P0472: Exhaust Pressure Sensor A Circuit Low
A generic powertrain (engine and transmission) trouble code, same meaning on every brand.
Yes with care.
Symptoms
- Check engine light
- Reduced power on diesels
- No felt change on some gas engines
Likely causes, most common first
- Signal shorted to ground
- Sensor failed low
- Wiring chafed on the engine
- Connector corrosion
Read P0472 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
P0472 is the low-voltage version of the exhaust pressure fault - the electrical signature of a grounded signal wire or a sensor that has died at the bottom of its range.
Diesel engine bays vibrate harder than gasoline ones, and this sensor's harness commonly runs across the engine to a bracket near the exhaust. Insulation worn through at a clamp is a repeated find. The five-minute check: unplug the sensor and see whether the reading jumps to the opposite rail - the same open-versus-short logic that settles every three-wire sensor circuit.
Repair options and cost
Typical US independent-shop ranges, parts and labor. Dealers run higher; regional labor rates vary.
Owner reports mentioning P0472
“My 2010 vw jetta tdi is throwing check engine light codes of p0472 and p0471. Both of these have to do with exhaust pressure sensors and I think this is an environmental issue and should be subject to a mandatory recall. The local vw dealership denies any recall would cover these cel codes.”2010 Volkswagen Jetta · Jan 2016 · 84,482 mi
Cars that report P0472 most often
Based on mentions of this code in NHTSA owner complaints.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with P0472?
Yes with care.
How much does it cost to fix P0472?
Typical US repair costs range from $80 for the simplest fix (wiring repair) to $450 in the worst case. The right number depends on which cause your car has - see the causes list.
Related codes
The codes closest to P0472. 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.