Nissan Trouble Codes: OBD-II Decoding and What Triggers the Check Engine Light

On Nissan vehicles, the Check Engine light is one of the most common reasons drivers end up in the workshop. The engine control module (ECM/ECU) constantly polls dozens of sensors and actuators, and the moment it spots a deviation from the norm it logs a diagnostic trouble code — a DTC (Diagnostic Trouble Code). Since 1996, every Nissan sold on the international market has carried the standard OBD-II diagnostic connector (DLC3), so the codes can be read with any compatible scan tool.

Codes that start with the letter P relate to the engine and transmission. The P0xxx group are generic, standardised SAE codes that every scanner understands. The P1xxx group are Nissan manufacturer-specific codes that call for specialised equipment or a professional software such as MotorData Automotive Electrics. The letter C points to the chassis (ABS, VSC), B to body electronics, and U to the data buses (CAN, LIN).

On older Nissan models up to the mid-2000s, a self-diagnosis system displayed codes by flashing the warning lamp. To enter diagnostic mode you bridged the IGN and CHECK terminals in the diagnostic connector, after which the lamp showed a four-digit numeric code using long flashes (tens) and short flashes (units). This method is still relevant for the Nissan Primera, X-Trail T30, Almera Classic, Patrol Y60/Y61 and other early models.

Common Nissan Trouble Codes: Reference Table

The table below summarises the most common trouble codes found on Nissan vehicles, based on real diagnostic cases for Nissan Murano and other popular models in the MotorData database. It covers engine management, sensors, control systems and data bus faults. When reading parameters with a Nissan scan tool, abbreviated names are frequently used — those scan-tool abbreviations are shown in the Short Name column and are especially handy during diagnostics.

The Most Common Nissan Trouble Codes: Meanings and Causes

P0101 — Mass Air Flow Sensor Range/Performance

The mass air flow sensor is the ECU’s “eyes” in the intake tract. Code P0101 means the MAF readings do not match the expected values under the current engine operating conditions. This code shows up on many vehicles, including Nissan Almera Classic with the GA16DE engine, Tiida and Note with HR16DE, and Micra K12.

Contamination of the MAF sensing element is the main cause on vehicles with more than 80,000–100,000 km. Cleaning the sensor with a dedicated MAF cleaner often clears the fault without replacing the sensor — but only if the sensing element has no mechanical damage. Codes P0102, low input, and P0103, high input, belong to the same group and point to an electrical fault in the MAF circuit. The PinData section shows the connection points and test conditions.

P0117 / P0118 — Engine Coolant Temperature (ECT) Sensor, Circuit Low / High

These codes indicate a problem with the ECT sensor — one of the key inputs used for fuel mixture control, ignition timing and cooling fan operation. On Nissan models from the late 1990s and early 2000s, the ECT sensor often fails after 100,000–150,000 km.

Typical external symptoms include an excessively rich mixture and increased fuel consumption when the engine is already warm, because the ECU “thinks” the engine is still cold. Another possible symptom is incorrect operation of the cooling fan system.

P0130 / P0131 / P0132 / P0133 — A/F Sensor Faults, Bank 1 Sensor 1

On VQ35DE engines used in Murano and Teana, a wideband A/F sensor — air/fuel ratio sensor — is installed upstream of the catalytic converter, not a conventional oxygen sensor. These parts must not be confused during replacement, and universal sensors should not be installed as substitutes.

Using non-genuine sensors on Nissan vehicles is strongly discouraged: the ECU may fail to recognise the signal from an aftermarket sensor and generate false trouble codes. Air/fuel ratio sensors usually last around 80,000–100,000 km, while oxygen sensors typically last 100,000–150,000 km.

P0130 indicates a general circuit fault in the front sensor. P0131 indicates low input, P0132 high input, and P0133 slow response — usually a sign of sensor ageing or degradation.

P0171 — System Too Lean (Bank 1)

P0171 is one of the most widespread codes on Nissan vehicles — it turns up on the Murano Z50/Z51 with the VQ35DE engine, X-Trail T30/T31 with QR25DE, Qashqai J10/J11 with MR20DE, plus the Note, Tiida, Juke and many other models. The ECU detects that long-term fuel trims (LTFT) exceed the allowable threshold of +10–12%, which points to a persistently lean air-fuel mixture.

Typical causes: unmetered air entering the intake tract after the mass air flow sensor (MAF) — the first things to check are the throttle body gasket, intake manifold gaskets and injector O-rings; a contaminated or failed MAF sensor; a faulty fuel pump or fuel pressure regulator; clogged injectors; leaks in the crankcase ventilation (PCV) system. On the Nissan Murano Z50, the intake manifold gaskets deserve separate attention — a known weak point. When diagnosing, it’s best to check live data first (STFT/LTFT), then the MAF, and clean or replace it as needed.

P0011 / P0014 and CVTC Codes: A Typical Nissan QR25DE Issue

Codes P0011 (intake valve timing control, Bank 1) and P0014 (exhaust valve timing control) are highly typical for Nissan Teana L33 and X-Trail T32 with the QR25DE engine, as well as Qashqai J11 with MR20DD.

The CVTC system controls the camshafts through oil control solenoids installed in the front upper engine cover. If engine oil is not changed on time or oil of the wrong viscosity is used, the solenoids become contaminated, their flow capacity drops, and the cam phasers can no longer reach the commanded position.

Typical symptoms include loss of power, unstable idle, hesitation or jerking during acceleration, and hard starting. P0011 and P0014 are often stored together with P052B, Cold Start “B” Camshaft Position Timing Over-Retarded, Bank 1.

Replacing only one control solenoid usually does not provide a stable repair. It is recommended to replace all control solenoids together and also inspect and replace the solenoid O-rings if necessary. Damaged O-rings can completely cancel out the effect of replacing the solenoids themselves. Codes P0075 and P0078 belong to the same fault group and point directly to electrical faults in the CVTC control solenoid circuits.

P0300 / P0301–P0306 — Misfires (Random or Cylinder-Specific)

Misfires on Nissan engines such as VQ35DE (Murano, Teana, Maxima) and QR25DE (X-Trail, Teana L33) are most often tied to worn spark plugs and failed ignition coils. A Nissan trademark is that a coil sits directly on each plug (COP type), so pinpointing a faulty one is easy: just swap coils between cylinders and see whether the fault code moves with it.

Additional causes can include faulty injectors (checked with a balance test), low fuel pressure, a compression leak, or a stretched timing chain. On the X-Trail T32 with the MR20DD and 1.6 DIG-T engines, misfires are often accompanied by P0011/P0014 (CVTC cam phaser faults) — this combination of codes demands immediate attention.

P0325 — Knock Sensor Fault (B1)

On naturally aspirated Nissan engines of the VQ and QR series, code P0325 often appears after 120,000–150,000 km. A faulty knock sensor deprives the ECU of the ability to optimally control ignition timing, which leads to a loss of power and increased fuel consumption.

Diagnosis requires checking not only the sensor itself but also the condition of its circuit (the shielded cable).

P0335 — Crankshaft Position Sensor Circuit Fault

The CKP sensor is critical: without its signal, the engine will not start at all. On Nissan Almera Classic, Primera P11 and X-Trail T30 with QG18DE and GA16DE engines, code P0335 is often caused by a broken sensor wire at the bend near the cylinder block.

Another possible cause is damage to the crankshaft reluctor wheel. The sensor test procedure is described in Component Inspection and General Test Procedures.

A stretched timing chain or incorrect timing chain installation can also cause this code. In that case, the synchronisation between the crankshaft position sensor and camshaft position sensor signals must be checked.

P0340 — Camshaft Position Sensor Circuit Fault (B1)

P0340 is one of the most frequently seen codes on the Nissan X-Trail T30 with QR20DE/QR25DE engines, and on the Presage TU31 with the QR25. The ECU isn’t receiving a correct signal from the camshaft position sensor (CMP, the phase sensor). As a result the engine starts with a delay or won’t start at all, and idle can be unstable.

The camshaft position sensor can be tested with an oscilloscope. The signal waveform is provided in “PinData”.

Possible causes: an open or short in the sensor supply circuit, failure of the CMP sensor itself (especially common with non-genuine aftermarket parts — these often fail in the 20,000–50,000 km range), and, less often, an ECU fault. Recommendation: use only genuine Nissan sensors, since third-party equivalents show extremely poor reliability.

P0420 — Catalyst Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1)

On Nissan, code P0420 is stored when the ECU compares the signals from the front (pre-catalyst) and rear (post-catalyst) oxygen sensors and concludes that the catalytic converter has lost its efficiency. On Nissan models this is especially relevant after 100,000–150,000 km. The cause can be either a genuinely burnt-out catalyst or a faulty rear oxygen sensor. Misfires may also be occurring across all cylinders without being logged for a specific cylinder — this overheats the catalyst and leads to its failure.

P0455 / P0442 — Evaporative Emission (EVAP) System Leak

Both codes relate to the EVAP system. P0455 indicates a large leak (in most cases a loose or damaged fuel filler cap), while P0442 indicates a small leak (a damaged hose, a faulty purge valve). In practice, diagnosis should start by inspecting the filler cap and all EVAP vacuum hoses.

P0507 — Idle Speed Higher Than Normal

Code P0507 is well known to owners of first- and second-generation Nissan Murano. After the throttle body is cleaned, the ECU loses its idle calibration and sets an elevated idle speed. It’s fixed with the “Idle Relearn” procedure — retraining the ECU’s idle without any physical intervention in the system. If the procedure doesn’t help, the cause may be the idle air control (IAC) valve or an air leak.

The idle speed adjustment procedure is described in the “Component Inspection” section.

If the idle speed doesn’t settle within the specified range, you can use the “TSB” section, which sets out the recommended course of action.

P0201–P0204 — Injector Circuit Faults

Codes P0201, P0202, P0203 and P0204 indicate an open circuit or fault in the injector control circuit for the corresponding cylinder. On Nissan vehicles, this usually means a broken injector wire, corrosion in the connector, or — less commonly — failure of the injector itself.

These codes are almost always accompanied by a misfire code in the same cylinder, such as P0301–P0304, which helps narrow down the diagnostic path.

The injector test procedure is provided in Component Inspection and General Test Procedures.

Nissan Transmission Trouble Codes: CVT and Automatic Transmission

The transmission is one of the most vulnerable systems on modern Nissan vehicles, especially the Jatco CVT used on X-Trail T31/T32, Qashqai J10/J11, Murano Z51, Note and Micra. Codes in the P07xx and P17xx groups relate to the transmission.

Code U0101, Lost Communication with ATCU/TCM, means the engine ECU has lost communication with the transmission control module. This may be caused by an actual TCM failure, a CAN bus issue, or a power supply problem.

Codes P0740/P0745, related to CVT solenoids, often indicate contamination in the hydraulic system. The best preventive measure is replacing the CVT fluid every 40,000–60,000 km instead of relying on the manufacturer’s “filled for life” concept.

The PinData section shows the connection point at the control module, test results and test conditions for the line pressure control solenoid valve.

P0520 / P0524: Engine Oil Pressure

Code P0520 indicates a fault in the engine oil pressure sensor or switch circuit. Code P0524 indicates critically low engine oil pressure.

On Nissan Murano and Pathfinder with the VQ35DE engine, these codes demand immediate attention. Low oil pressure while the engine is running means a real risk of scoring and damage to the main and connecting rod bearings. Continued operation with low oil pressure will lead to severe engine damage and eventual seizure.

Before replacing the oil pressure sensor, actual oil pressure must be verified with a mechanical pressure gauge.

The oil pressure sensor test procedure is described in PinData.

P0603 / P0604 / P0605 / P0606: ECU Faults

These codes indicate internal faults in the engine control module. P0603 is a backup power supply or Keep Alive Memory fault. P0604 is a RAM error. P0605 is a ROM fault. P0606 is a processor fault.

In practice, P0603 and P0604 may sometimes appear after a deeply discharged battery or unstable power supply and may disappear after the battery is fully charged. Codes P0606 and P0605 require mandatory specialist inspection and ECU testing on dedicated bench equipment.

P2100 / P2101 / P2135 — Electronic Throttle Control System

Codes in the P21xx group on Nissan Murano Z51, Teana L33 and X-Trail T32 are related to the electronic throttle control system.

P2100 indicates an open circuit in the throttle control motor relay power supply. In the wiring diagram, the relay, control module and the terminal where voltage must appear when the relay is activated are shown.

P2101 means the throttle actuator operation is outside the allowable range. P2135 indicates a correlation mismatch between the two throttle position sensor signals, TPS1 and TPS2.

P2135 is especially tricky: it may be caused by throttle body contamination or by drift in the parameters of throttle position sensors 1 and 2. These sensor values can drift or change due to high temperature.

Before replacing the complete throttle body assembly, throttle initialisation should be performed using diagnostic equipment. The throttle valve initialisation procedure is described in the Component Inspection section.

Nissan Manufacturer-Specific P1xxx Codes: What a Standard EOBD Scanner Misses

P1273 / P1283 — Air/Fuel Ratio Sensor, Lean Shift Monitoring (A/F Sensor, Bank 1 / Bank 2)

These codes are specific to the VQ35DE engines used in the Murano Z50, Teana J31/J32, Pathfinder R51 and Maxima A34. Unlike a conventional lambda sensor, Nissan uses a wideband A/F sensor (similar to the Toyota A/F Sensor), which is more sensitive to shifts in mixture composition. P1273 corresponds to bank 1, P1283 to bank 2.

Causes: failure of the A/F sensor itself, an air leak, MAF contamination, or a fuel leak. Diagnosis without a specialised database (such as MotorData) is very difficult, since a standard cheap EOBD scanner may not decode these codes.

P1148 / P1168 — Control System Not in Closed Loop (Bank 1 / Bank 2)

P1148 indicates that the ECU cannot switch to closed-loop operation on bank 1 — this happens when the front oxygen sensor circuit has a short or an open. P1168 is the same situation on bank 2, typical of the right-hand side of the VQ35 engine. Both codes often appear at the same time as P0171/P0174 (lean mixture on both banks), which points to a system-level problem with the A/F sensors or their circuits.

Nissan Chassis and Transmission Codes

Code C1101 (or C1102, C1103, C1104) signals a fault in a wheel-speed sensor within the ABS system. Data from the ABS wheel-speed sensors is used by the ESP/VDC systems.

Code U1000 — a break in CAN bus communication — is one of the most treacherous: it can arise as a consequence of a battery voltage sag and then disappear on its own, masking the real fault.

Code P0746 and its counterparts in the P07xx group point to problems with the CVT variator control solenoids — a critically important group for every Nissan fitted with the Jatco transmission (X-Trail T31/T32, Qashqai J11, Murano Z51).

The solenoid valve control signal is provided in “PinData”.

How to Read Nissan Codes: OBD-II or Self-Diagnosis

Modern Nissan vehicles from 2004–2006 onward are diagnosed through the OBD-II connector (the 16-pin DLC3 under the steering wheel) with any compatible scan tool. To work fully with the manufacturer-specific P1xxx codes and ABS, SRS and transmission data, professional software is required. Early models (before 2003) — Primera P11/P12, Almera N15/N16, X-Trail T30, Patrol Y61 — read codes by the lamp-flashing method through the diagnostic connector: the terminals are bridged with a jumper, and the Check Engine light displays a four-digit code.

For example, code 0335 means a crankshaft position sensor fault.

MotorData Automotive Electrics contains a complete DTC database for Nissan vehicles, including the manufacturer-specific P1xxx codes, ABS/VDC, SRS and transmission codes, plus code applicability data by specific model and engine: Murano Z50/Z51, X-Trail T30/T31/T32, Qashqai J10/J11, Teana J31/J32/L33, Navara D40, Pathfinder R51 and others.

Possible causes include A/F sensor failure, unmetered intake air, a contaminated MAF sensor, or fuel delivery issues. Diagnosis without a specialised database is difficult, because low-cost universal scan tools may not recognise or decode these codes correctly.

FAQ: Nissan Trouble Codes — OBD-II Decoding and What Triggers the Check Engine Light