Top Makes and Models with DTC P0401

Driving with Code P0401—Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Flow Insufficient Detected—is okay temporarily. However, delaying repairs beyond a few days risks expensive engine damage. Many Fords, Toyotas, and VWs have high occurrence rates with this code, but other makes and models are vulnerable.

David Goldberg
November 13, 2024

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Top 10 Most Affected Makes

Rank	Make	Low	Moderate	High
1	Ford	Escape, Edge, Fusion, Fiesta	Expedition, F-250, Explorer, Taurus, Focus	F-150, Mustang, F-350, Range
2	Toyota	Tacoma, Corolla, Tundra, RAV4, 4Runner, Avalon, Highlander, Sienna, Sequoia	N/A	Camry, Prius
3	Volkswagen	Passat, Tiguan, CC	N/A	Jetta
4	Chevrolet	Malibu, Equinox, Colorado, Avalanche, Tahoe, Traverse, Cruze, Camaro, Silverado 2500, Suburban	N/A	Impala
5	Chrysler	N/A	N/A	Town & Country
6	Nissan	Sentra, Rogue, Pathfinder, Titan, Xterra, Versa, Frontier	N/A	N/A
7	Pontiac	Grand Prix	G6	N/A
8	Dodge	Grand Caravan, Charger, Durango, Ram 1500, Dakota	N/A	N/A
9	GMC	Sierra, Terrain, Yukon, Acadia	N/A	N/A
10	Cadillac	Escalade, CTS, DeVille, SRX	N/A	N/A

Code P0401-related issues impact vehicles from a wide array of manufacturers—SUVs, trucks, and passenger cars are all vulnerable. FIXD sensor data reveal that vehicles most likely to experience a P0401 code are:

Below is an expanded look at how a P0401 code impacts numerous makes and models. This breakdown covers occurrence rates by model year (2000-2023) and separates the frequency into low, moderate, or high levels. The worst of the worst are the nine vehicles listed above.

What is the P0401 Code?

Car Mechanic scanning a vehicle at a city street — *This AI-generated image may not accurately represent all aspects of the intended subjects whether a person or object.*

A P0401 code (Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Flow Insufficient Detected) indicates that the engine control module (ECM) or powertrain control module (PCM) has detected insufficient exhaust gas flow through the EGR system. This technology reduces emissions by recirculating exhaust gases back into the engine. This issue typically occurs due to a faulty EGR valve, blocked passages, a vacuum leak, a bad sensor, or damaged wiring preventing proper EGR system operation.

Read the complete article on P0401 Engine Code | Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Flow Insufficient Detected to discover the trouble areas to consider. This resource also offers tips on diagnosing the problem and what a DIYer can do to tackle a P0401 code independently (and when not to).

Top Models for P0401 Codes

Here’s a look at the makes and models most likely to have P0401 codes, according to FIXD sensor data. The absence of a model year ranking indicates no P0401 code was detected among the analyzed years, insufficient data, or the model wasn’t in production.

Acura

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Acura MDX	2001, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019	2002, 2003, 2005	2004, 2006

Audi

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Audi A4	2002, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014	N/A	N/A

BMW

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
BMW 325i	2006	N/A	N/A
BMW X5	2004, 2005, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017	N/A	N/A

Buick

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Buick Enclave	2012, 2013, 2014, 2018	2008	N/A
Buick LaCrosse	2007	N/A	N/A
Buick LeSabre	2002, 2005	2003	2001, 2004

Cadillac

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Cadillac Escalade	2002, 2007	N/A	N/A
Cadillac CTS	2005	N/A	N/A
Cadillac DeVille	2001, 2002, 2003	N/A	N/A
Cadillac SRX	2011	N/A	N/A

Chevrolet

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Chevrolet Avalanche	2002, 2007	N/A	N/A
Chevrolet Colorado	2012, 2015, 2019	2014	N/A
Chevrolet Cruze	2017	N/A	N/A
Chevrolet Equinox	2008, 2009	2005, 2006, 2007, 2018	N/A
Chevrolet Impala	2001, 2002, 2003, 2005, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013	2004	2006
Chevrolet Malibu	2002, 2003, 2011	2001, 2005, 2006	2004
Chevrolet Tahoe	2001, 2015	N/A	N/A
Chevrolet Traverse	2011, 2012	N/A	N/A

Chrysler

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Chrysler Town & Country	2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013	N/A	2010

Dodge

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Dodge Charger	2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013	2008	N/A
Dodge Dakota	2005, 2007, 2008	N/A	N/A
Dodge Durango	2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020	N/A	N/A

Ford

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Ford Edge	2010, 2013, 2015, 2019	N/A	N/A
Ford Escape	2006, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2015, 2022	2001, 2003, 2004, 2008	2002, 2005
Ford Expedition	2002, 2005, 2006	2001, 2004	2003
Ford Explorer	2001, 2002, 2007	2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009	2010
Ford F-150	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2022	2002, 2003	2001
Ford F-250	2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2019	2006, 2012, 2014	2011
Ford F-350	2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017	N/A	2009, 2019
Ford Fiesta	2016	N/A	N/A
Ford Focus	2004, 2006, 2009	2001, 2003	2002
Ford Fusion	2007, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2015	N/A	N/A
Ford Mustang	2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2016	N/A	2010
Ford Ranger	2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2020	N/A	2001
Ford Taurus	2004, 2006, 2014	2001, 2002, 2003, 2005	2007

GMC

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
GMC Acadia	2012, 2017	N/A	N/A
GMC Sierra	2002, 2004, 2007, 2018	N/A	N/A
GMC Terrain	2001, 2013, 2018	N/A	N/A
GMC Yukon	2001, 2003, 2005, 2006	N/A	N/A

Honda

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Honda Pilot	2011, 2012	N/A	N/A

Infiniti

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Infiniti G35	2003, 2004	N/A	N/A

Jeep

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Jeep Grand Cherokee	2004, 2005, 2008, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022	2007, 2016	N/A
Jeep Liberty	2002, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012	2005, 2006, 2011	N/A
Jeep Wrangler	2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2015, 2017	N/A	2011

Lexus

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Lincoln Navigator	2001, 2002, 2005	2003, 2004	N/A

Mercury

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Mercury Mountaineer	2001, 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007	2003, 2004	2008

Mini

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Mini Cooper	2014, 2015	N/A	N/A

Nissan

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Nissan Frontier	2002	N/A	N/A
Nissan Pathfinder	2005, 2008, 2010	N/A	N/A
Nissan Rogue	2010, 2021	N/A	N/A
Nissan Sentra	2002, 2013, 2017, 2020. 2021, 2022	N/A	N/A
Nissan Titan	2011, 2019	N/A	N/A
Nissan Versa	2008	N/A	N/A
Nissan Xterra	2002	N/A	N/A

Pontiac

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Pontiac G6	2005, 2008	N/A	N/A
Pontiac Grand Prix	2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2008	N/A	N/A

Ram

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Ram 1500^	2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2022	N/A	N/A

Scion

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Scion tC	2006, 2008	N/A	N/A

Subaru

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Subaru Forester	2009, 2014	N/A	N/A

Toyota

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Toyota 4Runner	2002, 2004, 2013	N/A	N/A
Toyota Avalon	2001, 2003	N/A	N/A
Toyota Camry	2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020	N/A	2001
Toyota Corolla	2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021	2005, 2015	N/A
Toyota Highlander	2005, 2018	N/A	N/A
Toyota Prius	2008, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014	N/A	2010
Toyota RAV4	2002, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2012	N/A	N/A
Toyota Sequoia	2001, 2012	N/A	N/A
Toyota Sienna	2004, 2017	N/A	N/A
Toyota Tacoma	2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2011, 2012, 2021	N/A	2003
Toyota Tundra	2010, 2011, 2012, 2016	2013	N/A

Volkswagen

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Volkswagen CC	2013	N/A	N/A
Volkswagen Jetta	2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2009, 2010, 2015	2011, 2013	2012, 2014
Volkswagen Passat	2001, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2011, 2012	N/A	2013, 2014
Volkswagen Tiguan	2010	N/A	N/A

^ Beginning with the 2010 model year, Ram was spun off from Dodge and became a separate brand. Ram-branded trucks are often referred to as Dodges, although this is technically not correct.

Source:

Data was collected from installed FIXD vehicle sensors from the 2000-2023 model years.

David Goldberg

Dave Goldberg is an automotive journalist and lifelong car fanatic. He writes for numerous enthusiast and business outlets and is an ongoing contributor to HotCars.com, one of the most popular car culture websites. When he’s not writing or driving, Dave is either under a hood or asleep. His credentials include a BA in Journalism from The George Washington University.

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