P0456 on Ford vehicles A very small leak in the evaporative emissions system
P0456 is named on 35 Ford model years (2016–2024): 39 manufacturer filings and 28 owner reports in NHTSA’s files, across Focus, Explorer, Escape, Bronco, Bronco Sport and 8 more.
Which Ford model years name P0456
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaintsA model year is listed because the code is named in its own record — a bulletin filed against it, or an owner’s complaint about it — not because every one of these vehicles sets it. Counts are documents in NHTSA’s files, not failure rates.
What Ford owners said
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseOwners’ own words, scrubbed of anything identifying. Unverified reports filed with NHTSA — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
My understanding is that a P0456 code on a 2022 Ford Bronco indicates a very small leak in the Evaporative Emission (EVAP) system, which prevents fuel vapors from escaping into the atmosphere
Ford filings that name P0456
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communicationsBulletins and campaigns Ford filed with NHTSA whose summary names P0456. Quote the document number at the service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
- SSM 50306 Service bulletin2021-11-23 · Engine And Engine Cooling
- Some 2018-2021 EcoSport, Expedition, Navigator; 2019-2021 Ranger; 2020-2021 Escape, Corsair, Explorer, Transit; 2021 Bronco, Bronco Sport, Edge, Nautilus, F-150, Mustang; 2019-2022 Transit Connect; 2020-2022 Aviator, F-Super Duty; and 2022 Maverick vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0496, P0456, P0455, P04F0, and/or P0451. Ford
- SSM 50348 Service bulletin2021-12-14 · Electrical System
- Some 2020-2022 Explorer/Aviator vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with multiple diagnostic trouble codes (DTC). These DTCs may include P04F0, P008A, P0451, P0455, P0456, P0496 and/or P018C. This may be due to the wiring harness connection at connector C1198. Prior to replacement of any components, inspect the connector and wiring harness for any damage or pin fit concerns. If any damage or p
- SSM 51132 Service bulletin2022-10-14 · Electrical System
- Some 2020-2022 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L engine may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with multiple diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). These DTCs may include P04F0, P008A, P0451, P0455, P0456, P0496 and/or P018C. This may be due to the wiring harness connection at connector C1198. Prior to replacement of any components, inspect the connector and wiring harness for
- SSM 49313 Service bulletin2020-11-06 · Equipment
- Some 2020 Escape/Corsair vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0442, P0455, P0456, and/or P0457. This may be due to damage to the carbon canister which may have occurred during vehicle transportation. This condition may not occur for a few hundred miles/km or equivalent key cycles. Inspect the left side underbody air deflector fo
- TSB 21-2020 Service bulletin2021-01-27 · Fuel System, Diesel — Storage — Tank Assembly
- Some 2020 Escape 2.0L EcoBoost, front wheel drive (FWD) vehicles built on or before 20-Mar-2020 may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P00FE, P0456, P0455 and a fuel gauge that never indicates full after a refueling event (only reads approximately 90%). This may be due to the calibration in the powertrain control module (PCM) being configured
- TSB 17-0016 Service bulletin2017-02-22 · Engine
- SOME 2016-2017 FOCUS RS VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.3L GASOLINE TURBOCHARGED DIRECT INJECTION (GTDI) ENGINE AND BUILT ON OR BEFORE 10-DEC-2016 MAY EXHIBIT AN ILLUMINATED MIL WITH DTCS P0456, P1450 AND/OR P144A. THIS MAY BE DUE TO AN INTERMITTENT STICKING EVAPORATIVE EMISSION CANISTER PURGE VALVE. FOLLOW THE SERVICE PROCEDURE STEPS TO CORRECT THE CONDITION.
- TSB 24-2086 Service bulletin2024-03-25 · Electrical System
- Some 2021-2023 Bronco vehicles equiped with a 2.7L engine may exhibit an ilumintated MIL with DTC P0456 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to the software level of the PCM and has no effect on vehicle operation.
- TSB 24-2409 Service bulletin2024-12-06 · Unknown Or Other
- Some 2021-2023 Bronco vehicles equipped with a 2.7L EcoBoost engine may exhibit an illuminated MIL with DTC P0456 stored in the PCM.
- TSB 19-2207 Service bulletin2019-06-28 · Engine And Engine Cooling
- Some 2013-2017 C-Max/Fusion/MKZ Hybrid/Energi vehicles may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P1450, P0456, P0457, P04EE and/or P04EF. This may be due to the sealing capability of the canister purge valve. To correct the condition, follow the Service Procedure steps to update the PCM software and replace the canister purge valve.
- TSB 25-2308 Service bulletin2025-08-20 · Fuel/Propulsion System
- Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0455, P0456, P0442 and/or P04EE. This may be due to a chaffing or rubbing condition between the fuel vapor canister line and the air vent hose.
- TSB 25-2112 Service bulletin2025-03-20 · Unknown Or Other
- Some of the vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit an illuminated malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) with diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0456 stored in the powertrain control module (PCM). This may be due to evaporative emission system concerns and/or the software level of the PCM and has no effect on vehicle operation.
- TSB 17-0019 Service bulletin2017-02-24 · Engine
- SOME 2017 MUSTANG VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 2.3L ENGINE AND BUILT ON OR BEFORE 13-JAN-2017 MAY EXHIBIT AN ILLUMINATED MIL WITH DTCS P0456, P1450 AND/OR P144C. FOLLOW THE SERVICE PROCEDURE STEPS TO CORRECT THE CONDITION.
What P0456 means
Source: SAE J2012 / OBD-IIA very small leak in the evaporative emissions system.
A stored code names the test that failed, never the part that caused it. The record above is what Ford and its owners have filed about it; the code’s page across every make has the whole file.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA files and the OBD-II standardIs P0456 a known problem on Ford vehicles?
It is a documented one: NHTSA's files hold 39 manufacturer filings and 28 owner reports naming P0456 on 35 Ford model years (2016–2024). Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count — but a bulletin that names the code on your model year is the place to start.
Which Ford models does P0456 appear on most?
2018 Focus (10 documents), 2022 Explorer (5 documents), 2020 Escape (4 documents).
Does P0456 on a Ford mean it is recalled?
No. Recalls are filed by campaign and matched by VIN; no recall is triggered by a scan tool. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or open the model year's page here for the campaigns filed against it.