P0172 on a Nissan: Causes, Fixes & Repair Cost

🟠 Moderate severity · drivable

You can drive short-term, but the rich mixture wastes fuel and can damage the catalytic converter, so get it fixed soon.

What P0172 means on a Nissan

On a Nissan, P0172 means bank 1 is running rich — too much fuel or not enough air in the mixture. The Nissan computer has already reduced fuel as far as it can and still sees a rich mixture, so it stores P0172.

Is P0172 common on Nissans?

P0172 is seen on Nissans with higher mileage, commonly on the Altima, Sentra, and Maxima. Nissan MAF sensors are a well-known trouble spot and a frequent cause of rich codes when they get contaminated or fail. Aging oxygen sensors and leaking fuel injectors are also common.

Commonly reported on: Altima, Sentra, Maxima, Rogue.

Symptoms

Check engine light on
Poor fuel economy
Strong fuel smell from the exhaust
Rough idle

Common causes

most common: Contaminated or failing MAF sensor
common: Aging or faulty oxygen sensor
common: Leaking fuel injector
less common: Faulty fuel pressure regulator holding pressure too high
less common: Restricted air filter or intake

How to fix it

Fix	DIY?	Typical cost
Clean or replace the MAF sensor	Yes	$10–300
Replace the faulty oxygen sensor	Yes	$60–200
Replace leaking fuel injectors or the pressure regulator	Mechanic	$150–500