Fault Code Lookup › Powertrain codes › P0481
P0481 Powertrain · generic OBD-II
Fan 2 Control Circuit
P0481 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 14 complaints filed with NHTSA. Updated November 9, 2026.
- 14owner reports
- 4car models
- 0mention a crash
- 1mention a fire
- 2015–2017model years
Which cars get code P0481?
Every model whose owners mentioned P0481 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 P0481 show up?
By brand
- Jeep10
- Ram3
- Fiat1
Component the owner filed it under
Is there a recall for P0481?
The others concern the component owners file this code under (Engine) on the same cars; they may or may not relate to the code. Recall repairs are free; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2017 Jeep Renegade vehicles equipped with a 2.4L engine. These vehicles may be equipped with a cracked oil pump housing/balance shaft module (BSM), which can cause the oil pump to fail and the engine to stall.
2017 Jeep Renegade. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
What happened when owners saw P0481?
10 of the 14 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.
While driving, the Service Engine warning came on and was followed by the Coolant Temperature High Warning roughly 5 minutes after. The somewhat cool air coming out turned hot, even with the settings set to Max Cool Air. Turned the vehicle off and found the engine code P0481 Fan 2 Control Circuit, I allowed the car to cool before checking fuses for the Cooling Fan. The F07 Engine Cooling Fan had a 40 Amp Fuse that was blown (Note: the owner manual states the 40 Amp fuse is for the 1.4 without A/C, the 50 Amp Red was required for a 1.4 with A/C and all 2.4 models). A new 50 Amp Maxi Fuse was installed and the car A/C cooled down for approximately 15 minutes. Then the coolant temperature…
HAD VEHICLE SERVICED FOR A COOLING FAN RELAY AFTER VEHICLE DISPLAYED A P0481 TROUBLE CODE. DEALER SERVICED AND REPLACED FAN RELAY. VEHICLE OVERHEATED APPROXIMATELY 100 MILES LATER DUE TO A DEFECTIVE COOLING FAN. THE FAN MELTED AND SMOKED AND CAUSED THE VEHICLE'S TEMPERATURE TO RISE RAPIDLY. DEALER INFORMED ME THAT THE PART WAS ON NATIONAL BACKORDER AND THAT 3,000 VEHICLES ARE CURRENTLY WAITING TO BE SERVICED WITH THIS PARTICULAR PART DUE TO IT'S HIGH RATE OF FAILURE. ESTIMATED REPAIR TIME OF 2 MONTHS. STILL WAITING FOR PART TO GET DELIVERED. THE PRESENCE OF SMOKE UNDER THE HOOD AND UNUSUALLY HIGH DEMAND FOR REPAIR INDICATES TO ME THAT CLEARLY THIS SHOULD BE A RECALL.
MY 2015 PROMASTER 2500 GOT A P0481 CODE FOR A FAULTY RADIATOR FAN. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH KNOWN DEFECTS IN OTHER MAKES AND MODELS IN FCA (FIAT CHRYSTLER AUTOMOTIVE). MOST NOTABLE IS JEEP RENEGADE FANS (P/N: 623740)
…MY CARS SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AUG 10, 2020 AND DRIVE MODE UNAVAILABLE ALERT, THROWING CODE P0481, INTENSE HEAT WAS COMING FROM ENGINE THOUGH TEMP GAUGE AT NORMAL LEVELS. I JUST HAPPENED TO FIND THE RECALL ONLINE WHILE TRYING TO FIND WHAT CODE MEANT. CALLED THE FIAT CHRYSLER AUTOMOBILE (FCA) RECALL ASSISTANCE CENTER THIS TIME INSTEAD OF DEALER AND THEY LOOKED UP MY VIN AND FOUND IT IS ONE THAT IS AFFECTED AND SCHEDULED THE APPT FOR ME WITH MY LOCAL DEALERSHIP. MY CONCERN IS THAT THE DEALER INSTRUCTION ON THE RECALL SPECIFICALLY SHOWS WHICH FAN MODULES HAVE BEEN AFFECTED (BU /FB MODULES ONLY) & WHAT TO LOOK FOR YET THE DEALER NEVER BOTHERED THE FIRST TIME, JUST DENIED ME OVER THE PHONE…
…I stopped by Advance Auto Parts Store, and they checked the engine code (P0481) and advised me to purchase a fuse. When I arrived home and checked under the hood, I found that there was indeed a blown fuse. After replacing the fuse, I noticed that the fan was shaking and rattling. I then took the vehicle to the local Firestone center and they diagnosed the problem. I searched online to see if other Renegade owners had reported problems with the engine cooling fan and found that there was a recall (Recall Number: V54 - Engine Cooling Fan) for 2015 - 2017 Jeep Renegades for this same issue. However, it seems that my vehicle was not included in the recall. I am requesting that my vehicle be…
COOLING CIRCUIT FAN STOPPED WORKING AT 51K MILES. ENGINE LIGHT SAID SERVICE ENGINE WITH DASH ENGINE LIGHT NOTIFICATION. CODE P0481 COMES UP
COOLING FAN FAILURE. FUSE BLEW ON FAN AND LED TO RAPID SPIKE IN COOLANT TEMPERATURE. LED TO P0481 CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CODE. REPLACED BLOWN FAN FUSE BUT FAN CYCLES ON AND OFF AND SEEMS TO BE WOBBLING OR HAVE BEARING PROBLEMS. BASED ON SEARCHES, THIS IS A COMMON PROBLEM ON THE JEEP RENEGADE BUT CHRYSLER HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL FOR 2017 YEARS.
2015 JEEP RENEGADE SPORT 4X4 2.4L 52,000 MILES. NOTICEABLE FAN NOISE AND VIBRATION FROM ELECTRIC ENGINE COOLING FAN, THE THEN VEHICLE OVERHEATED, SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. SERVICE 4X4 LIGHT CAME ON, AND 4X4 FUNCTIONS FAILED AND COULD NOT SWITCH THE 4X4 FUNCTIONS. ERROR CODE:P0481 FAN CONTROL CIRCUIT. FAILED RELAY SWITCH. EFFECTING DRIVETRAIN FAILURE WITH THE 4X4 SYSTEM, COOLING FAN FAILURE, STALLING OF THE VEHICLE, AND ENGINE DAMAGE FROM OVERHEATING. THIS IS A SERIOUS ISSUE KNOWN TO THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALERSHIPS THAT NEEDS TO BE RESOLVED AND RECALLED FOR THE OBVIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. COOLING FAN FUSE BLOWN (50AMP @ LOCATION F05).
AUDIBLE RADIATOR FAN WOBBLE NOTICED 9/22/17. OPENED HOOD TO SEE FAN CLEARLY OUT OF BALANCE/WOBBLING VIOLENTLY IN HOUSING. FAN STOPPED FUNCTIONING 9/24, SPIKING COOLANT TEMPERATURES AND TRIGGERING CHECK ENGINE LIGHT. CODE READ AS P0481 OBD-II TROUBLE CODE: COOLING FAN 2 CONTROL CIRCUIT MALFUNCTION. REPLACED RELAY AND CHECKED WIRE CONNECTIONS TO VERIFY ISSUE LIES WITH FAN. ISSUE SPANS ACROSS 2015-2016 RENEGADES, PARTS ON BACKORDER WITH 4000-7000 WAITING NATIONWIDE, NOT AN ISOLATED INSTANCE.
THE RADIATOR COOLING FAN IS DEFECTIVE. THE MOTOR IS BURNT OUT. WHILE DRIVING THE FAN STARTED TO MAKE A LOUD NOISE AND I BEGAN TO SMELL SMOKE FROM THE VENT. THE COOLING FAN WILL NO LONGER TURN ON TO COOL THE ENGINE RISKING THE ENGINE OVERHEATING AND DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE. THE TROUBLE CODE IS P0481. CHRYSLER HAS STATED THE COOLING FAN IS ON BACK ORDER. THIS HAS BECOME AN ISSUE FOR RENEGADE OWNERS. YOU CAN SIMPLY TYPE IN 'RADIATOR COOLING FAN' IN THE RENEGADE FORUMS AND YOU WILL SEE THAT MANY OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS ISSUE AND MULTIPLE DEALERS HAVE STATED THE FANS ARE ON BACK ORDER. CHRYSLER NEEDS TO RESOLVE THIS ISSUE. THANK YOU.
P0481: questions drivers ask
What does code P0481 mean?
P0481 is a generic OBD-II powertrain code. Its standard definition is "Fan 2 Control Circuit". 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 4 car models.
Which cars get code P0481 most often?
In NHTSA owner complaints, P0481 is mentioned most for the Jeep Renegade (10), Ram Promaster City (3), Ram ProMaster (2), across 4 models and model years 2015 to 2017. Popular models collect more reports because more of them are on the road.
Is there a recall for code P0481?
No NHTSA recall text names P0481 directly. 1 recall on the cars that report this code concerns the same component owners name most (Engine); they may or may not relate to the code. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What should I do if my car shows P0481?
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 P0481. 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.
Is something missing or wrong on this page? Tell CarHooq. One line is enough; every message is read.
Look up another code
Or check a car: Problem Lookup · Used-car checker