DTC Lookup

Overview

Covers all 9,533 generic codes defined by SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6 (P0, P2, P3, B0, C0, U0 and U3 families), with descriptions in English and German, plus carmaker codes for 32 makes, strongest for GM, Ford, Volkswagen and Chrysler brands. Generic code content comes from the OBDex open dataset; carmaker titles are given as the carmaker defines them. Warning light and system category data from OBD Codes List, https://obdcodeslist.com/code-data.html. Repair costs are estimates in euros. Data is refreshed weekly.

Live Test DTC Lookup API →

Endpoint

One host, one path per API. The block below shows this call in four languages; every one of them is the same HTTP request. Making requests covers the timeouts, retries and parameter rules that apply to all of them. The SDKs wrap the same call in a typed client.

1
2

curl "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/dtclookup?code=P0301&make=Ford&lang=en" \
  -H "x-api-key: your_api_key_here"

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8

const res = await fetch('https://api.apiverve.com/v1/dtclookup?code=P0301&make=Ford&lang=en', {
  headers: { 'x-api-key': 'your_api_key_here' },
});

if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`${res.status} ${await res.text()}`);

const { data } = await res.json();
console.log(data);

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10

import requests

res = requests.get(
    "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/dtclookup?code=P0301&make=Ford&lang=en",
    headers={"x-api-key": "your_api_key_here"},
    timeout=15,
)
res.raise_for_status()

print(res.json()["data"])

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21

package main

import (
	"fmt"
	"io"
	"net/http"
)

func main() {
	req, _ := http.NewRequest("GET", "https://api.apiverve.com/v1/dtclookup?code=P0301&make=Ford&lang=en", nil)
	req.Header.Set("x-api-key", "your_api_key_here")

	res, err := http.DefaultClient.Do(req)
	if err != nil {
		panic(err)
	}
	defer res.Body.Close()

	out, _ := io.ReadAll(res.Body)
	fmt.Println(string(out))
}

Replace your_api_key_here with the key from your dashboard. When the inputs arrive as a list rather than one at a time, batch requests run up to 200 of them through this same API in a single call.

Authentication

Send your key in the x-api-key header. That is the only auth step — there is no token exchange and no per-endpoint scope to configure. Authentication covers creating, rotating and revoking keys.

Parameters

Sent in the query string. Premium parameters are accepted on every plan but only take effect on plans that include them.

Response

Every API returns the same three top-level keys, so one response handler covers your whole integration: status, error and data. Only data changes shape. Response format covers the envelope, the other output formats and how premium fields are withheld.

1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74

{
  "status": "ok",
  "error": null,
  "data": {
    "code": "P0301",
    "found": true,
    "system": "Powertrain",
    "subsystem": "Ignition",
    "codeType": "generic",
    "title": "Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected",
    "description": "Misfires concentrated on cylinder 1. A cylinder-specific code points away from shared causes (fuel pressure, MAF) toward components dedicated to that cylinder — coil, spark plug, injector, compression…",
    "warningLight": "Check Engine Light",
    "affectedComponents": [
      "ignition_coil",
      "spark_plug",
      "fuel_injector"
    ],
    "causes": [
      {
        "cause": "Ignition coil for cylinder 1 failed",
        "likelihood": "high"
      },
      {
        "cause": "Spark plug for cylinder 1 worn or fouled",
        "likelihood": "high"
      },
      {
        "cause": "Cylinder 1 injector clogged",
        "likelihood": "medium"
      },
      {
        "cause": "Low compression on cylinder 1",
        "likelihood": "low"
      }
    ],
    "symptoms": [
      "Check engine light on or flashing",
      "Rough idle and uneven running",
      "Power loss, hesitation under acceleration",
      "Increased fuel consumption",
      "Possible smell of unburned fuel from exhaust"
    ],
    "repairDifficulty": "easy",
    "diyPossible": true,
    "estimatedRepairCost": {
      "min": 40,
      "max": 800,
      "currency": "EUR"
    },
    "estimatedLaborHours": {
      "min": 0.3,
      "max": 4
    },
    "emissionsRelated": true,
    "limpModePossible": null,
    "relatedCodes": [
      "P0302",
      "P0303",
      "P0304",
      "P0305",
      "P0306",
      "P0307",
      "P0308",
      "P0309",
      "P0310",
      "P0311",
      "P0312"
    ],
    "make": null,
    "manufacturer": null,
    "availableMakes": null,
    "language": "en"
  }
}

Response fields

Paths are relative to data. Premium fields are absent rather than zeroed on plans that do not include them, so check for presence instead of comparing to 0.

Errors

Read the HTTP status first, then error for the specific reason. The body names the parameter that has to change. Error handling covers the full status list and which of them are worth retrying.

Use cases

Scan Tool Apps

Bluetooth OBD-II dongle apps turn the raw codes a car reports into plain-language titles, likely causes and the warning light involved.

Repair Shop Software

Workshop systems attach the likely causes, labor hours and cost range to a job card the moment a technician reads a code.

Fleet Telematics

Fleet platforms receiving fault codes from vehicles flag which ones are emissions-related or can put the vehicle into limp mode, and route them to maintenance.

Used Car Inspections

Inspection and listing tools explain stored codes found during a pre-purchase check in terms a buyer understands.

Other ways to use DTC Lookup

Set up DTC Lookup on APIVerve, or reach the same source a different way. Your APIVerve account and credits work on all of them — one key, one balance.

Related

More in Transportation: