P012A

Turbocharger/Supercharger Inlet Pressure Sensor A Circuit

Turbo / boost control Generic OBD-II High

What it means

P012A means the ECM sees a fault in the circuit for the turbocharger/supercharger inlet pressure sensor — the sensor that reports pressure entering the compressor. It's an electrical circuit fault, usually the sensor, its wiring, or the connector. Without a trustworthy signal the ECM often limits boost, so you may notice reduced power or limp mode.

High

Can I keep driving? Driveable but likely down on power — the engine may drop into limp mode to protect itself until the sensor circuit is fixed.

Real-world scan data

Seen in

562

scans in the past year

Found in

0.1%

of scans

0.2%

of scans that found faults

Appears alongside · share of P012A scans

P2263in 64.6% of scans

P012Cin 60.0% of scans

P0201in 56.6% 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 or limp mode
Hesitation or sluggish acceleration
Erratic boost behavior

Common causes

Most likely first

Faulty turbocharger/supercharger inlet pressure sensorLikely
Open or shorted wiring in the sensor circuitCommon
Loose or corroded connector at the sensorCommon
Poor sensor ground or reference voltageLess often
Faulty ECM/PCM (rare — rule out sensor and wiring first)Less often

How to diagnose & fix

Work through it in order

Read freeze-frame data to capture the conditions when the code set.
Inspect the sensor connector and wiring for damage, corrosion, or chafing.
Check reference voltage and the sensor signal on a scan tool; with the key on and engine off it should read close to barometric pressure.
Test the sensor against spec and replace it if the signal is out of range.
Repair wiring as needed. Clear and re-test.

FAQ

Quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P012A?+

You can drive short distances, but the engine may limit boost and power. Get the sensor circuit checked before relying on full performance.

Can I just clear P012A?+

It returns when the ECM next sees the bad signal. The sensor or its wiring needs to be repaired first.

Read & clear P012A 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