P0464: Fuel Level Sensor A Circuit Intermittent
A generic powertrain (engine and transmission) trouble code, same meaning on every brand.
Yes - same rule: trust the odometer, not the gauge.
Symptoms
- Gauge needle bouncing while driving
- Level reading different every key cycle
- Intermittent check engine light
Likely causes, most common first
- Worn sender track making intermittent contact
- Loose or corroded connector
- Harness intermittently grounding over bumps
- Float arm loose on its pivot
Read P0464 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
P0464 is the intermittent version of the fuel level faults - the signal cuts in and out, typically over bumps or as fuel sloshes. A needle that bounces on rough roads and settles on smooth ones is describing a worn contact inside the sender or a loose connection outside it.
Intermittents reward patience over parts: wiggle-testing the harness near the tank with the gauge in view often reproduces the dropout on demand and localizes it in minutes. If nothing outside the tank misbehaves, the sender's wiper contact has worn - decades of floating up and down polish the contact away, and high-mileage cars earn this code honestly.
Repair options and cost
Typical US independent-shop ranges, parts and labor. Dealers run higher; regional labor rates vary.
Owner reports mentioning P0464
“In past year replace Shock Absorbers in the rear($498), Thermostate/gasket($454), and now need code P0464 Fuel leverl Sensor circuit replaced($750)”2013 Kia Optima · Sep 2023
“Fuel sending sensor is erratic causing chk engine code p0464. Unsafe driving condition and should be recalled to be fix.”2008 Hyundai Santa FE · Oct 2018 · 120,000 mi
“My vehicle has had a fuel gauge that would move up and down while car is still. Today the check engine light came on with a code p0464-fuel level sensor. The fuel in vehicle is at half and the gauge would go all the way to empty (with empty light coming on) then it would go back to half and move every now and then. The vehicle is at 83000. So far the the gauge is somewhat working but is very frustrating knowing that this can be a $500 repair since it will involve the gas tank. This can make for a bad situation if the gauge completely fails.”2008 Hyundai Santa FE · Nov 2016 · 83,000 mi
Show 7 more owner reports
“While waiting at a traffic light, the fuel gauge started reading erratically, eventually causing p0464 error code. Replaced both fuel level sensors & problem returned, within 2 days time.”2008 Hyundai Santa FE · Oct 2016 · 107,000 mi
“After a period of time where I noticed the fuel gauge acting erratically (occasionally widely swinging) the check engine light eventually illuminated. Dealer service found code p0464: "inspected cluster for any loose connections or damage, no issue found with cluster or wiring. Removed the sending units and found send units out of spec when moving by hand and ohm senders. Replaced both sending units and cleared codes." *tr”2008 Hyundai Santa FE · Apr 2016 · 50,945 mi
“At approx 65000 miles of normal driving fuel gauge became erratic and unreliable. Guage reads anywhere from full to one eighth and fluctuates almost constantly regardless of actual fuel level. Check engine light on produced error code p0464. This is a dangerous situation.”2009 Hyundai Santa FE · Mar 2016 · 65,000 mi
“2008 hyundai santa fe, 78k miles. Fuel gage reading starting bouncing around. Showed half full on a freshly filled tank. Eventually check engine light came on. Error code p0464 (fuel level sensor 'a' electrical circuit was intermittent for a predetermined period of time.). Fuel sensors required replacement. An inaccurate fuel reading is a safety concern, just like any other issue that can lead to unexpected vehicle shutdown. The numerous reports on the web concerning the failure of the fuel sensors in the 2008 santa fe suggests strongly that a recall is warranted.”2008 Hyundai Santa FE · Nov 2015 · 78,000 mi
“Leaving my home to travel out of town, the engine light came on. After having a diagnostic test completed I was told the sensors in the gas tank are malfunctioning (p0464) and this is a known issue with 2007 hyundai sante fe models. The gauge telling me how much gas I have is not reading correctly due to the sensor malfunction and can cause me to run out of gas at any time. The dealer refuses to do anything about it without charging me a $98 "diagnostic fee" even though the diagnostic was done elsewhere. I have an extended warranty on this vehicle but they refuse to honor that as well. *tr”2007 Hyundai Santa FE · May 2015 · 90,164 mi
“The fuel level gauge changes randomly. Check engines codes p0463, p0464, p2068 indicates a fuel level sensor failure. This is issue has occurred on other car manufacturers potentially using the same sensor system. There have been no recalls issued for this problem. The owner will not be able to know the accurate fuel level of the vehicle. This may cause tank overfilling and potentially safety and environmental issues. This is very expensive to repair ($1000) and is not covered by hyundai after the 5 year warranty. *tr”2007 Hyundai Santa FE · Mar 2015 · 82,000 mi
“Check engine light came on when starting. Fuel level sensor dropped to empty even though tank was recently filled. Fuel level indicator would rise and fall and give false readings. Diagnostic of check engine light showed p0464: fuel level sensor "a" circuit intermittent. P0463: fuel level sensor "a" circuit high. P2069: fuel level sensor "b" circuit high. Cost to repair close to $900.”2007 Hyundai Santa FE · Feb 2015 · 108,000 mi
Cars that report P0464 most often
Based on mentions of this code in NHTSA owner complaints.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with P0464?
Yes - same rule: trust the odometer, not the gauge.
How much does it cost to fix P0464?
Typical US repair costs range from $80 for the simplest fix (connector or wiring repair) to $700 in the worst case. The right number depends on which cause your car has - see the causes list.
Related codes
The codes closest to P0464. 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.