P2000 on Honda: Causes, Symptoms and Fix Cost
Quick Answer
Safe to drive (short-term)
P2000 on a Honda means the engine computer has tested the NOx trap (also called a NOx adsorber, NOx storage catalyst or lean NOx trap) on bank 1 and found it is removing less nitrogen oxide than it should. A NOx trap is a catalyst fitted to some diesels and a few lean-burn petrol engines: it stores NOx during normal running, and the engine then runs briefly rich to release the stored NOx and turn it into nitrogen. A trap is not an SCR system: it needs no AdBlue, while an SCR system does and is usually judged by its own efficiency code, P20EE (VW group documentation also lists reductant dosing under P2000). The usual causes are an aged or fuel-contaminated trap, a faulty sensor that judges the trap, an exhaust leak or poor fuel. P2001 is the bank 2 twin, which only exists on engines with two banks.
- Severity
- Moderate · Emissions
- Typical repair cost, all makes
- €65-€3000
Connect a standard OBD2 adapter (Bluetooth LE on iPhone) to your Honda and Skanyx tells you what P2000 means on that engine, whether it is safe to keep driving, and what the fix should cost. Free on iPhone and Android.
Get Skanyx freeWhat does P2000 mean on a Honda?
The Quick Answer above is the generic definition. What follows is the model-specific detail for the Honda models that log P2000.
Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC
2018 onward
Honda's launch information for the revised 1.6 i-DTEC diesel in the 10th generation Civic (European sales from March 2018) describes a NOx storage converter system, with larger catalysts and more precious metal, that stores nitrogen oxide until a regeneration cycle. The same pages do not mention AdBlue, so on this car P2000 points to the trap, its sensors or the exhaust. Check for an AdBlue filler cap before assuming either system.
Source: carmag.co.za, fleetworld.co.uk
Sources
- carmag.co.za carmag.co.za/news/new-models/honda-details-frugal-new-i-dtec-engine-for-civic/
- fleetworld.co.uk fleetworld.co.uk/diesel-returns-to-the-honda-civic/
What causes P2000 on a Honda?
Beyond the generic causes listed on the main P2000 page, these are the patterns noted for Honda models:
Worn or fuel-contaminated NOx storage converter
: Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC
Fault in a sensor that monitors the converter
: Honda Civic 1.6 i-DTEC
How to diagnose P2000 on a Honda with OBD2
- Find out what the car has. A filler cap for AdBlue means the car has an SCR system, which most makes judge with P20EE, although VW group lists dosing faults under P2000 as well, so on those cars the code can involve the SCR side. A diesel with no AdBlue tank has a NOx trap. Then read all stored codes and the freeze frame. A generic OBD2 reader shows the codes, the freeze frame and standard live data, but on most cars not the NOx readings, the trap's load or its regeneration status, and it cannot start a trap regeneration or the manufacturer's clean-out routine: those need manufacturer-level software.
- Deal with any sensor codes stored alongside first: NOx sensor circuit codes such as P2200, oxygen sensor codes and exhaust temperature sensor codes. The computer judges the trap from these sensors, so a faulty one can make a good trap look worn.
- Look over the exhaust from the engine to the trap for leaks, cracks and loose joints, and check the sensor connectors for corrosion and heat damage. A leak changes the oxygen the sensors see.
- Ask about recent fuel. Sulphur from poor or wrong-grade fuel takes up the places where the trap stores NOx. Some makes have a high-temperature clean-out routine for this, run with manufacturer-level software, but whether yours does is a question for the workshop data.
- With manufacturer-level software, compare the NOx or oxygen readings before and after the trap during a regeneration, and check the trap's temperature. A downstream reading that does not fall well below the upstream one during regeneration points to the trap itself.
- Check the engine for faults that spoil the exhaust, such as a leaking injector or an EGR fault, and fix them before condemning the trap. A new trap fitted to an engine that still produces the same exhaust will wear out the same way.
- After the repair, clear the code and have any trap or sensor adaptations done that the manufacturer asks for. The efficiency monitor runs only in certain conditions, so confirm the repair over several normal trips.
How much does P2000 cost to fix on a Honda? (EUR)
Estimated repair costs for P2000 in EUR, compiled across makes. Honda costs typically sit in the middle of each range.
| Repair | Parts Cost | Labor Cost | Total Estimate | DIY Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Repair exhaust leak before or around the trap | €20–€100 | €60–€200 | €80–€300 | Professional |
| Replace oxygen (lambda) sensor before or after the trap | €60–€250 | €40–€150 | €100–€400 | Moderate |
| Replace exhaust gas temperature sensor | €25–€100 | €40–€120 | €65–€220 | Moderate |
| Replace NOx sensor (on cars that use them to judge the trap) | €250–€1000 | €100–€300 | €350–€1300 | Professional |
| Replace NOx trap (NOx storage catalyst); wide range, no firm price exists | €500–€2500 | €150–€500 | €650–€3000 | Professional |
Prices estimated as of October 2026. Costs vary by region, vehicle, and shop.
Codes related to P2000
These codes are often seen alongside P2000 or point to related issues, on any make:
Looking for the full P2000 reference (all makes, full diagnosis flow, complete repair cost matrix)? See the main P2000 guide