P0444: EVAP System Purge Control Valve A Circuit Open
A generic powertrain (engine and transmission) trouble code, same meaning on every brand.
Yes - but a purge valve stuck open can make the engine stall after refuelling.
Symptoms
- Check engine light
- Rough idle or stalling just after filling the tank
- Occasional hard start after refuelling
Likely causes, most common first
- Purge valve coil open circuit
- Broken wire or corroded connector
- Failed valve
- Blown fuse on the circuit
Read P0444 yourself before paying for diagnosis
A basic Bluetooth OBD-II scanner ($20-40) plugs into the port under the dashboard and shows this code with live sensor data on your phone - useful both for confirming the fix and for talking to a shop from an informed position.
What is going on and how it gets diagnosed
P0444 is an open circuit in the purge valve control. The purge valve is what lets stored fuel vapour into the engine to be burned, and the computer opens it only under conditions where the extra fuel will not upset the mixture.
An electrical fault here often comes with a very specific complaint: the car runs badly for a minute or two immediately after a fill-up. That happens when the valve is stuck open and raw vapour from a full tank floods the intake. If that pattern matches, the valve rather than the wiring is usually the part at fault.
Repair options and cost
Typical US independent-shop ranges, parts and labor. Dealers run higher; regional labor rates vary.
Owner reports mentioning P0444
“Problem: Reoccurring check engine light and ODB2 Code's P0443 & P0444 Repairs made: MAF Sensor Purge Control Valve Reset Computer Air filter Cap less Gas Fill, W0133-2022154 Related Safety recalls: 18S32, 19V515000, 18V735 or 18V735000 I believe the Problem occurs due to an recall that was not performed or performed correctly leaving the problem. I am requesting the recall repair history from form Motor Company Please. Thank You, [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).”2012 Ford Focus · Feb 2022
“The computer on the car is messed up and keeps turning the check engine light on for p0444 and had a shop check it and replace the part and it's still coming on. It wil trip the code sitting in neutral and or driving less then 5 miles.”2003 Nissan Sentra · Jul 2019 · 185,878 mi
Cars that report P0444 most often
Based on mentions of this code in NHTSA owner complaints.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with P0444?
Yes - but a purge valve stuck open can make the engine stall after refuelling.
How much does it cost to fix P0444?
Typical US repair costs range from $20 for the simplest fix (purge control valve) to $400 in the worst case. The right number depends on which cause your car has - see the causes list.
Related codes
The codes closest to P0444. They often appear together, and telling them apart is usually what narrows the diagnosis.
Definition per SAE J2012 standard nomenclature. Symptoms, causes and costs are editorial guidance - always confirm with a diagnosis of your specific vehicle.