P0100

Mass or Volume Air Flow Sensor A Circuit

Fuel & air metering Generic OBD-II High

What it means

P0100 means the engine computer has seen a problem in the mass air flow (MAF) sensor circuit — the sensor that measures how much air is entering the engine. Because the computer uses that reading to set fuel delivery, a bad signal can make the engine hesitate, idle rough, or stall, even though it will usually still run in a limited "limp" mode.

High

Can I keep driving? Usually drivable, but the engine may hesitate, stall, or idle rough — fix it promptly, and don't ignore stalling.

Real-world scan data

Seen in

9,272

scans in the past year

Found in

1.5%

of scans

2.6%

of scans that found faults

Appears alongside · share of P0100 scans

P0110in 62.1% of scans

P0683in 36.4% of scans

P0113in 12.5% 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
Reduced power and hesitation on acceleration
Rough idle or stalling
Poor fuel economy
Hard starting in some cases

Common causes

Most likely first

Dirty or contaminated MAF sensor elementLikely
Faulty mass air flow (MAF) sensorCommon
Damaged wiring or a loose/corroded MAF connectorCommon
Vacuum or intake leaks after the MAFLess often
Clogged air filterLess often
Failed PCM (rare)Less often

How to diagnose & fix

Work through it in order

Read freeze-frame data and inspect the MAF connector and wiring.
Clean the MAF element with dedicated MAF cleaner — a common, cheap fix.
Check the air filter and intake ducting for splits or leaks after the MAF.
Compare MAF readings against expected values with a scan tool.
Replace the MAF sensor if it's faulty; consider the PCM only after everything else checks out.

FAQ

Quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0100?+

Short trips are usually possible, but if the engine stalls or bogs down it isn't safe. The computer runs on a rough estimate without a good MAF signal, so get it fixed soon.

Can I just clear P0100?+

It will return within a drive cycle or two unless the sensor, wiring, or intake leak is repaired.

Read & clear P0100 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