Top Makes and Models with DTC P0161

Code P0161: Oxygen O2 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 2, Sensor 2) is common to Chevrolets, Nissans, and Fords but affects many other makes and models. Short-term driving with this code is OK, but delayed repairs can lead to more expensive work and dangerous driving conditions.

David Goldberg
September 18, 2024

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Top 10 Most Affected Makes

Rank	Make	Low	Moderate	High
1	Chevrolet	Traverse, Tahoe, Avalanche, Impala, Suburban, Cobalt, Colorado, Equinox, Malibu, Silverado 2500, Sonic	Camaro	Silverado 1500
2	Nissan	Maxima, Murano, Pathfinder, Rogue, Sentra, Xterra, Frontier	N/A	Altima
3	Ford	Escape, Expedition, Explorer, F-250, Taurus, F-350, Edge, Focus, Fusion, Ranger	N/A	F-150, Mustang
4	Toyota	RAV4, Corolla, Sequoia, Avalon, Highlander, Sienna, Tacoma	Tundra	N/A
5	GMC	Acadia, Envoy, Terrain	Sierra, Yukon	N/A
6	Mercury	N/A	Mountaineer	N/A
7	Cadillac	SRX, DeVille, STS	CTS, Escalade	N/A
8	Jeep	Grand Cherokee, Liberty, Wrangler	N/A	N/A
9	Buick	LaCrosse, LeSabre	Enclave	N/A
10	Dodge	Dakota, Durango, Ram 1500, Charger	N/A	N/A

Code P0161-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 P0161 code are:

Below is an expanded look at how a P0161 code impacts numerous makes and models. This breakdown covers occurrence rates by model year (2001-2023) and separates the frequency into low, moderate, or high levels. The worst of the worst are the five vehicles listed above.

What is the P0161 Code?

Car Mechanic using a scanner — *This AI-generated image may not accurately represent all aspects of the intended subjects whether a person or object.*

P0161 is a diagnostic trouble code that indicates an issue with the oxygen sensor heater circuit on Bank 2, Sensor 2. This sensor is typically located after the catalytic converter on the side of the engine opposite cylinder #1. The code is triggered when the engine control module (ECM) or powertrain control module (PCM) detects a problem with the sensor’s signal, possibly due to a faulty sensor, damaged wiring, a blown fuse, an exhaust leak, or a malfunctioning coolant temperature sensor. In remote cases, the ECM/PCM could be at fault.

Driving with a P0161 code is okay for short periods, but delaying repairs beyond a couple of weeks means a continued reduction in fuel economy and increased emissions. Over time, ignoring the problem can lead to catalytic converter and internal engine damage. To avoid unsafe situations, don’t drive with a P0161 code if there’s hesitation or stalling.

Read the complete article on P0161: Oxygen O2 Sensor Heater Circuit Malfunction (Bank 2, Sensor 2) 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 P0161 code independently (and when not to).

Top Models for P0161 Codes

Here’s a look at the makes and models most likely to have P0161 codes, according to FIXD sensor data. The absence of a model year ranking indicates no P0161 code was detected among the analyzed years, insufficient data, or the model wasn’t in production.

Acura

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Acura MDX	2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009	N/A	N/A

Audi

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Audi A4	2003, 2005, 2006	2002, 2004	N/A

BMW

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
BMW 325i	2001	N/A	N/A
BMW X5	2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2014, 2015	N/A	2002

Buick

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Buick Enclave	2008, 2011, 2012, 2014	2009	2010
Buick LaCrosse	2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2018	N/A	N/A
Buick LeSabre	2005	N/A	N/A

Cadillac

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Cadillac Escalade	2003, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012	2002, 2004	2007
Cadillac CTS	2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012	N/A	2003, 2005
Cadillac SRX	2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2013	2004, 2011, 2012	N/A
Cadillac STS	2005, 2006, 2009	N/A	N/A

Chevrolet

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Chevrolet Avalanche	2004, 2005, 2006, 2010	2003, 2008	2007
Chevrolet Camaro	2001, 2002, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018	2011, 2014, 2019	2010, 2013, 2021
Chevrolet Cobalt	2009	N/A	N/A
Chevrolet Colorado	2010, 2018, 2022	N/A	N/A
Chevrolet Cruze	2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018, 2019	2016	2017
Chevrolet Equinox	2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012	N/A	N/A
Chevrolet Impala	2002, 2006, 2010, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017	2013	2018
Chevrolet Malibu	2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2014, 2015	2011	N/A
Chevrolet Silverado 1500	2001, 2007, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021	2002, 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009	2003, 2004
Chevrolet Silverado 2500	2001, 2003	2004	N/A
Chevrolet Sonic	2012, 2013	N/A	N/A
Chevrolet Suburban	2001, 2007, 2018, 2019	2003, 2004, 2009	2008
Chevrolet Tahoe	2001, 2002, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2012, 2015, 2018	2004	2003, 2005
Chevrolet Trailblazer	2003, 2004, 2006	N/A	2022
Chevrolet Traverse	2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020	2011, 2012	2010

Chrysler

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Chrysler Town & Country	2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013	2014, 2015	N/A

Dodge

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Dodge Charger	2006, 2008	N/A	N/A
Dodge Dakota	2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007	2002	2001
Dodge Durango	2003, 2007, 2011, 2014	2004, 2006	2005
Dodge Grand Caravan	2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017	2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012	2007
Dodge Ram 1500^	2001, 2002, 2007, 2008	2005	2004, 2006

Ford

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Ford Edge	2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014	N/A	N/A
Ford Escape	2001, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012	2003, 2004, 2005	2002
Ford Expedition	2002, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2018	2005, 2008	2001, 2003, 2004, 2006
Ford Explorer	2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015, 2019, 2021	2006, 2007, 2010	2016
Ford F-150	2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022	2001, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2013, 2015	2002, 2003
Ford F-250	2001, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017, 2019	2005, 2006, 2015	N/A
Ford F-350	2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018	N/A	N/A
Ford Focus	2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2017	N/A	N/A
Ford Mustang	2009, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2020	2002, 2003, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010	2001, 2005
Ford Ranger	2001, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011	N/A	N/A
Ford Taurus	2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016	2005, 2006	N/A

GMC

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
GMC Acadia	2008, 2013, 2015, 2016, 2019	2007, 2009, 2011	2010, 2012
GMC Envoy	2006	N/A	N/A
GMC Sierra	2001, 2002, 2007, 2009, 2010, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017	2004, 2008, 2011	2003, 2005, 2006
GMC Terrain	2010	2012	N/A
GMC Yukon	2001, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2009, 2011	2003	2005, 2007, 2008

Honda

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Honda Pilot	2009, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2020	2011, 2012	2010

Infiniti

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Infiniti G35	2004, 2006	N/A	N/A

Jeep

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Jeep Grand Cherokee	2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2011, 2012	2001, 2002	2004
Jeep Liberty	2004, 2005, 2006, 2012	2002	2003
Jeep Wrangler	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013	2001, 2002, 2003	N/A

Kia

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Kia Rondo	2006	N/A	N/A

Lexus

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Lexus IS 250	2008	N/A	2007

Lincoln

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Lincoln Navigator	2004, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011	2003, 2008	N/A

Mercury

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Mercury Mountaineer	2002, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009	2010	2006, 2008

Nissan

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Nissan Altima	2001, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021	2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009	2003, 2004
Nissan Frontier	2001, 2002	N/A	N/A
Nissan Maxima	2001, 2011	N/A	N/A
Nissan Murano	2007, 2016, 2018	N/A	N/A
Nissan Pathfinder	2002, 2014	2001	N/A
Nissan Rogue	2015	N/A	N/A
Nissan Sentra	2001	N/A	N/A
Nissan Titan	2007, 2009, 2011, 2012	N/A	2013
Nissan Versa	2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2018	N/A	2020
Nissan Xterra	2001, 2009	N/A	N/A

Pontiac

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Pontiac G6	2005, 2006, 2007, 2009	2008	N/A

Ram

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Ram 1500^	2011	N/A	N/A

Scion

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

Subaru

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Subaru Outback	N/A	2009	N/A

Toyota

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

Volkswagen

Make + Model	Low	Moderate	High
Volkswagen Jetta	2005, 2014, 2015	N/A	N/A
Volkswagen Passat	2003, 2004, 2012	2002, 2005	N/A

^ Beginning with the 2010 model year, Ram was spun off from Dodge and became a separate brand. Ram-branded trucks are often called Dodges, although this is technically incorrect.

Source:

Data was collected from installed FIXD sensors in vehicles 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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