Fault Code Lookup › Powertrain codes › P0442

P0442 Powertrain · generic OBD-II

Evaporative Emission System Leak Detected (small leak)

P0442 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 16 complaints filed with NHTSA. Updated November 9, 2026.

Owners also write it as P04427A (the last two characters are the sub-code).

  • 16owner reports
  • 15car models
  • 1mention a crash
  • 0mention a fire
  • 2013–2020model years

Which cars get code P0442?

Every model whose owners mentioned P0442 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 P0442 show up?

By brand

  • Chevrolet10
  • Ford2
  • Land Rover2
  • Mercedes-Benz1
  • GMC1

Component the owner filed it under

  1. Fuel/Propulsion System13 (81.3%)
  2. Engine5 (31.3%)
  3. Electrical System2 (12.5%)
  4. Power Train1 (6.3%)
  5. Suspension1 (6.3%)
  6. Structure1 (6.3%)

Is there a recall for P0442?

The others concern the component owners file this code under (Fuel/Propulsion System) on the same cars; they may or may not relate to the code. Recall repairs are free; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

Fuel System, Gasoline: Storage: Evaporative Emissions: Canister Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Focus vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 18V735. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, causing the engine to stall unexpectedly while driving. NHTSA campaign 26V369000 · June 9, 2026 · Affected cars

2014 Ford Focus. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

Fuel System, Diesel: Storage: Tank Assembly General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Chevrolet Silverado 2500, 3500, and GMC Sierra 2500, 3500 vehicles equipped with a dual fuel tank option. The rear fuel tank may collapse and prevent the fuel pump from transferring fuel to the front tank, resulting in an engine stall. NHTSA campaign 23V047000 · February 2, 2023 · Affected cars

2018 Chevrolet Silverado. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

Fuel System, Gasoline: Storage: Tank Assembly General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Chevrolet Equinox all-wheel drive vehicles. The fuel tanks may have been manufactured with an improperly sealed seam, possibly allowing fuel to leak along the seam near the fuel inlet. NHTSA campaign 19V667000 · September 19, 2019 · Affected cars

2019 Chevrolet Equinox. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

Fuel System, Gasoline: Storage Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012 and 2017 Focus vehicles equipped with 2.0L GDI gasoline engines and 2013-2014 Focus ST vehicles equipped with 2.0L GTDI engines, previously recalled under 18V-735. The affected vehicles did not have the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) updated as… NHTSA campaign 19V515000 · July 5, 2019 · Affected cars

2014 Ford Focus. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

Fuel System, Gasoline: Storage: Tank Assembly General Motors, LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2016-2018 GMC Sierra 3500 and Chevrolet Silverado 3500 trucks equipped with gasoline engines and dual fuel tanks. The fuel-level sensor in the front tank may stick in a low-level position, allowing the rear tank to overfill the front tank. NHTSA campaign 19V088000 · February 7, 2019 · Affected cars

2018 Chevrolet Silverado. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

Fuel System, Gasoline: Storage Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2012-2018 Ford Focus vehicles with a 2.0L GDI or 2.0L GTDI engine. The Canister Purge Valve (CPV) may malfunction, possibly causing excessive vacuum in fuel vapor management system. NHTSA campaign 18V735000 · October 23, 2018 · Affected cars

2014 Ford Focus. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

Fuel System, Gasoline: Storage: Auxillary Tank General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2011-2015 Chevrolet Silverado 3500 and GMC Sierra 3500 trucks equipped with dual fuel tanks. The low fuel level sensor for the front tank may stick causing the rear tank to overfill the front tank. NHTSA campaign 17V664000 · October 19, 2017 · Affected cars

2014 Chevrolet Silverado. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

Fuel System, Gasoline: Delivery: Fuel Pump Ford Motor Company (Ford) notified the agency on January 8, 2015, that they are recalling certain model year 2014 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured April 15, 2014, to May 8, 2014, and 2015 Lincoln MKC vehicles manufactured April 21, 2014, to May 15, 2014. On April 30, 2015, Ford expanded the recall… NHTSA campaign 15V005000 · January 9, 2015 · Affected cars

2014 Ford Focus. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

What happened when owners saw P0442?

10 of the 16 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.

…This causes an improper air-fuel mixture, resulting in:Stumbling / Failure to Start Immediately After Refueling (the engine is flooded by gas tank vapors forced in during fill-up).Rough Idling (due to a continuous vacuum leak).Illuminated Check Engine Light tracking Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) P0496 (High Purge Flow) or P0442. Yes, it is available for inspection. The vehicle stumbles, hesitates, and fails to restart at busy gas pumps and intersections which places drivers, passengers, and other motorists at an immediate risk of a collision. Yes, the problem has been validated by an professional auto mechanic shop. No, it has not been inspected by anyone else other than the mechanicshop…
2020 Chevrolet ImpalaUnknown Or Other, Fuel/Propulsion SystemCrashNHTSA complaint 11744373 · Jun 16, 2026
Check engine light came on. P0442 code. Brought for service. Needed to replace fuel components but frame too rusted to mount parts. Told to see body shop for repair if possible. No rust on bed or body . Body shop could not repair frame. Body shop said frame is no longer safe to drive. Unable to pass state inspection. 97000 mi , no commercial use. Well maintained.
2014 Chevrolet SilveradoSuspension, Structure, Fuel/Propulsion SystemNHTSA complaint 11615375 · Sep 19, 2024
Check engine light came on due to the code P0442. It was caused by a faulty purge valve, which my car was already recalled due to this. To my knowledge the valve was replaced. The check engine light is on again, same code. The purge valve was replaced again, but the engine light did not turn off. Upon further inspection, the fuel tank is deformed. The purge valve defect can cause the fuel tank to be vacuumed in on itself, and there happens to be another recall on this issue. My car is not part of this recall. Not only is the check engine light on for the deformed fuel tank, but my MPG number does not match up with the amount of mileage I actually have left. There needs to be another recall…
2014 Ford FocusFuel/Propulsion SystemNHTSA complaint 11540072 · Aug 22, 2023
Engine Control module-PO442 leak detected and PO496 Evaporated Emission System Flow during non-purge. Also, Inflatable Restraint Sensing and Diagnostic Module -1.B1425-03 Control module power circuit. When we fill the gas tank it takes multiple times to start And Stalls While Driving, almost causing accidents. We have diagnostic report by Firestone, Advanced Auto. First believed gas cap problem when started 2020-2021?Problem has become more constant to point of us not being comfortable driving far for fear of accident or getting stuck somewhere.
2015 Chevrolet ColoradoElectrical System, Engine, Fuel/Propulsion SystemNHTSA complaint 11636509 · Jan 17, 2025
STRONG GASOLINE ODOR AFTER FILLING GAS TANK FULL. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT COMES ON. DIAGNOSTIC CODE P0442 ON CAR COMPUTER. NO GAS ODOR WHEN FILLING TANK ONLY ONE-HALF FULL.
2013 Chevrolet CorvetteFuel/Propulsion SystemNHTSA complaint 11222826 · Jun 26, 2019
PURCHASED 2019 EQUINOX HAD 957 MILES ON IT WHEN "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT APPEARED. TOOK IT INTO DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAID CODE WAS P0442 EVAP SMALL LEAK. THEY FOUND PURGE TUBE NOT SEATED FULLY. PRIOR TO DRIVING IT INTO DEALERSHIP WE SMELT GAS FUMES IN THE INTERIOR CABIN. 23 DAYS LATER "CHECK ENGINE" LIGHT APPEARED AT 1426 MILES. HEARD LOUD POP COMING FROM REAR OF CAR. AGAIN GAS FUMES CAN BE SMELT IN THE INTERIOR CABIN. DEALERSHIP SAID CODE P0442 AGAIN BUT IT WAS FROM THE EVAP CANISTER "O" RING FAILURE. THIS EMISSION SYSTEM SEEMS FAULTY AS IT IS A SEALED UNIT BUT SMELLING GAS FUMES IN THE INTERIOR IS NOT SAFE AT ALL.
2019 Chevrolet EquinoxEngineNHTSA complaint 11234911 · Jul 25, 2019
2015 CHEVROLET SONIC HATCHBACK LTZ- FUEL FILLER TUBE LEAKING AT TANK CONNECTION, CAUSING GAS TO SPILL OUT ON GROUND. COULD BE A POTENTIAL A FIRE/EXPLOSION HAZZARD. DISCOVERED WHEN CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ACTIVATED. RAN AN ODBII CODE CHECK INDICATING A P0442 ERROR "EMISSION SYSTEM LEAK-SMALL". OBSERVED GAS FLOWING TO THE GROUND AS THE CAR WAS BEING FILLED WITH GAS. HAD THE CAR LESS THAN 1-WEEK AFTER PURCHASING "USED" WITH 19K MILES.
2015 Chevrolet SonicFuel/Propulsion SystemNHTSA complaint 10871858 · Jun 1, 2016
Bought 6/17/2023 with 81k miles (1.4L turbo). By ~7/1/2023 it ran rough and hesitated after refueling. Firestone (Brick, NJ, 7/5/2023 at 82,090 miles) said radiator leaking; keep topping off; noted open Chevy “special coverage” bulletin. Over ~2 years kept adding coolant (high consumption). Rough running worsened. Lester Glenn Chevy (Toms River, NJ, 10/20/2025 at 122,815 miles) replaced the evaporative emissions purge valve under special coverage N212338400; fixed post-refuel roughness but not overall rough running. Regular oil changes; last 10/1/2025 at 121,872 miles. Codes then: P0171, P0299, P0300, P0442, P0449, P0496. On 11/27/2025, at ~60 mph uphill on the Garden State Parkway, engine…
2019 Chevrolet TraxEngineNHTSA complaint 11710113 · Jan 10, 2026
It was the XXX recall for the DTC P0442/check engine light code. The dealership said that the recall had been satisfied in 6/2020 by putting a buffer in to separate the 2 lines but not replacing the part. Now the exact same code DTC P0442/check engine light in the exact spot that occurred for the original recall. The dealership originally quoted $5,093, then after me complaining that it is the same recalled problem they dropped the cots to $2384. I believe that is an agreement that the manufacturer should cover this. Of course I will have to pay to get my car but I would like the manufacturer to reimburse me for it seeing it was a manufacturer default. I spoke to the manufacturer they flat…
2018 Chevrolet VoltUnknown Or Other, Engine, Fuel/Propulsion SystemNHTSA complaint 11716611 · Feb 8, 2026
I had done a safety recall repair 'RECALL N623 FUEL TANK' on my 2016 Land Rover LR4 Landmark edition (32,051 miles) on 6-19-2022 at LAND ROVER PASADENA, 3485 East Colorado Blvd, Pasadena, CA 91107. Few days after they did the free recall fix I got the below error code 'P0442, Evaporative Emission system leak' that the dealership claims is not related to the recall fix that they did and wants to charge me $250 just to evaluate the issue. But I'm 100% certain this leak is some thing they didn't seal properly at the time of the recall. I'm very unhappy of the outcome and hope I can get this issue fixed without spending any money as before the recall I had no errors what so ever in this car and…
2016 Land Rover LR4Electrical System, Engine, Fuel/Propulsion SystemNHTSA complaint 11534663 · Jul 26, 2023

P0442: questions drivers ask

What does code P0442 mean?

P0442 is a generic OBD-II powertrain code. Its standard definition is "Evaporative Emission System Leak Detected (small leak)". 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 15 car models.

Which cars get code P0442 most often?

In NHTSA owner complaints, P0442 is mentioned most for the Chevrolet Impala (2), Chevrolet Silverado (2), Ford Focus (2), across 15 models and model years 2013 to 2020. Popular models collect more reports because more of them are on the road.

Is there a recall for code P0442?

No NHTSA recall text names P0442 directly. 8 recalls on the cars that report this code concern the same component owners name most (Fuel/Propulsion System); they may or may not relate to the code. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

What should I do if my car shows P0442?

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 P0442 (including sub-code forms such as P04427A). The definition is the generic SAE J2012 wording; a carmaker may use the code slightly differently. Nothing here is a diagnosis. More answers: the fault code FAQ. Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain), retrieved November 9, 2026. How CarHooq reports are made.

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