Parts
$20–350
P0101 — Mass Air Flow (MAF) Range / Performance
CAUTIONIs it safe to drive? The airflow sensor is reading off. Driveable, but it skews the fuel mixture — expect hesitation and rough running until fixed.
What P0101 means
The MAF sensor's reading doesn't match what the computer expects for the engine's conditions. It throws off fueling because the MAF is how the computer knows how much air is coming in.
Most likely causes (in order)
- Dirty MAF sensor element (clean it first)
- Unmetered air — intake boot/leak AFTER the MAF
- Failing MAF sensor
- Restricted air filter
Symptoms you might notice
- Hesitation / stumble on acceleration
- Rough idle
- Worse fuel economy
What to check first
At warm idle, MAF grams/sec should roughly equal the engine's liters (a 2.4L ≈ 2-3 g/s). Reads low = dirty/failing or an air leak after it. Clean with MAF-specific cleaner; check the intake boot for cracks.
Repair cost & difficulty
Labor
0.3–1 hr
Difficulty
DIY-friendly