Data Sources We Use

Fix Error Code combines three kinds of information: standards that define what a code is, public open data that shows how problems appear in the real world, and official statistics that put repair costs into context. All descriptions on the site are written in-house; we use sources for facts, never to copy text. The table below lists every source with its license. Here is how each one is used.

Standards and manufacturer information

• SAE J2012 – the standard for diagnostic trouble code definitions. We use it for code identifiers and their standard definitions. The wording on our pages is our own.
• ISO 15031-6 – the international counterpart used for EOBD in Europe. It confirms generic code identifiers for the German and Dutch pages.
• US EPA OBD program – background on how on-board diagnostics relate to emissions requirements and inspections in the US.
• Manufacturer public service information – for manufacturer-specific vehicle codes and appliance error codes. We use facts only (code, meaning, procedure) and reproduce no text. Codes confirmed by only one such source are marked unverified.

Vehicle field data

• NHTSA Complaints API – owner complaints filed with the US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Used, where available, to show which components and symptoms owners report for a vehicle.
• NHTSA Recalls API – US safety recalls. Used to point out when a recall may be relevant to a component named on a page. (Vehicle recall matching is planned; not yet shown on pages.)
• Kraftfahrt-Bundesamt (KBA) – German vehicle registration statistics and recall information, used for the German pages with source attribution. (Fleet figures appear once the KBA statistics table has been imported.)
• RDW Open Data – the Dutch vehicle register, published under CC0. Used for the Dutch pages, for example to understand which vehicles are common on Dutch roads.

Appliance and product data

• EPREL – the European product registry for energy labelling. Used as a product inventory for appliances sold in the EU. (Integration prepared; figures appear once an EPREL API key is configured.)
• ENERGY STAR open data – product listings for the US market, used as a product inventory for US appliances.
• US CPSC Recalls – consumer product safety recalls in the US, used to flag relevant appliance safety recalls.
• EU Safety Gate – the EU rapid alert system for dangerous non-food products, used to flag relevant safety notices in Europe. (Planned; not yet shown on pages.)

Cost context

• US Bureau of Labor Statistics – occupational data on automotive service technicians, used as labor context for US cost ranges.
• Destatis – the German Federal Statistical Office, used as labor and price context for German cost ranges.
• CBS – Statistics Netherlands, used as labor and price context for Dutch cost ranges.

How to read data on a page

Field data is shown only where a source actually contains relevant records. Not every page has it, and its absence does not mean a problem is rare. Recall information is a pointer, not a confirmation: always check your own vehicle identification number or appliance model number with the manufacturer or the official recall service. Cost ranges are estimates, not quotes. Our methodology explains how these inputs feed into the ratings, and the editorial policy explains how we handle conflicting sources.

If you believe a source has been used incorrectly, please let us know.