Powertrain Codes (P-Codes): Full List
Powertrain codes start with P and cover the engine, fuel and ignition systems, emission controls and the transmission. They are the codes that most often turn on the check engine light and the ones most relevant to a smog check or emissions test. The third character narrows it down: 1–2 fuel and air metering, 3 ignition and misfire, 4 emission controls, 5 speed and idle, 6 computer and outputs, 7–9 transmission, A hybrid.
539Codes
2.7Average severity
12%High or critical
20%DIY-friendly
Severity distribution
Most viewed
P0174
Powertrain
The cylinder bank without cylinder 1 is running lean even with the maximum fuel correction…
Moderate
P0420
Powertrain
The bank 1 catalytic converter no longer stores enough oxygen to clean the exhaust properly.
Low
P0101
Powertrain
The MAF sensor's airflow reading doesn't match what the engine computer expects…
Low
P0113
Powertrain
The intake air temperature signal is stuck at maximum voltage, which usually means an open…
Low
P0135
Powertrain
The heater inside the upstream oxygen sensor on bank 1 isn't working or its circuit is faulty.
Low
P0171
Powertrain
The engine computer is adding the maximum extra fuel it's allowed on bank 1 and still sees…
Moderate
All codes (539)
P0238
Powertrain
The boost sensor signal is stuck near 5 volts, so the computer sees impossibly high boost…
Moderate
P0243
Powertrain
The engine computer found a fault in the electrical circuit of the solenoid that controls…
Moderate
P0246
Powertrain
The wastegate solenoid control circuit reads too high, usually a short to power or a shorted…
Low
P0263
Powertrain
Cylinder 1 is producing noticeably more or less power than the others, beyond what fuel trim…
Moderate
P0266
Powertrain
The engine computer can't even out cylinder 2 with fuel corrections; its balance rate is past…
Moderate
P0269
Powertrain
Cylinder 3 isn't pulling its weight, or is pulling too hard, and the fuel correction for it…
Moderate
P0272
Powertrain
The ECU can't balance cylinder 4 against the rest anymore; its fuel correction is outside…
Moderate
P0275
Powertrain
The fuel correction for cylinder 5 is past its limit. Only engines with five or more cylinders…
Moderate
P0299
Powertrain
The turbo or supercharger isn't building the boost pressure the engine computer is asking for.
Moderate
P0300
Powertrain
The engine computer sees misfires that jump between cylinders or hit several cylinders at once.
High
P0301
Powertrain
Cylinder 1 is repeatedly failing to fire. The cause is almost always its coil, plug, injector…
Moderate
P0302
Powertrain
Cylinder 2 keeps misfiring. On inline engines it's a middle cylinder, so rule out coolant…
Moderate
P0303
Powertrain
Cylinder 3 is misfiring. Check whether it misses at idle or under load before you blame…
Moderate
P0304
Powertrain
Cylinder 4 is misfiring. Its end or rear position makes water, oil and intake leaks common…
Moderate
P0305
Powertrain
Cylinder 5 is misfiring. First job: work out which bank it sits on, because that decides what…
Moderate
P0306
Powertrain
Cylinder 6 is misfiring. On an inline-six it's the hot rear cylinder; on GM and Hemi V8s it can…
Moderate
P0307
Powertrain
Cylinder 7 is misfiring. On GM and Hemi V8s it's a cylinder-deactivation cylinder, so check…
Moderate
P0308
Powertrain
Cylinder 8 is misfiring. It's a rear V8 cylinder against the firewall, so its plug is often…
Moderate
P0316
Powertrain
The engine misfired right after starting, when the catalytic converter is cold and emissions…
Low
P0320
Powertrain
The computer lost the engine speed (rpm) signal. The engine can stall suddenly or refuse…
High
P0321
Powertrain
The rpm signal is there but erratic: extra or missing pulses the computer can't trust. Expect…
Moderate
P0325
Powertrain
The computer isn't getting a usable signal from knock sensor 1, so it pulls timing to protect…
Low
P0326
Powertrain
Knock sensor 1 works electrically, but what it hears doesn't match what the computer expects.
Low
P0327
Powertrain
Knock sensor 1's signal is too weak or pulled to ground: usually wiring, water or a loose…
Low
P0328
Powertrain
Knock sensor 1's signal is too strong: a short to voltage, electrical noise or a genuinely…
Low
P0330
Powertrain
The second knock sensor, usually the one for the bank without cylinder 1, has a circuit fault.
Low
P0332
Powertrain
Knock sensor 2 reads too low. On a V engine it's the bank without cylinder 1; on some fours…
Low
P0335
Powertrain
The engine computer lost the crankshaft position signal. Expect stalling or a crank-no-start.
High
P0336
Powertrain
Crank signal present but implausible: damaged teeth, a slipped balancer ring or debris confuse…
Moderate
P0337
Powertrain
The crank sensor signal line is stuck near 0 volts, usually a wire shorted to ground. Often…
High