OBD-II code · Powertrain (generic, extended)

P2BA6 NOx Exceedance - SCR NOx Catalyst Performance

NOx emissions are above the legal threshold and the ECU isolates the cause to the SCR NOx catalyst. Conversion efficiency is degraded — aged substrate, sulphur poisoning, or thermal damage.

Is it safe to drive with P2BA6?

The car may go into limp mode (reduced power). Get it diagnosed before a long trip.

Common causes

  • Most likelySCR catalyst substrate aged or contaminated
  • PossibleThermal damage from prior over-temperature event

Symptoms

  • Check engine light on
  • Failed emissions inspection
  • Possibly slightly increased fuel consumption
  • Sulfur (rotten egg) smell from exhaust under load

Repair at a glance

Difficulty
Hard
DIY friendly
Best left to a mechanic
Typical labour
1–8 h
Emissions test
Likely to fail
After the fix
A drive cycle is needed before the light stays off
Parts involved
Scr Catalyst, Reductant Dosing Unit

Code data: OBDex open dataset (CC0). Labour times are typical ranges, not a quote.