P0327: Knock sensor 1 circuit low input
An OBD-II trouble code meaning knock sensor 1 is sending a signal lower than the engine computer expects.
How to read it
P0327 is one of the standard OBD-II trouble codes stored when the check engine light comes on. Volkswagen’s service information names it “Knock Sensor 1 Circuit Low Input”, and a Kia service bulletin gives the same name.
Also searched as: code P0327, P0327 code.
Code names follow SAE J2012. Manufacturers add codes of their own, and the same code can have several causes: the vehicle’s service information or a qualified mechanic can say what it means for a particular car.
What the monitor checks
The federal rule’s catch-all covers any other electronic powertrain component that sends input to or takes commands from the on-board computer and has a measurable effect on emissions.
Look-alikes
Kia’s bulletin names it alongside P0326, “Knock Sensor 1 Circuit Range/performance”, the range/performance code for the same sensor.
What the manual says to do
Ford’s F-150 manual says that if the indicator stays on, the vehicle should be serviced at the first available opportunity, and that continued driving with it on can mean higher emissions, lower fuel economy, rougher running and more costly repairs.
How the light goes out
Under the federal rule, the check engine light may go out once the fault has not come back during three trips in a row in which its monitor runs without finding it. The system may erase the stored code if the same code has not been registered again in at least 40 engine warm-up cycles.
Read next
- Next in OBD-II trouble codesP0705: Transmission range sensor circuit malfunction (PRNDL input)An OBD-II trouble code for a fault in the circuit of the transmission range sensor, which reports the gear selector’s position (P, R, N, D, L).
- The same shape in Accessibility symbolsClosed captioning symbol (CC)CC means closed captioning: the dialogue and other sounds of a programme shown as text on screen, which viewers can turn on or off. It is mainly for people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
More OBD-II trouble codes
The same shape elsewhere
Browse symbols drawn with letters and numbers or squares and rectangles.
Sources
- 2014 Volkswagen Jetta Hybrid Quick Reference Specification Book, February 2014, Volkswagen of America; published by NHTSA, DTC chart
- Kia technical service bulletin 056: Knock Sensor Replacement (SA017) (January 2010), TSB 056, service action SA017, Kia Motors America; published by NHTSA, Subject
- 40 CFR 86.1806-05, On-board diagnostics (2012 edition), 40 CFR 86.1806-05, US Government Publishing Office (Code of Federal Regulations), § 86.1806-05(b) and (c)
- 2020 F-150 Owner's Manual, Ford Motor Company, Instrument Cluster; On-Board Diagnostics (OBD-II)
Researched, edited and approved by Rory Hansen before publishing. Last reviewed October 9, 2026. How we research
Added .