD2 scanner and an app; how to do it is in the guide to reading and clearing fault codes.

All codes explained

The most searched codes, sorted by group.

P00xx: Air, fuel and emissions

P01xx: Air and fuel metering

P02xx: Fuel and injectors

P03xx: Ignition and misfires

P04xx: Emissions control

P05xx: Speed, idle and auxiliary inputs

P06xx: Control unit and auxiliary outputs

P07xx: Transmission

P08xx: Transmission

P0Axx: Hybrid and electric

P20xx: Emissions: catalysts and AdBlue

P21xx: Throttle, injection and emissions

P22xx: NOx sensors, oxygen sensors and emissions

P23xx: Ignition coils and engine

P24xx: EGR, EVAP and particulate filter

P25xx: Auxiliary inputs and electrical system

P2Axx: Engine and emissions

P2Bxx: Engine and emissions

U00xx: Communication buses

U01xx: Lost communication with control units

U04xx: Invalid data between control units