P0471: Exhaust Pressure Sensor Range/Performance
Key takeaways
- P0471 means the exhaust pressure sensor's reading is out of the range the computer expects for how the engine is running, or doesn't change when it should.
- It's mostly a diesel code: diesel pickups and heavy trucks use exhaust back-pressure for turbo, EGR, exhaust brake and particulate filter control; some gas turbo engines have the sensor too.
- A plugged or cracked sensor tube, or a loose connector, causes it more often than the sensor itself.
- A new exhaust pressure sensor runs $150–$450; a clogged particulate filter that needs cleaning is the expensive end, about $400–$1,000.
- Ford tells technicians to replace the exhaust pressure sensor on 2018–2019 F-150 2.7L EcoBoost trucks with P0471; Nissan and Ram diesel bulletins are software updates.
What P0471 means
The sensor that measures pressure in your exhaust is giving a reading that doesn’t fit how the engine is running. Scanners call it Exhaust Pressure Sensor “A” Circuit Range/Performance. This is mostly a diesel code. Diesel pickups, vans and heavy trucks have an exhaust back-pressure sensor, usually near the exhaust manifold or turbo, and the computer uses it to control the variable turbo, EGR, exhaust brake and, on many engines, the diesel particulate filter (DPF). Some gas turbo engines have one too. The computer compares the reading with what it expects at key-on (roughly atmospheric pressure) and under load; when the reading is stuck, sluggish or out of range with a healthy circuit, it sets P0471.
Is it safe to drive?
Yes, for the short term. Most trucks drive normally with P0471, though the exhaust brake may be switched off and some diesels reduce power. Don’t leave it for months: on a diesel, a wrong back-pressure reading can upset DPF regeneration, and a filter that stops cleaning itself costs far more than the sensor. The answer changes if the truck goes into a severe power cut, a DPF or “exhaust filter full” warning comes on, or you smell exhaust in the cab. Then get it in right away.
Causes, ranked
| Cause | How you confirm it | Typical cost (US independent shop, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor tube or hose plugged with soot, cracked or loose | Reading flat at idle and under load; tube blocked when removed; crack or melted hose | $50–$250 |
| Connector or wiring fault | Corrosion or heat damage at the plug; reading drops out when the harness is moved | $100–$250 |
| Exhaust pressure sensor failed | Tube clear and circuit good, but the reading doesn’t match a gauge or key-on atmospheric value | $150–$450 |
| Engine computer software (some diesels) | A bulletin for your exact model names P0471, often for cold weather | $100–$200, or free under warranty |
| Restricted DPF or converter pushing the reading high | Back-pressure high on a gauge too; DPF soot load high; regeneration won’t complete | $400–$1,000 for cleaning; replacement higher |
| Exhaust leak ahead of the sensor | Soot trail or ticking at the manifold or turbo flange | $150–$600 |
What to check first
- Read the live value with the key on, engine off. A healthy sensor should read close to outside air pressure. If it doesn’t, it’s the sensor or its circuit.
- Pull and clear the sensor tube. Soot plugging and cracked hoses are the most common and cheapest answer.
- Inspect the connector and harness near the hot exhaust for melted insulation or corrosion.
- Check for a software update before buying parts on a diesel pickup.
- Compare with a gauge and check DPF soot load before condemning the filter.
The bulletins are almost all trucks. Most are Mack and Volvo heavy-truck notices, plus Ram 2500–5500 notices for 2019–2022. Engine software is the fix in the 2011 Ram 2500/3500 6.7L Cummins bulletins and the 2016 Nissan Titan XD 5.0L Cummins ones, the Nissan fix aimed at cold weather. On the gas side, Ford tells technicians to replace the exhaust pressure sensor on 2018–2019 F-150 2.7L EcoBoost trucks.
What it costs
The cheap outcome is a cleared or replaced sensor tube, $50–$250, or a software update at $100–$200. The common outcome is a new exhaust pressure sensor at $150–$450. The expensive outcome is a restricted particulate filter that needs professional cleaning, about $400–$1,000, with replacement well above that on diesel trucks. A $100–$180 diagnosis with a key-on reading and a gauge check tells you which one you have before anyone quotes a filter.
Related codes
P0470 is the circuit version of the same sensor. On diesels, P0471 often appears with particulate filter codes like P2002 or P2463, or turbo underboost P0299, because they all use the same exhaust pressure information. For what the light itself means, see check engine light on.
What owners report to NHTSA
10 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0471, 10 of them since 2015, across 8 different models. The component owners most often filed it under: engine.
Manufacturer service bulletins that name P0471
26 technical service bulletins and manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA mention P0471, from 8 makes. A bulletin means the manufacturer has documented a known cause or a fix procedure for that model. Examples:
- VOLVO VOLVO, bulletin 10198817: Volvo Chassis - Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P0471 Illuminating The Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) - Turbo Compound Generation I
- MACK MACK, bulletin 10207020: Mack Chassis - Diagnostic Trouble Code ( DTC ) P0471 Illuminating The Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) - US17+OBD16, US17+OBD18 (GHG17, Common Rail Fuel System) Chassis With Turbo Compound ONLY
- VOLVO BUS VOLVO BUS, bulletin 10209825: Volvo Chassis - Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P0471 Illuminating The Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) - Turbo Compound Generation I
- VOLVO VT, bulletin 10209825: Volvo Chassis - Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P0471 Illuminating The Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) - Turbo Compound Generation I
- RAM 5500 (2021, 2022), bulletin 10223782: Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illumination. Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P0471 ? Exhaust Pressure Sensor 1 Performance, Set.
- RAM 2500 (2021, 2022), bulletin 10230318: Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illumination. Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P0471 ? Exhaust Pressure Sensor 1 Performance, Set.
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
Is P0471 only on diesels?
Mostly. Diesel pickups, vans and heavy trucks rely on exhaust back-pressure readings for the turbo, EGR, exhaust brake and particulate filter. A few gas turbo engines have the sensor too; Ford has a bulletin for the 2018–2019 F-150 2.7L EcoBoost.
Can I drive with P0471?
Usually yes, for a while. Most trucks drive normally, though the exhaust brake may stop working and some diesels cut power. Get it fixed soon, because a bad back-pressure reading can upset particulate filter cleaning and turn a sensor job into a filter job.
Is P0471 the sensor or a clogged DPF?
Usually the sensor or its tube. The small tube that carries exhaust pressure to the sensor fills with soot or cracks, and the reading goes flat. A restricted particulate filter or converter can also push the reading out of range, which is why a shop compares the sensor with a gauge before buying a filter.
What's the difference between P0470 and P0471?
P0470 is a circuit fault: the sensor wiring is open, shorted or out of voltage range. P0471 means the circuit is fine but the reading doesn't fit what the engine is doing, which points at a plugged tube, a lazy sensor or a real exhaust restriction.