What P0403 means
Exhaust Gas Recirculation Circuit Malfunction
Common causes (general)
Before spending money on parts, verify the code with a scan tool and read freeze frame data. Freeze frame captures every sensor value at the moment the code set — this is often enough to figure out the root cause without further testing.
Manufacturer-specific descriptions
Different manufacturers use this code for slightly different failure modes. Here's what your specific make means by P0403:
| BMW | Exhaust Gas Recirculation Control Circuit |
| FORD | EGR Circuit Malfunction |
| GM | Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Control Circuit Open |
| MITSUBISHI | Exhaust Gas Recirculation Circuit Malfunction; EGR control circuit |
| NISSAN | Exhaust Gas Recirculation Circuit Malfunction |
| VOLKSWAGEN | Exhaust Gas Recirculation (EGR) Solenoid Control Circuit |
Read this code on your own car
DIY Fix My Car reads P0403 plus 25,000+ other DTC codes with manufacturer-specific descriptions. Includes freeze frame data, likely fix parts, and AI mechanic chat. Download free.