Fault Code Lookup › Powertrain codes › P0270
P0270 Powertrain · generic OBD-II
Cylinder 4 Injector Circuit Low
P0270 is a standard code covering engine, transmission, fuel and emissions. It names the system that logged the fault, not the part that failed. Below: which cars owners reported it on, what happened, and recalls on those cars, from 4 complaints filed with NHTSA. Updated November 3, 2026.
- 4owner reports
- 3car models
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention a fire
- 2012–2013model years
Which cars get code P0270?
Every model whose owners mentioned P0270 in a complaint, most reports first. Each year opens that car's full problem report. Popular models collect more reports because more of them are on the road.
Where does P0270 show up?
By brand
- Ford4
Component the owner filed it under
Is there a recall for P0270?
The others concern the component owners file this code under (Power Train) on the same cars; they may or may not relate to the code. Recall repairs are free; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Power Train: Automatic Transmission Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford F-150 trucks, 2012 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and Ford Mustang vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with an automatic transmission that may unexpectedly downshift to first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.
2012 Ford Expedition. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 FORD F-150, 2012 EXPEDITION AND LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, AND 2012-2013 MUSTANG VEHICLES, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NOS. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION…
2012 Ford Expedition. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
What happened when owners saw P0270?
4 of the 4 reports, spread across the models above, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVERAL INSTANCES. THE FIRST ONE I WAS PULLING OUT OF A PARKING LOT ONTO A MAIN ROAD WHEN THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED PULLING, ACTED LIKE IT WAS IN NEUTRAL. I PULLED OVER TURNED OFF THE ENGINE AND RESTARTED IT AND IT WAS FINE. THE NEXT WAS ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY CRUISING AT ABOUT 50 MPH, THE VEHICLE JERKED, LOCKED UP THE REAR TIRES, WENT INTO LIMP MODE, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND CODE WAS P0270 FOR THE OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR. SYSMPTONS ARE THE SAME AS DESCRIBED IN FORDS RECALL #16S19 BUT I WAS TOLD BY FORD THAT MY VEHICLE WAS NOT COVERED UNDER THE RECALL BECAUSE OF THE BUILD DATE ALTHOUGH THE SAME TRANSMISSION A D COMPONENTS WERE USED. THE INSTANCE HAPPENED AGAIN TODAY WITH MY…
I PURCHASED MY 2013 FORD F-150 V6 3.5L FROM JONS FRIENDLY USED CARS BACK IN APRIL OF 2017. THE TRUCK HAS BEEN DOING FINE UNTIL RECENTLY (LAST 2 DAYS). AS I WAS ON MY WAY TO WORK, THE TRUCK WAS DELAYING W/SHIFTING, THE SPEEDOMETER DROPPED TO ZERO AND WHICH PUT THE TRUCK INTO FAILSAFE. AFTER LOOKING INTO THIS AND IDENTIFYING THE CODE (P0270), IT CONFIRMED THE SYMPTOMS I WAS EXPERIENCING. I GUESS I'M WONDERING IS THIS GOING TO BE SOMETHING THAT NEED TO REPLACE (OUT OF POCKET) OR IS FORD OR THE DEALERSHIP NEEDING TO GET THIS REPLACED IF IT'S BEEN IDENTIFIED/POSTED ON THE TSB. HOW CAN I SEE IF MY CAR IS COVERED OR NOT?
I HAVE A F150 4-WHEEL ECO BOOST V6. I RECENTLY HAD MY VEHICLE IN FOR AN OIL CHANGE AND AT THAT TIME DECIDED TO HAVE THE RECALL DONE FOR THE SOFTWARE UPDATE. THE NEXT FEW DAYS I NOTICED THAT THERE WAS SOME HESITATION WITH THE GEARS SHIFTING AND THE TRANSMISSION AT TIMES WOULD DROP. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP TO BRING MY TRUCK BACK IN AT THAT TIME THEY COULD NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG BUT AN OIL PRESSURE SENSOR. SOME DAYS LATER I WAS DRIVING ON THE FEEDER ROAD GETTING READY TO ENTER THE HIGHWAY. AS SOON AS I ENTERED MY SPEEDOMETER STOP WORKING AND THE TRANSMISSION DROPPED INTO 1ST GEAR. THERE WAS A CAR BEHIND ME THAT ALMOST COLLIDED WITH MY TRUCK. MY FAMILY WAS IN THE CAR AT THE TIME AND THIS…
WE TOOK THE VEHICLE TO OUR LOCAL FORD SERVICE CENTER APPROX. AUG. 2017 WITH MILEAGE AT APPROX. 54000 MILES WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS STILL COVERED UNDER FACTORY WARRANTY. WE WERE EXPERIENCING A SUDDEN DOWNSHIFT IN THE TRANSMISSION WHEN DRIVING IN CITY STREETS. THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER WOULD SHOW THE SPEED AT 0 MPH AND THE MESSAGE --- MILES TO EMPTY WOULD DISPLAY. THE DEALERSHIP WAS NOT ABLE TO PULL ANY CODES AT THAT TIME OR DUPLICATE THE SYMPTOMS ON THE VEHICLE. OUR VIN WAS NOT COVERED UNDER ANY RECALL. WE WERE NOT CHARGED. NO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT HAS EVER DISPLAYED UNTIL APRIL 5TH, 2018. I WAS DRIVING THE VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY IN HEAVY TRAFFIC GOING 75 MPH. THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY DOWNSHIFTED CAUSING…
P0270: questions drivers ask
What does code P0270 mean?
P0270 is a generic OBD-II powertrain code. Its standard definition is "Cylinder 4 Injector Circuit Low". The code tells you which system set the fault, not which part failed; the owner reports on this page show what it meant in practice for 3 car models.
Which cars get code P0270 most often?
In NHTSA owner complaints, P0270 is mentioned most for the Ford Expedition (2), Ford E-150 (1), Ford F-150 (1), across 3 models and model years 2012 to 2013. Popular models collect more reports because more of them are on the road.
Is there a recall for code P0270?
No NHTSA recall text names P0270 directly. 2 recalls on the cars that report this code concern the same component owners name most (Power Train); they may or may not relate to the code. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What should I do if my car shows P0270?
Write down when the code appeared and what the car did (warning lights, loss of power, noises, speed, weather). Check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls, ask a dealer or independent workshop to read the stored freeze-frame data before anyone clears the code, and keep the repair order. If the car loses power in traffic, stop driving it. CarHooq does not diagnose: these are owner reports and official recall notices, not repair advice.
How this page was made
CarHooq read the text of every owner complaint filed with NHTSA for 19 US and European brands (model years 2012 onwards) and picked out the diagnostic trouble codes owners wrote down. This page lists every mention of P0270. The definition is the generic SAE J2012 wording; a carmaker may use the code slightly differently. Nothing here is a diagnosis. Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain), retrieved November 3, 2026. How CarHooq reports are made.
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