System: Emissions Control · Standard: SAE J2012 generic code · Severity: Low urgency
No immediate safety risk. Monitor it and fix it at the next service, but do not ignore it indefinitely.
Start with the fuel cap. It is the most common cause and costs nothing to check.
Start by reading every stored and pending code, not just this one. A single fault frequently sets three or four codes at once, and the first one in the freeze-frame data is usually the cause while the rest are consequences.
The evaporative emissions system is not holding pressure or vacuum as expected. Evaporative Emission Control System Malfunction is a generic emissions control code defined by SAE J2012, so it carries the same meaning on every OBD-II vehicle.
Low urgency. No immediate safety risk. Monitor it and fix it at the next service, but do not ignore it indefinitely.
In rough order of how often they turn out to be the problem: Loose or damaged fuel cap; Leaking evap hose; Failed purge or vent valve.
P0401 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Flow InsufficientP0402 Exhaust Gas Recirculation Flow ExcessiveP0411 Secondary Air Injection System Incorrect FlowP0420 Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 1)P0430 Catalyst System Efficiency Below Threshold (Bank 2)P0442 Evaporative Emission Control System Leak Detected (Small Leak)Code number, system and definition follow the SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6 generic diagnostic trouble code standard. Symptoms, causes and severity are the standard generic diagnostic logic for that fault. This page does not contain manufacturer-specific procedures, part numbers or pricing.