P2002 means the particulate filter on bank 1 lets too much soot through, typically because the substrate is cracked, partly melted, emptied or bypassed. CARB requires diesel OBD to flag a filter whose filtering performance lets PM emissions exceed the limit. Older systems judge this from the pressure drop: GM's 2009 Duramax compares the flow resistance shortly after a regeneration (within 600 s or 18.6 miles, soot load at most 40 g) with a table and aims at a filter leaking eight times the standard. Newer systems use a resistive PM sensor behind the filter: on the 2014 Cruze 2.0 diesel, GM's 2018 diesel group and Ford's 2023 diesels the code sets when the sensor current exceeds 12 µA before the modelled amount of soot needed to trigger an intact sensor has passed. Ford names cracked substrates on Transit 3.2, F-150 3.0 and Super Duty 6.7 and replaces the filter; GM states that a filter with P2002 cannot be cleaned by service regeneration. Regenerating does not cure it.
Medium severity. Can I keep driving?You can keep driving in moderation, but the car emits more particulates and may not pass an emissions inspection. Make an appointment soon, because a measurement fault can also leave regenerations uncontrolled.
Bank 1 is the side of the engine with cylinder 1. Inline engines only have this bank.
Symptoms
- Malfunction indicator lamp on
- Usually no change in driveability
- Visible soot at the tailpipe in severe cases
Most likely causes
- Filter substrate cracked or melted, often after an uncontrolled regeneration
- Filter removed, emptied or bypassed
- Faulty differential pressure sensor or leaking sensor hoses on pressure-based systems
What to check, in order
Start with the simplest. You can tick off each step.
Good to know
- Repair difficulty: hard
- It affects emissions.
What each character of P2002 means
- P: Powertrain: engine and transmission
- 2: Generic code: same on every make
- 0: Subsystem depends on the code range
- 02: Specific fault in that system
Frequently asked questions
Can I keep driving with code P2002?
You can keep driving in moderation, but the car emits more particulates and may not pass an emissions inspection. Make an appointment soon, because a measurement fault can also leave regenerations uncontrolled.
What causes code P2002?
The most common causes are: filter substrate cracked or melted, often after an uncontrolled regeneration; filter removed, emptied or bypassed; faulty differential pressure sensor or leaking sensor hoses on pressure-based systems.
Related codes
- P2003Diesel Particulate Filter Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 2)
- P2463Diesel Particulate Filter Restriction - Soot Accumulation (Bank 1)
- P2453Diesel Particulate Filter Pressure Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance
- P24AFParticulate Matter Sensor Circuit Range/Performance
Sources
- law.cornell.edu: 13 CCR 1968.2
- gsi.ext.gm.com: 09OBDG01 DURAMAX Engine Diagnostics
- gsi.ext.gm.com: 14OBDG04 Engine Diagnostics
- gsi.ext.gm.com: 18OBDG04 Engine Diagnostics
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.