Fuel and injectionGeneric OBD-II codeUrgency: Garage soon
Code P0087: fuel rail or fuel pressure too low
P0087 means: fuel rail or fuel system pressure too low.[1][2] The ECU has detected that the fuel pressure in the rail (or in the supply circuit) is lower than the pressure it has requested itself, and that the difference has lasted longer than allowed. In other words: the engine asks for a pressure, does not get it and runs short of fuel, especially when it is put under load.[1][3][4]
What code P0087 means
The ECU has detected that the fuel pressure in the rail (or in the supply circuit) is lower than the pressure it has requested itself, and that the difference has lasted longer than allowed. In other words: the engine asks for a pressure, does not get it and runs short of fuel, especially when it is put under load.[1][3][4]
It is associated mainly with common-rail diesels and direct-injection petrol engines, where a low-pressure pump (the one in the tank) feeds a high-pressure pump that builds up the rail pressure. If the first does not deliver enough flow, if the second cannot reach the pressure or if the pressure leaks away along the way, this code appears.[3][5]
It is a generic OBD-II code (it starts with P0), so it means the same on any make; what changes from one engine to another is the most likely cause.[6]
Original definition (SAE J2012): Fuel Rail/System Pressure - Too Low[1][2]
Causes of P0087
From most to least likely, according to the sources.
- 1Clogged fuel filter (or water separator): this is the easiest cause to check and the first to be ruled out.[1][2][3][4]
- 2Weak or faulty low-pressure pump (the supply pump, in the tank), which does not deliver to the high-pressure pump the flow it needs.[1][3][4]
- 3Worn or faulty high-pressure pump, on common-rail diesels and direct-injection petrol engines; one of the sources describes it as a very common failure at high mileage.[3][4]
- 4Leaking injectors or injectors with excessive return flow, which let the rail pressure escape.[2][3][4][7]
- 5Pressure regulator stuck open (it returns fuel to the tank and the pressure drops) or a faulty metering valve on the high-pressure pump.[3][4][7]
- 6Restricted, kinked or leaking fuel lines, or air getting into the low-pressure circuit.[1][2][4]
- 7Rail pressure sensor giving an incorrect reading.[1][7]
Symptoms
- Engine warning light on the instrument cluster.[1][3]Engine warning light: faults that cause it
- Loss of power, especially when accelerating hard or climbing hills.[2][3][4]Less power: faults that cause it
- The engine may limit power (degraded or limp mode) when it is put under load.[3][4][7]Limp mode: faults that cause it
- Long or difficult starting, with the engine cranking longer than normal before it fires.[3][4]Hard to start: faults that cause it
- The engine suddenly stalls, under load or at idle.[1][3][4][7]Engine stalls: faults that cause it
- Uneven running, with jerking when accelerating hard and possible misfires.[3][7]Jerking: faults that cause it
- Increased fuel consumption.[1]Uses more fuel: faults that cause it
How to diagnose P0087
In order: from the most likely and cheapest to check to the most expensive.
- 1Start with the basics: that there is fuel in the tank and that it is the right fuel, with no mixing or contamination. Also read the other codes and the freeze-frame data: if P0087 appears alongside other rail pressure codes (such as P0088), it is best to investigate them as a single fault.[4]
- 2Check the fuel filter and the water separator, and change them if they are due or saturated: it is cheap and rules out the most common cause. Also check the joints of the low-pressure circuit and the tank pick-up for air leaks.[2][3][4][7]
- 3With a diagnostic tool, compare the requested rail pressure with the actual pressure on a road test: they should track each other closely. Note when they diverge (idle, full load, a hill).[3][7]
- 4Measure the pressure in the low-pressure circuit with a mechanical gauge, at idle and when accelerating, and check for kinked or crushed lines, leaks and the flow delivered by the supply pump.[2][3][4]
- 5Look for pressure leaks in the high-pressure circuit: if the rail sensor reading falls very quickly when the engine is stopped, there may be a leaking injector, or a regulator, metering valve or pump that does not hold pressure. Measure the return flow of each injector.[2][4][5]
- 6Check that the regulator or the pressure metering valve responds to the ECU's command (on VW TDIs, also the adaptation value of the IMV valve with VCDS) before condemning the pump.[4][7]
- 7Verify the rail pressure sensor: it only makes sense to replace it if it gives an incorrect reading.[1][7]
- 8Only when everything above has been ruled out, test the high-pressure pump: replacing it without first checking the filter, the supply and the injectors is an expensive mistake.[3][4][7]
Can I keep driving with P0087?
Garage soon
The sources agree that it should not be ignored: with low pressure the car can lose power, be hard to start or stall, which is a risk in traffic, and one of them calls it a safety hazard that must be resolved immediately; another classes it as high severity. A third says you may be able to keep driving, but you should not count on it, because carrying on with a faulty pump can make the repair much worse. The prudent course is to go to a garage without making any more journeys than necessary.[1][3][4]
Documented faults related to P0087
Known faults of specific engines and cars, with their repair cost, the affected years and their sources.
Faults in which this code appears
Fuel pump and high-pressure pump: the most serious faults by engine and car
- Critical severityCommonFrequency: Common2.0 and 2.5 HybridLow-pressure fuel pump failure: loss of power and fire riskYes: a low-pressure fuel pump with a defective impeller (Denso) affects millions of Toyotas and Lexuses, including Corolla, C-HR, RAV4 and Camry models with these engines. It can cause loss of power or stalling, and in the EU there is also a risk of leaks and fire on 2018-2022 Corolla, C-HR and Auris models.
- High severityCommonFrequency: CommonBMW N54/N55High-pressure fuel pump (HPFP) failureThe N54's high-pressure pump is one of its best-documented failures: most units will have had it replaced at some point. It warns of itself with long cranking and loss of power; the 2010 campaign was US-only.
- High severityCommonFrequency: Common2.2/2.5 dCiInjection pump or injector failureThe 2.2 dCi's common rail injectors fail fairly often on the X-Trail and Almera, with cases of seizing and leaks; on the Almera with the older YD22DDT, the documented fault is in the injection pump electronics, not the injectors.
- High severityCommonFrequency: CommonVW 2.0 TFSI EA113Wear of the high-pressure pump cam followerYes: the 2.0 TFSI EA113's high-pressure fuel pump is driven by the camshaft through a follower (tappet) that wears; if it wears through it can damage the pump or the camshaft, so it should be checked and replaced as a preventive measure.Repair (garage): €250–€900Appears at around 90,000 km
Injectors: the most serious faults by engine and car
- High severityVery frequentFrequency: Very frequentOM651Delphi piezo injector failure (220/250 CDI)Yes: 220 and 250 CDI models built between 2008 and 2011 had Delphi piezo injectors that were prone to failing and seizing in the cylinder head. Mercedes-Benz replaced them under warranty in 2009 and switched the 220 CDI to solenoid injectors from 2010-2011, but the 250 CDI kept them.Repair (garage): €3,600–€5,900
- High severityCommonFrequency: CommonBMW N52 / N53N53 piezoelectric injector failureThe N53's piezoelectric direct injectors fail frequently and cause misfires, rough idle and limp mode; replacing them is expensive and they must be coded.
- High severityCommonFrequency: CommonMZR-CDOil dilution from leaking injector seals and DPF regenerationsOn the 2.0 and 2.2 MZR-CD, injector seals that age badly and incomplete particulate filter regenerations on short journeys can let unburnt diesel into the sump, diluting the oil and leaving the engine with less lubrication.
- High severityCommonFrequency: CommonOM642Wear and failure of the Bosch piezo injectorsThe OM642's Bosch piezo injectors can fail from around 150,000-200,000 km, especially with poor-quality diesel; they cannot be repaired, only replaced. Because it is a V engine, those on the rear bank are harder to reach, which pushes up labour costs.Repair: €4,500–€6,500
Engine sensors: the most serious faults by engine and car
- High severityOccasionalFrequency: Occasional2.0 DTI and 2.2 DTIVP44 injection pump and air mass meter failureGerman Wikipedia documents recurring failures of the Bosch VP44 injection pump and the air mass meter in the early years of this engine. An owner testimony for this engine describes the pump being replaced at 192,500 km, at a cost the owner calls «prohibitive».
- Medium severityCommonFrequency: Common2.0 TDIClogged particulate filter or faulty pressure sensorThe 2.0 TDI's particulate filter clogs if the car mostly makes short journeys, because it never gets to regenerate; sometimes the fault is just the differential pressure sensor. Cleaning it costs around €200 and replacing it, €800 to €3,000.Repair (garage): €800–€3,000
- Medium severityCommonFrequency: Common1.4 and 1.6 8vCrankshaft position sensor failure (TDC sensor)The crankshaft position sensor (capteur PMH, or TDC sensor) appears repeatedly in the reliability sources for the Clio II, the Kangoo I and the Dacia Logan I with this engine, with hard cold starting or stalling as the main symptoms. It is a cheap part, but the failure can leave you stranded.
- Medium severityCommonFrequency: Common1.4 and 1.6 16vCrankshaft position sensor failureThe crankshaft position sensor (capteur PMH) appears repeatedly in the reliability sources for almost every generation with this engine, with hard cold starting, stalling or the car cutting out unexpectedly. It is a cheap part, but the failure can leave you stranded.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with code P0087?
Only as far as you need to reach the garage, and without pushing the engine. With low pressure the car can lose power, be slow to start or stall, and carrying on driving can make the fault worse, especially if the high-pressure pump fails.[1][4]
Does code P0087 mean the fuel pump is broken?
Not necessarily. The simplest and most common cause is a clogged filter; it could also be the low-pressure pump, leaking injectors, a regulator or metering valve, or the pressure sensor. The high-pressure pump is checked last.[1][3][4]
How is P0087 diagnosed?
First the basics are checked (fuel, filter, air leaks); then a diagnostic tool is used to compare the requested pressure with the actual pressure and the supply pressure is measured; next the injectors, regulator and sensor are checked, and only at the end the high-pressure pump.[2][3][4]
Is P0087 the same on a diesel as on a petrol engine?
The code means the same: rail or system pressure below the requested value. The sources say it is seen mainly on common-rail diesels and direct-injection petrol engines, which work with a high-pressure pump. On 2.0 TFSI engines, the VCDS documentation also cites bulletins about fuel pressure sensors and worn intake camshaft lobes.[2][3]
Does P0087 mean the same on all makes?
Yes. Codes starting with P0 are generic (defined by the SAE) and have the same definition for all manufacturers; what varies is the part that tends to fail on each engine.[6]
Will I pass the MOT with code P0087?
If the code has switched on the engine warning light, no: with that light on, the inspection records a serious defect, and on Euro 5 and Euro 6 cars the ITV (Spain's roadworthiness inspection, similar to the MOT) also reads the OBD diagnostic system. Repair the fault before you go; clearing the code just before the inspection does not help either, because it counts as a serious defect.[8]
Not sure what is wrong with your car? Describe what you notice in the symptom diagnosis or see all fault codes.
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- 1.Qué significa el código P0087Autodoc Club · Technical documentation · consulted 2 October 2026 · in Spanish
- 2.Fault Code 16471/P0087/000135 - Fuel Rail/System Pressure: Too LowRoss-Tech Wiki · Technical documentation · consulted 2 October 2026
- 3.P0087: OBD-II code P0087 means the fuel rail pressure is below what the PCM commandedCarista · Technical documentation · consulted 2 October 2026
- 4.P0087 Code: Symptoms, Causes, and How to Fix Low Fuel Rail PressureFleet Rabbit · Other source · published 28 September 2026 · consulted 2 October 2026
- 5.CRD (Bosch) fuel rail pressure sensor | Automotive oscilloscope testPico Technology · Technical documentation · consulted 2 October 2026
- 6.On-board diagnosticsWikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 October 2026
- 7.Problemas con el código de avería P0087 de VolkswagenTotal Renting · Other source · consulted 2 October 2026 · in Spanish
- 8.Desmontando mitos: ¿puede pasar mi coche la ITV con el testigo de «avería motor» encendido?Diariomotor · Motoring press · published 8 March 2021 · consulted 2 October 2026 · in Spanish