P0153: O2 Sensor Circuit Slow Response (Bank 2, Sensor 1)
Key takeaways
- P0153 means the upstream oxygen sensor on bank 2 of a V6, V8 or flat engine is switching more slowly than the engine computer allows.
- The car is usually safe to drive; expect a small hit to fuel economy and a failed OBD emissions inspection until it's fixed.
- An exhaust leak, a fouled sensor and an aged sensor are the usual causes; a new upstream sensor is $150–$400 at a US independent shop.
- 16 manufacturer bulletins from 7 makes name P0153, and most of the Stellantis ones are engine-computer software updates, so ask about a bulletin before buying parts.
What P0153 means
The front oxygen sensor on one side of your engine is reacting too slowly to changes in the exhaust.
Scanners call it O2 Sensor Circuit Slow Response (Bank 2, Sensor 1). Bank 2 is the side of a V engine without cylinder 1, so this code only shows up on V6, V8 and flat engines; a four-cylinder has no bank 2. Sensor 1 is the upstream sensor, before the catalytic converter, and it’s the one the engine computer uses to adjust fuel. On a warm engine at steady speed a healthy sensor flips between lean and rich several times a second. The computer times those flips, or watches how fast the sensor follows a small fuel change it makes on purpose, and sets P0153 when the response is slower than its limit.
On engines with a wideband air-fuel sensor in that spot, the code means the same thing, but the shop reads it differently in live data.
Is it safe to drive?
Yes, in most cases. A slow sensor still works; it just gives the computer late information, so fuel control on that bank gets a little sloppy. You may lose some fuel economy, and the light will fail an OBD emissions inspection.
What changes the answer: a flashing check engine light, a stumble or misfire, or a strong fuel or rotten-egg smell. Those point to a misfire or rich running that can overheat the catalytic converter, and they need a look now.
Causes, ranked
| Cause | How you confirm it | Typical cost (US independent shop, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Exhaust leak near the sensor | Ticking at a cold start that fades when warm; soot at the manifold, gasket or flex pipe on that side | $150–$600 |
| Aged original sensor | High miles, lazy switching in live data, no leak or contamination found | $150–$400 |
| Sensor fouled by oil, coolant or silicone | Oily, white or chalky deposits on the tip; oil use, coolant loss, or a valve cover leak above the exhaust | $150–$400 for the sensor, plus the leak (a valve cover gasket is $150–$500) |
| Engine software (certain models) | A bulletin matches your make, model and engine | $100–$200, often $0 under warranty |
| Weak heater or damaged wiring | Heater code P0155 too; melted or chafed wires, corroded connector | $100–$250 for wiring; sensor if the heater has failed |
Trucks, European cars and sensors rusted into the pipe land at the top of these ranges.
What to check first
- Read every stored code. P0153 alone on a high-mileage engine usually means an aging sensor. With P0133 (the same test on bank 1), suspect something both sides share. With lean codes like P0171, look for a leak.
- Listen for exhaust leaks at a cold start around the bank 2 manifold and the sensor itself. Outside air pulled in at a leak confuses the reading.
- Look for oil or coolant reaching the exhaust: oil use between changes, coolant loss, or a wet valve cover on that side.
- Check the sensor’s switching in live data on a warm engine at a steady 2,000–2,500 rpm, and compare it with bank 1. Our O2 sensor guide explains what normal looks like.
- Ask about bulletins before buying a sensor. Most of the pattern here is software: Stellantis has engine-computer updates naming P0153 for the 2021 Ram 1500, 2015–2016 Ram ProMaster, 2012–2014 Chrysler 200 and Dodge Avenger, and the 2012 Dodge Caravan 3.6L, plus a note that 2021–2022 Jeep Cherokees can show it as a pending-only code on very low miles. Porsche has a bulletin for 2014–2018 911s where the bank 1 and bank 2 codes are assigned the wrong way round, and Infiniti’s fix for 2011–2013 M and QX56 is a new air-fuel sensor and, where it applies, a reprogram.
- Clear it and drive only after a fix. The test needs steady cruising, so give it a few days to confirm.
What it costs
The cheap outcome is a software update at $100–$200, often free under warranty. The common outcome is a new upstream sensor at $150–$400 installed. The expensive outcome is an exhaust leak repair or a sensor plus whatever fouled it, up to about $600. Paying $100–$180 for diagnosis first matters, because a new sensor in a leaking or oily exhaust goes lazy again.
Related codes
P0153 often appears with P0133 on the other bank and P0155 (heater, same sensor). A slow upstream sensor can also muddy the converter test behind P0430. If the car feels normal otherwise, see check engine light on but car runs fine.
What owners report to NHTSA
1 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0153, 1 of them since 2015, across 1 different models. The component owners most often filed it under: engine.
Manufacturer service bulletins that name P0153
16 technical service bulletins and manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA mention P0153, from 7 makes. A bulletin means the manufacturer has documented a known cause or a fix procedure for that model. Examples:
- JEEP CHEROKEE (2021, 2022), bulletin 10221447: Upon scan tool inspection, DTCs for P0133-O2 Sensor Circuit Slow Response 1/1 and P0153-O2 Sensor Circuit Slow Response 2/1 may be present in the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) in a PENDING STATE ONLY (not Active or Sto…
- RAM 1500 (2021), bulletin 10198454: Flash: Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates This bulletin involves reprogramming the PCM with the latest available software. Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination. Upon further inves…
- RAM PROMASTER (2015, 2016), bulletin 10225282: Flash: Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates This bulletin involves reprogramming the PCM with the latest available software. Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination. Upon further inves…
- PORSCHE 911 (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017), bulletin 10148783: Complaint - Incorrect Allocation of Fault Code (P0153/P0133) for Oxygen Sensor (upstream of Catalytic Converter): Replacing both oxygen sensors (upstreamof catalytic converter) (89/18)
- PORSCHE 911 CARRERA (2017), bulletin 10084201: "IF THERE IS A LOSS OF POWER OR IF THE FOLLOWING FAULT CODES ARE STORED IN THE FAULT MEMORY, THE WASTEGATE MUST BE CHECKED FOR SMOOTH OPERATION AND CORROSION: P0133 (OXYGEN SENSOR UPSTREAM OF CATALYTIC CONVERTER, BANK 1)…
- LAND ROVER RANGE ROVER (2016), bulletin 10105881: "ISSUE: THE CUSTOMER MAY OBSERVE A MIL IN THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER RELATING TO THE ENGINE SYSTEM (CHECK ENGINE LIGHT) AND ONE OR MORE CODES STORED IN THE PCM RELATING TO HEATED OXYGEN SENSOR (HO2S) IN THE EXHAUST SYSTEM. T…
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database and manufacturer communications file, snapshots September 2026. A complaint or bulletin that mentions a code is a report about that vehicle, not a statement that the code has one cause.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with P0153?
Yes, in most cases. A slow sensor still reports, just late, so the engine runs close to normal. Get it fixed before your next emissions test, and sooner if the engine stumbles or the light starts flashing.
Is P0153 the same problem as P0133?
It's the same test on the other side of the engine. P0133 is the upstream sensor on bank 1, P0153 is the upstream sensor on bank 2. If both set together, look for something they share, such as software, fuel quality or oil getting into the exhaust, before replacing two sensors.
Will a new O2 sensor fix P0153?
On a high-mileage original sensor, often yes. But an exhaust leak ahead of the sensor or oil and coolant in the exhaust will make a new sensor slow too. Check for leaks and bulletins first.
How long after a repair does P0153 take to clear?
The slow-response test needs a warm engine and steady cruising, so it may take a few days of normal driving to run. Clearing the code with a scanner turns the light off right away, but the readiness monitors reset too.