P0070

Ambient Air Temperature Sensor Circuit A

Ambient air temperature sensor Generic OBD-II Low

What it means

P0070 means the computer sees a circuit fault in the ambient (outside) air temperature sensor — usually an open, short, or wiring problem. This sensor reads the temperature of the air around the vehicle and mostly feeds the dashboard display and automatic climate control, with only minor input to engine trims. The engine runs normally, so the practical effect is an unreliable temperature reading rather than a drivability problem.

Low

Can I keep driving? Yes — the engine runs fine; this sensor mainly feeds the outside-temperature display and minor trims, so the impact on driving is small.

Real-world scan data

Seen in

1,457

scans in the past year

Found in

0.2%

of scans

0.4%

of scans that found faults

Appears alongside · share of P0070 scans

P0235in 25.8% of scans

P0670in 24.6% of scans

P0380in 22.9% of scans

Figures reflect only diagnostic scans recorded through our own apps and tools. Cars are typically scanned because a symptom or warning light prompted it, so these counts describe our scan records — not the incidence of faults in any model, and not the quality, reliability, or safety of any vehicle. No comparison between manufacturers or models is implied. All trademarks belong to their respective owners; no affiliation or endorsement is implied.

Common symptoms

What you'll notice

Check-engine light on
Inaccurate or stuck outside-air temperature on the dash display
Automatic climate control or defrost behaving oddly

Common causes

Most likely first

Faulty ambient air temperature sensor (often mounted behind the front grille or bumper)Likely
Damaged wiring or connector at the sensor (exposed to road debris and moisture)Common
Open or short in the sensor circuitCommon
Failed instrument cluster or ECM (rare)Less often

How to diagnose & fix

Work through it in order

Confirm the code and locate the sensor (commonly behind the grille or in a mirror).
Inspect the connector and wiring for corrosion, damage, or road-debris impact.
Compare the sensor's reading with the actual temperature using a scan tool.
Test sensor resistance against its temperature spec and replace if out of range.
Repair wiring and clear the code.

FAQ

Quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0070?+

Yes — it's safe. The main downside is an inaccurate temperature display and possibly quirky automatic climate control.

Can I just clear P0070?+

It returns until the sensor or wiring is fixed, but it won't affect how the car drives.

Read & clear P0070 yourself

Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.

▶ Get it on Google Play

✓ Verified name — SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6Guidance reviewed by OBD DashX