P0038 fault code: HO2S Heater Control Circuit High

P0038 means “HO2S Heater Control Circuit High” — a fuel and air metering fault in the powertrain.

Can I DIY?

Professional-only boundary. Confirm P0038 on a reader; do not power the heater from the battery.

Do not DIYReviewed page boundary
ToolsSpecialist equipment

This is the conservative boundary from the reviewed code record. This page has no frozen site-wide safety grade, so it does not publish a repair route.

What to tell the garage about P0038

Do not drive until checked. Bank 1 sensor 2's heater driver is electrically high. The computer sees too much voltage on that heater control line. This is not a fuel-trim story and not P0035 (turbo bypass high).

Take these reviewed, code-specific details with you. They help the garage confirm the fault without turning this page into a repair procedure.

  • HO2S Heater Control Circuit High: Registration number
  • HO2S Heater Control Circuit High: Exact code P0038 and any companion codes
  • HO2S Heater Control Circuit High: Whether the engine management light is steady or flashing
  • HO2S Heater Control Circuit High: Whether the heater-high flag is current or pending only
P00xxFuel and air metering
MOT fail riskif the warning light stays on

What does P0038 mean?

P0038 is a generic (SAE standard) powertrain code reported by your car’s engine control unit. It sits in the P00xx block, which covers fuel and air metering. The stored description is “HO2S Heater Control Circuit High”. The code itself tells you which circuit or system tripped the fault — not always the exact part that failed.

Will P0038 fail an MOT?

An illuminated engine management light is a Major defect at MOT (automatic fail) until the fault is repaired and the light stays off. P0038 does not change that lamp rule.

Before booking your test, check what usually fails on your car: see our MOT pass rates by make and model, built from 33.1 million DVSA tests.

Related guides

Car diagnostic test cost: compare the scopeUK booking marketplaces currently publish diagnostic averages of about £52–£65. Engine management light on: steady or flashing?A steady engine management light means the computer has stored a fault. Drive with caution and get the code read. A flashing light is different — stop when it is safe.
P0001Fuel Volume Regulator Control Circuit/Open P0002Fuel Volume Regulator Control Circuit Range/Performance P0003Fuel Volume Regulator Control Circuit Low P0004Fuel Volume Regulator Control Circuit High P0005Fuel Shutoff Valve 'A' Control Circuit/Open P0006Fuel Shutoff Valve 'A' Control Circuit Low P0007Fuel Shutoff Valve 'A' Control Circuit High P0008Engine Position System Performance

P0038 — quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0038?

Do not drive until checked. We have no verified driving guidance for P0038. Escalated stop-until-checked. Do not keep driving to warm the sensor; a high heater circuit needs workshop tracing.

Will P0038 fail my MOT?

An illuminated engine management light is a Major defect at MOT (automatic fail) until the fault is repaired and the light stays off. P0038 does not change that lamp rule.

Fault-code identifiers are standard diagnostic facts. Their explanations and diagnostic guidance on this site are original editorial summaries, not reproduced SAE wording. MOT defect rules reflect the DVSA MOT inspection manual (2026). This page is general guidance for UK drivers, not a substitute for a professional diagnosis.