The upstream oxygen sensor on bank 2 is reporting a voltage stuck high — the ECU sees the mixture as consistently rich on that bank only.
P0152 — also written PO152, P 0152, 0152 — is the OBD-II code for o2 sensor high voltage (bank 2 sensor 1). Same code, same fix: this page covers every spelling of it.
Your Bank 2 upstream sensor is seeing way too much fuel and not enough air, typically on a V6 or V8 engine. It's usually a stuck injector or a failing sensor signal line on your Jaguars or Range Rovers.
P0152 is a sensors fault code, typically costing £80–£500 to put right in a UK garage.
What P0152 actually feels like to drive
- The engine feels 'heavy' or sluggish, especially when pulling away from roundabouts.
- A distinct smell of unburnt petrol from the tailpipe that lingers in the garage.
- Noticeable drop in MPG—suddenly getting 18 instead of 28 on the school run.
- Black soot build-up on the rear bumper around the exhaust tip.
- Hunting or lumpy idle that nearly stalls when the engine is warm.
What causes P0152?
- Failed upstream O2 sensor on bank 2
- Short-to-voltage in the sensor wiring
- Leaking injector flooding bank 2
- Contaminated sensor from oil or coolant burn
UK vehicles that throw P0152 most often
- Range Rover Sport 4.2 / 5.0 Supercharged (2005-2013)
- Jaguar XF / XJ 3.0 V6 Petrol (2008-2015)
- BMW 3 Series 325i/330i (N53 Engine) 2007-2012
- Audi A6 3.2 FSI V6 (2004-2011)
- Vauxhall Insignia 2.8 V6 Turbo (A28NER) 2009-2013
How P0152 is fixed
- Live-data check both bank sensors side by side
- Replace the bank 2 sensor 1 O2 sensor
- Inspect wiring for chafing to the loom
- Injector balance test if sensor is healthy
The P0152 misdiagnosis that wastes money
I’ve seen dozens of lads just chuck a new oxygen sensor at this because the code says 'high voltage', but more often than not, the sensor is telling the truth. It's reading high because the engine is genuinely drowning in fuel. I had a Range Rover Sport in last month where the owner had replaced both sensors twice. It turned out to be a leaking fuel pressure regulator letting raw petrol get sucked into the vacuum line. If you swap a sensor and the code pops back within 20 miles, you've missed the actual leak upstream.
What a UK garage should charge for P0152
A decent diagnostic plug-in will cost you £40 to £80 at an indie. If it’s just the sensor, a Bosch or Denso unit will set you back £90 to £150, plus an hour's labour (£60-£90). However, if we find a fuel injector is stuck open, you’re looking at £250 per injector plus a good three hours to strip the manifold. Main dealers will easily double these prices, charging upwards of £160 just to look at the car.
P0152 repair cost in the UK
Most P0152 repairs land between £80–£500 including parts and labour. The spread is wide because the cheap fix (a sensor, a hose, a leak) and the expensive fix (a major component) throw the same code — which is why a proper diagnosis before parts are bought saves the most money.
Bob's tip on P0152
Before you let a garage charge you for a new sensor, insist they check the 'Short Term Fuel Trim' (STFT) on their scan tool. If that number is massively negative (like -20% or more), the sensor is actually working fine and doing its job by trying to lean out a rich mix. The real pro tip: check the oil level. If the dipstick smells like a petrol station and the level is high, you've got a leaking injector diluting the oil. Don't drive it, or you'll wash the bores and kill the bottom end.
Can you drive with P0152?
Drivable short-term but MPG suffers and long-term running rich damages the cat.
Urgency: medium.