P0521 on Chevrolet vehicles The oil pressure sensor reading does not track what the engine is doing
P0521 is named on 15 Chevrolet model years (2016–2024): 38 manufacturer filings and 2 owner reports in NHTSA’s files, across Trailblazer, Trax, Express, Suburban, Spark and 5 more.
Which Chevrolet model years name P0521
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints| Model year | Filed under | Bulletins | Owner reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Chevrolet Trax | Electrical System | 6 | 1 |
| 2021 Chevrolet Trailblazer | Engine | 6 | 1 |
| 2019 Chevrolet Express | Engine | 5 | — |
| 2019 Chevrolet Suburban | Engine | 5 | — |
| 2024 Chevrolet Trailblazer | Engine | 3 | — |
| 2023 Chevrolet Trailblazer | Engine | 2 | — |
| 2022 Chevrolet Trailblazer | Engine | 2 | — |
| 2016 Chevrolet Spark | Engine | 2 | — |
| 2022 Chevrolet Camaro | Engine | 1 | — |
| 2020 Chevrolet Express | Engine | 1 | — |
| 2016 Chevrolet City Express Cargo Van | Engine | 1 | — |
| 2016 Chevrolet SS | Engine | 1 | — |
| 2016 Chevrolet Sonic | Engine | 1 | — |
| 2016 Chevrolet Traverse | Engine | 1 | — |
| 2016 Chevrolet Trax | Engine | 1 | — |
A 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 Chevrolet 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.
On Star provided me with a diagnostic code of P0521, pointing to an engine oil pressure sensor malfunction
March 15, 2026 – Diagnostic Codes- P0521 – Engine Oil Pressure Sensor/Switch Range or Performance- P06DE – Engine Oil Pressure Control Circuit Stuck On Concerns include oil pressure, lubrication issues, and potential engine damage
Chevrolet filings that name P0521
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communicationsBulletins and campaigns Chevrolet filed with NHTSA whose summary names P0521. Quote the document number at the service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.
- A202302140 01 Service bulletin2020-06-04 · Fuel System, Gasoline
- Service Update - On certain vehicles, the engine oil pump may be stuck due to foreign material, and diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0521, P06DE, P06DD could be set. Dealers are to perform the engine oil pump screening test and if necessary, replace the oil pump.
- PIP5826 Service bulletin2021-11-08 · Electrical System
- This Preliminary information communicates to the dealers information related to isolating a potential engine wiring harness issue causing a MIL on with P0521.
- PIP5826A Service bulletin2021-11-09 · Engine
- This Preliminary information communicates to the dealers information related to isolating a potential engine wiring harness issue causing a MIL on with P0521.
- PIP5932 Service bulletin2023-06-28 · Engine
- This Preliminary information communicates to dealers engine wiring harness inspections and engine oil pump diagnostic testing related to MIL on with P0521.
- PIP5932A Service bulletin2024-03-18 · Electrical System
- This Preliminary information communicates to dealers engine wiring harness inspections and engine oil pump diagnostic testing related to MIL on with P0521.
- PIP5932C Service bulletin2024-08-13 · Electrical System
- This Preliminary information communicates to dealers engine wiring harness inspections and engine oil pump diagnostic testing related to MIL on with P0521.
- PIP5630 Service bulletin2019-03-07 · Engine
- This Preliminary information communicates A vehicle may have a concern of no oil pressure and/or P0521 set. the releif valve in the pump is sticking or the number 1 main bearing is damaged. Drop oil pan and confirm #1 main is spun or not. If bearings are OK Then change oil pump.
- PIP5630A Service bulletin2019-07-10 · Engine And Engine Cooling
- This Preliminary information communicates A vehicle may have a concern of no oil pressure and/or P0521 set. the releif valve in the pump is sticking or the number 1 main bearing is damaged. Drop oil pan and confirm #1 main is spun or not. If bearings are OK Then change oil pump.
- PIP5630B Service bulletin2019-08-13 · Fuel System, Gasoline
- This Preliminary information communicates A vehicle may have a concern of no oil pressure and/or P0521 set. the releif valve in the pump is sticking or the number 1 main bearing is damaged. Drop oil pan and confirm #1 main is spun or not. If bearings are OK Then change oil pump.
- PIP5932D Service bulletin2024-08-13 · Electrical System
- This Preliminary information communicates to dealers engine wiring harness inspections and engine oil pump diagnostic testing related to MIL on with P0521, P06DD or P06DE.
- PIP5947B Service bulletin2024-08-16 · Engine
- This Preliminary information communicates to the dealers information related to potential failed engine camshaft cover causing excessive engine oil consumption and blue smoke from the exhaust system at low mileage. Can also possibly cause a misfire and may or may not set history or current codes P0300 P050D P0521 P06DE. It advises inspections for potential engine camshaft cover replacement.
- PIP5947C Service bulletin2024-12-05 · Engine
- This Preliminary information communicates to the dealers information related to potential failed engine camshaft cover causing excessive engine oil consumption, blue smoke from the exhaust system at low mileage. Can also possibly cause a misfire or idle surge and may or may not set history or current codes P0300 P050D P0521 P06DE P1101. It advises inspections for potential engine camshaft cover re
What P0521 means
Source: SAE J2012 / OBD-IIThe oil pressure sensor reading does not track what the engine is doing.
A stored code names the test that failed, never the part that caused it. The record above is what Chevrolet 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 P0521 a known problem on Chevrolet vehicles?
It is a documented one: NHTSA's files hold 38 manufacturer filings and 2 owner reports naming P0521 on 15 Chevrolet 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 Chevrolet models does P0521 appear on most?
2021 Trailblazer (7 documents), 2024 Trax (7 documents), 2019 Express (5 documents).
Does P0521 on a Chevrolet 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.