P0096 fault code: Intake Air Temperature Sensor 2 Circuit Range/Performance

P0096 means “Intake Air Temperature Sensor 2 Circuit Range/Performance” — a fuel and air metering fault in the powertrain.

Can I DIY?

Professional-only boundary. You can read P0096; judging sensor 2 performance against other temps is garage work.

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 P0096

Do not drive. The second intake-air temperature sensor is sending a value the computer will not accept — out of range or at odds with other temperatures — so mixture maths may be wrong.

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

  • Intake Air Temperature Sensor 2 Circuit Range/Performance: Registration number
  • Intake Air Temperature Sensor 2 Circuit Range/Performance: Exact code P0096 plus freeze-frame intake-air temperature if the scanner showed it
  • Intake Air Temperature Sensor 2 Circuit Range/Performance: Companion codes from the same scan
  • Intake Air Temperature Sensor 2 Circuit Range/Performance: Whether the car had just been on a motorway or a short cold trip
P00xxFuel and air metering
MOT fail riskif the warning light stays on

What does P0096 mean?

P0096 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 “Intake Air Temperature Sensor 2 Circuit Range/Performance”. The code itself tells you which circuit or system tripped the fault — not always the exact part that failed.

Will P0096 fail an MOT?

An illuminated engine management light is a Major defect at MOT until the fault is repaired and the lamp stays off. P0096 is a performance check on intake-air temperature sensor 2, not an MOT smoke-test result.

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

P0096 — quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0096?

Do not drive. We have no verified driving guidance for P0096 — treat as do not drive until checked. A range/performance flag is not the same as a proven 'bad sensor' you should replace on the driveway.

Will P0096 fail my MOT?

An illuminated engine management light is a Major defect at MOT until the fault is repaired and the lamp stays off. P0096 is a performance check on intake-air temperature sensor 2, not an MOT smoke-test result.

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.