Sensor B is a second mass air flow sensor in a second intake path, found on engines with two air filter boxes – for example the Nissan VR30DDTT twin-turbo V6 (where sensor B belongs to bank 2) or GM's 3.0 litre twin-turbo V6. P010A is the general circuit fault of sensor B: no usable signal at all, just like P0100 for sensor A. Ford's 2020–2023 petrol summary lists it for a broken element of digital sensor B, with the same limit as sensor A (period above 1.3 ms for half a second); which engines carry sensor B is not stated. GM's twin-turbo V6 only uses the other sensor B codes. The engine can run on values calculated from manifold pressure, throttle and the remaining sensor.
Medium severity. Can I keep driving?You can drive in moderation. If the engine goes into limp mode, go to a repair shop without passing other vehicles or demanding power.
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Lack of power, hesitation (substitute value)
- Rough idle
- Start-stop may be disabled
Most likely causes
- Connector or wiring of sensor B open
- Sensor B faulty internally (broken element)
- Supply of sensor B missing (fuse, relay)
- Control module input faulty
What to check, in order
Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.
Good to know
- Repair difficulty: easy
- It can trigger limp mode.
- It affects emissions.
What each character of P010A means
- P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
- 0: Generic code: same on every make
- 1: Air and fuel
- 0A: Specific fault in that system
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep driving with code P010A?
You can drive in moderation. If the engine goes into limp mode, go to a repair shop without passing other vehicles or demanding power.
What causes code P010A?
The most common causes are: connector or wiring of sensor B open; sensor B faulty internally (broken element); supply of sensor B missing (fuse, relay).
Related codes
- P0100Mass or Volume Air Flow Sensor A Circuit
- P010BMass or Volume Air Flow Sensor B Circuit Range/Performance
- P010CMass or Volume Air Flow Sensor B Circuit Low
- P010DMass or Volume Air Flow Sensor B Circuit High
- P010EMass or Volume Air Flow Sensor B Circuit Intermittent/Erratic
- P010FMass or Volume Air Flow Sensor A/B Correlation
Sources
- law.cornell.edu: 13 CCR 1968.2
- fordservicecontent.com: OBD Operations Summary Gasoline 2020 2023
- saabwisonline.com: dtc p0100 p0103 lau
Values and procedures vary by manufacturer. If it affects brakes, steering, fuel or high voltage, see a professional. Updated: 2026-11-04. How we build these pages.