Tata and Mahindra Error Codes

Complete DTC Guide for Nexon, Harrier, Scorpio, Bolero and More

Knowing your Tata and Mahindra error codes helps you diagnose faults faster on Nexon, Harrier, Scorpio, XUV and all other models.

Tata and Mahindra are India’s home brands, and in my workshop they represent some of the most varied diagnostic work I do. From the 2002-era Mahindra Bolero MDI engine to the 2023 Tata Punch with its BS6 Revotron petrol — the spread of platforms, ECUs, and emission systems is enormous.

What makes these brands interesting from a diagnostic standpoint is the transition happening right now. Pre-BS6 Tata and Mahindra vehicles used relatively simple ECUs and emission systems. Post-April 2020, both brands jumped to BS6 with DPF, SCR, and complex aftertreatment systems that many mechanics — and most generic OBD2 scanners — aren’t equipped to handle.

This guide covers both eras. Legacy diesel codes that you’ll still see on high-mileage fleet vehicles, and the new BS6-era fault codes that are becoming increasingly common.


Platform Overview

Tata Motors:

  • Revotron 1.2T petrol (Tiago, Tigor, Punch, Nexon): Bosch ME17 ECU
  • Revotorq 1.05 / 1.5 diesel (pre-BS6 Nexon, Tiago, Tigor): Delphi DCM ECU
  • Kryotec 2.0 diesel (Harrier, Safari BS6): Bosch EDC17 with DPF and SCR
  • mHawk / mHawk150 diesel (older Nexon, Hexa): Earlier Bosch EDC
  • Commercial vehicles (Ace, Super Ace, Ultra, Prima, LPT series): Cummins ISB/ISF or Tata’s own turbo diesel with various ECU suppliers

Mahindra:

  • mHawk 1.5 / 2.2 diesel (Scorpio N, Bolero Neo, XUV300, XUV700): Bosch EDC17
  • mStallion 1.5T / 2.0T petrol (XUV700, Thar petrol): Bosch ME17
  • 2.5 MDI diesel (older Bolero, Scorpio pre-2014): Older Bosch EDC with simpler management
  • 3.0 mCR / Di-CRDe (older Scorpio, Xylo, TUV300): Transition-era CRDI
  • Pik Up / fleet vehicles: Often Mahindra Furio/Blazo with BS6 Cummins or mPower engines

Tata Motors — Complete DTC Code List

Petrol Engine Codes (Revotron / Zest / Bolt)

CodeDescriptionNotes for Tata Petrol
P0030O2 Sensor Heater Circuit B1S1Upstream lambda — Revotron common after 60,000 km
P0036O2 Sensor Heater Circuit B1S2Downstream lambda
P0100MAF Circuit MalfunctionMAF sensor or intake leak
P0107MAP Sensor LowIntake hose or MAP sensor
P0120TPS Circuit MalfunctionThrottle body — Revotron 1.2T
P0171System Too LeanVacuum leak or MAF — check boost hose on turbo
P0172System Too RichInjector leak or O2 sensor
P0234Turbocharger OverboostBoost leak — wastegate or boost control solenoid
P0299Turbocharger UnderboostBoost leak — check intercooler hose on Nexon 1.2T
P0300Random MisfirePlugs, coils — 30,000 km service
P0335CKP Sensor CircuitCKP sensor or ring
P0340CMP Sensor CircuitCMP sensor
P0420Catalyst Efficiency LowCat or downstream O2
P0455EVAP Large LeakFuel cap, purge valve

Diesel Engine Codes (Revotorq / Kryotec — Pre and Post BS6)

CodeDescriptionTata Diesel Notes
P0087Fuel Rail Pressure LowFuel filter — 15,000 km change on diesel
P0088Fuel Rail Pressure HighRail pressure solenoid
P0089Fuel Pressure RegulatorPressure regulator valve
P0191Rail Pressure Sensor RangeSensor or actual pressure issue
P0193Rail Pressure Sensor HighSensor wiring or short
P0380Glow Plug CircuitGlow plugs — check individual resistance
P0400EGR Flow MalfunctionEGR valve — carbon buildup
P0401EGR Flow InsufficientEGR passage blocked — very common post-80,000 km
P0403EGR CircuitEGR solenoid or actuator
P0404EGR Circuit Range/PerformanceEGR actuator position sensor
P0487EGR Throttle Position SensorEGR throttle — Kryotec 2.0
P0562System Voltage LowBattery or alternator
P0600Serial Communication LinkECU communication fault
P2002DPF Efficiency Below ThresholdDPF clogged or sensor fault (BS6)
P2003DPF Efficiency Too HighDPF sensor fault
P2033Exhaust Gas Temperature SensorEGT sensor circuit — DPF system
P2080EGT Sensor 1 Range/PerformancePost-DPF temperature sensor
P20EESCR NOx Catalyst EfficiencySCR system underperformance (BS6)
P2BADReductant Level LowAdBlue/DEF tank low
P2BAFReductant Quality SensorDEF quality or sensor fault
P203BReductant Level SensorDEF level sensor
P11DCNOx Sensor UpstreamNOx sensor before SCR
P11DDNOx Sensor DownstreamNOx sensor after SCR

Commercial Vehicle Codes (Ace / Ultra / Prima)

CodeDescriptionNotes
P0087Fuel Rail Pressure LowFilter and lift pump — fleet vehicles need strict service
P0192Rail Pressure Sensor LowSensor or wiring
P0251Injection Pump MeteringInjection pump fuel metering unit
P0380Glow Plug CircuitCritical for cold-start reliability in north India
P0540Intake Air Heater CircuitAir heater relay — cold start aid
P0602ECU Programming ErrorECU not programmed — seen after replacement
P1633Engine Torque Limit ActiveLimp mode protection active
U0100Lost Communication with ECMCAN bus — harness damage common in commercial fleet

Mahindra — Complete DTC Code List

Mahindra Diesel Codes (Scorpio mHawk, Bolero MDI & Di-CRDe)

CodeDescriptionMahindra Notes
P0087Fuel Rail Pressure LowClogged filter or failing lift pump
P0088Fuel Rail Pressure HighPressure regulator
P0089Fuel Pressure RegulatorPressure regulator on high-pressure pump
P0191Rail Pressure Sensor RangeCommon on mHawk — sensor first
P0192Rail Pressure Sensor LowWiring or sensor
P0251Injection Pump Fuel MeteringOlder MDI platform metering unit
P0380Glow Plug CircuitVery common on older Bolero and Scorpio
P0381Glow Plug Indicator LampLamp circuit fault
P0401EGR Flow InsufficientEGR cleaning needed — especially Bolero fleet
P0404EGR Circuit RangeEGR actuator or position sensor
P0406EGR Position Sensor HighEGR sensor
P0563System Voltage HighOvercharging — check voltage regulator
P0602ECU Programming ErrorAfter ECU swap
P0605Internal Control Module ROMECU internal fault
P0700Transmission ControlAutomatic gearbox (Scorpio N auto, XUV series)
P0715Input Shaft Speed SensorATF condition, sensor
P2002DPF Efficiency (BS6)DPF soot load high or sensor
P20EESCR NOx Catalyst EfficiencySCR underperformance (BS6 mHawk)
P2BADReductant Level LowDEF/AdBlue low

Petrol Codes (mStallion — XUV700, Thar)

CodeDescriptionNotes
P0016Cam/Crank CorrelationTiming chain on turbo petrol
P0171System LeanMAF or boost leak
P0234Turbocharger OverboostWastegate actuator
P0299Turbocharger UnderboostBoost leak — intercooler connections
P0300–P0304MisfirePlugs, coils
P0340CMP SensorCMP sensor
P1529Immobiliser CommunicationAfter battery disconnection

The BS6 Aftertreatment System — What You Need to Know

This is where most small workshops in India are getting caught out right now.

BS6 Tata and Mahindra diesel vehicles (2020 onwards) have a full emissions aftertreatment stack:

  1. DPF (Diesel Particulate Filter) — traps soot
  2. DOC (Diesel Oxidation Catalyst) — oxidises HC and CO
  3. SCR (Selective Catalytic Reduction) — uses AdBlue/DEF to reduce NOx
  4. Multiple EGT sensors — monitor temperatures across the system
  5. NOx sensors upstream and downstream of SCR

These systems generate codes that most basic OBD2 scanners display but cannot interpret in full detail. P2002 (DPF efficiency) on a Kryotec 2.0 Harrier, for example, needs:

  • DPF soot load percentage from live data (not just the code)
  • EGT sensor readings across the system
  • DPF differential pressure reading
  • Regeneration history

A generic scanner shows you P2002. A professional scanner with Tata manufacturer coverage — something like the Autel MaxiCOM MK808 — shows you all of the above — and the difference between “this DPF needs a regeneration cycle” versus “this DPF needs physical cleaning” versus “the differential pressure sensor is lying to you.”

For DEF/AdBlue codes (P2BAD — reductant level low), always check actual DEF level in the tank before scanning further. Low-quality DEF (diluted or wrong concentration) causes P20EE (SCR efficiency) and can damage the SCR catalyst if run for extended periods.


Story From the Floor: The Harrier That Was Limp Three Times

A 2021 Tata Harrier 2.0 diesel came in from a Hyderabad fleet operator — SUV used for corporate cab service. Went into limp mode three separate times in two months. The driver described it as sudden power loss on the highway, speed limited to 60 km/h, warning light on.

Each time, the local workshop cleared P2002 and it ran fine for two to three weeks before repeating.

When it came to me, I connected my Launch X431 CRP429C and pulled full DPF data. Soot load was at 78% when it arrived — well above the regeneration trigger threshold of ~45%. The DPF was never successfully completing a regen cycle because the vehicle was used predominantly in city traffic at low speed, with short trips. A DPF regeneration needs sustained highway-speed driving at temperature.

I performed a forced regeneration, verified the EGT sensors were reading correctly, and gave the fleet manager a brief education: this vehicle needs a minimum 40-minute highway run every week. DPF-equipped vehicles are not suited to pure city cab use without a regen management protocol.

The Harrier hasn’t been back since, and the fleet operator now has a weekly “DPF run” in their vehicle schedule.

Same code — P2002 — three times. The fix was not a part. It was operational knowledge.


FAQ

My old Bolero (pre-2014) shows P0380 — are glow plugs expensive?
Glow plugs on the older MDI and Di series engines are inexpensive — ₹300–600 per plug for quality OEM equivalent parts. Test each plug individually with a multimeter (they should show near-zero resistance, not open circuit). Replace only the failed ones. A glow plug controller (GPCM) fault (P0670) is separate — check the relay and fuses first before replacing the module.

My Nexon BS6 petrol shows P0299 underboost — is the turbo dead?
Not necessarily. P0299 on the Revotron 1.2T is most commonly a boost leak — cracked intercooler pipe or loose hose clamp. The pipes on early BS6 Nexon units are known to loosen under heat cycling. Check all boost path connections before assuming turbo failure.

Can I delete the DPF on a BS6 Tata diesel?
DPF deletion on BS6 vehicles is illegal in India and will cause the vehicle to fail the BS6 emission certification check. More practically, after DPF removal the ECU generates persistent fault codes that put the vehicle in limp mode because the EGT and differential pressure sensor readings no longer make sense to the ECU. Proper BS6 DPF management (cleaning, forced regen) is the legal and practical path.

My XUV700 diesel shows P20EE — SCR efficiency — what does it mean?
First check your AdBlue/DEF tank level and quality. If the DEF is low or has been refilled with poor quality fluid, P20EE follows. Top up with quality DEF, run a complete drive cycle, and rescan. If it persists with good DEF levels, the NOx sensors or the SCR catalyst itself need attention.

My Mahindra Scorpio shows U0100 — is the ECU dead?
U0100 (lost communication with ECM) is almost always a CAN bus fault rather than ECU failure. Check the OBD2 port for bent pins. Inspect the CAN bus harness — on Scorpio, the harness near the firewall is a known chafe point. Measure CAN bus resistance (should be 60 ohms between CAN-H and CAN-L). ECU failure causing U0100 is rare.


The Verdict

Tata and Mahindra have come a long way. The BS6-era vehicles are genuinely sophisticated, and the fault codes they generate reflect that complexity.

The challenge for Indian workshops is catching up to the aftertreatment system knowledge that European markets have had since Euro 5/6. DPF, SCR, DEF — these aren’t going away. If you own or service BS6 Tata or Mahindra diesels, invest in understanding the full exhaust aftertreatment system alongside your OBD2 scanner.

Pre-BS6, the rules are simpler: clean EGR, maintain glow plugs, watch fuel system pressure. Good, honest mechanical work covers most faults.


Babuu has been working in automotive electronics since 2002 and opened HT ECM Solutions in Bachupally, Hyderabad in 2017 — a professional ECU repair, DPF cleaning, and vehicle diagnostics workshop.


Related reads:

🔧 Recommended OBD2 Scanner to Read Tata & Mahindra Error Codes:

The Launch CRP129E is the tool we recommend for reading and clearing these Tata & Mahindra fault codes. It supports all standard OBD2 protocols used by Tata & Mahindra vehicles and provides full system diagnostics.

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