P0072 fault code: Ambient Air Temperature Sensor Circuit Low

P0072 means “Ambient Air Temperature Sensor Circuit Low” — a fuel and air metering fault in the powertrain.

Can I DIY?

Professional-only boundary. Note an extreme low outside-temp reading; do not cut the bumper loom.

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 P0072

Do not drive. The ambient air temperature circuit is pulled too low, which usually means a short to earth or a sensor stuck at its coldest stop. The computer may treat the day as far colder than it is.

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

  • Ambient Air Temperature Sensor Circuit Low: Registration number
  • Ambient Air Temperature Sensor Circuit Low: Exact code P0072 and any companion codes
  • Ambient Air Temperature Sensor Circuit Low: Whether the engine management light is steady or flashing
  • Ambient Air Temperature Sensor Circuit Low: Whether the climate display showed an extreme low outside temperature
P00xxFuel and air metering
MOT fail riskif the warning light stays on

What does P0072 mean?

P0072 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 “Ambient Air Temperature Sensor Circuit Low”. The code itself tells you which circuit or system tripped the fault — not always the exact part that failed.

Will P0072 fail an MOT?

Engine management light on = Major MOT fail. Circuit-low ambient air temperature is not a MOT weather-station check.

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

P0072 — quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0072?

Do not drive. We have no verified driving guidance for P0072. Treat as do not drive until checked. A circuit-low ambient reading can skew cold-start strategy; it is not a 'wait until summer' fault.

Will P0072 fail my MOT?

Engine management light on = Major MOT fail. Circuit-low ambient air temperature is not a MOT weather-station check.

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.