P2053
Reductant Injection Valve Circuit/Open Bank 1 Unit 2
Emissions control (SCR/DEF)
Generic OBD-II
Medium
What it means
P2053 means the engine computer detected an open circuit at the second reductant injection valve on bank 1. This injector sprays diesel exhaust fluid (DEF/AdBlue) into the exhaust so the SCR catalyst can reduce NOx emissions. The engine still runs, but with the injector offline the emissions system is compromised, and many diesels will derate or limit restarts until it's fixed.
Medium
Can I keep driving? Yes short term, but this is a diesel SCR/DEF injector fault — many diesels will derate power or block a restart if the emissions system stays broken. Fix it promptly.
Common symptoms
What you'll notice
- Check-engine light on
- SCR/DEF or emissions warning messages
- Often no immediate change in how the car drives
- Reduced power (derate) or restart limits if left unrepaired
Common causes
Most likely first
- Open circuit or failed reductant injection valve (bank 1, unit 2)Likely
- Damaged, corroded, or disconnected wiring/connector at the injectorCommon
- Poor electrical connection in the injector circuitCommon
- Clogged reductant injector from crystallized DEFLess often
- Faulty powertrain control module (PCM)Less often
How to diagnose & fix
Work through it in order
- Read freeze-frame data and confirm the fault is on the bank 1, unit 2 reductant injector circuit.
- Inspect the injector connector and harness for opens, corrosion, or damage; repair as needed.
- Measure the injector's resistance against spec; replace if open.
- Check the injector for DEF crystallization/clogging and clean or replace as required.
- Clear the code and re-run the drive cycle; if it persists with good wiring, test the PCM.
FAQ
Quick answers
Is it safe to drive with P2053?+
Drivable briefly, but a dead DEF injector means the SCR system isn't cleaning exhaust, and diesels often respond with power derate or restart limits. Repair soon.
Can I just clear P2053?+
It returns as soon as the open circuit is detected again. The injector or its wiring has to be repaired for the code to stay away.
Related codes
Often seen with P2053
Read & clear P2053 yourself
Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.
✓ Verified name — SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6Guidance reviewed by OBD DashX