P0106: How to Diagnose & Fix — MAP/Barometric Pressure Circuit Range/Performance

The 1.4L turbocharged Ecotec engine in the Sonic shares the notorious PCV system failure with the Chevrolet Cruze. The PCV regulator diaphragm integrated into the valve cover ruptures, causing massive vacuum leaks. Additionally, the intake manifold check valve (small red/orange valve) fails, compounding the issue. GM extended coverage for the cracked PCV diaphragm to 10 years/120,000 miles on certain 2012-2014 Sonics (special coverage N202299080) and 2015 Sonics (N192210230).

The engine wiring harness splices that feed the Manifold Absolute Pressure (MAP) sensor were crimped with insufficient compression on 2013-2014 Escapes with the 2.0L engine built October 5, 2011 through April 1, 2013. The loose splice sends an incorrect MAP signal to the powertrain control module, and the PCM responds with hesitation, a rough or unstable idle, or an outright stall — often with no stored code that points at the harness, because the sensor itself tests good. Ford recalled the vehicles (along with 2.0L Focus ST) under 14S17 (NHTSA 14V495000), then issued 14S17-S1 (NHTSA 15V813000) for 2013 Escapes built January 11, 2012 through April 1, 2013 and 2013-2014 Focus ST that had been repaired before 14S17 with an earlier procedure that may not have fixed the splices properly. This is an electrical-connection defect and is completely separate from the 1.6L coolant intrusion and cylinder-head cracking issues that dominate this generation, though it affects many of the same cars.

The turbocharger center bearing on the 3.0L twin-turbo VR30DDTT can wear prematurely and let engine oil leak internally past the bearing seals into the exhaust and intake tracts. Oil burning in the exhaust produces heavy white or blue smoke, fouls the catalyst, and trips the MIL. In severe cases the turbo loses boost control and the internal components come apart, which can send debris downstream. Infiniti acknowledged the defect with a turbocharger emission warranty extension covering 2016-2018 Q50 and 2017-2018 Q60, extending coverage on the turbocharger assembly to Full Useful Life — 10 years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first — when the failure presents as white smoke or an oil leak with a MIL-on condition.

The turbocharger center bearing on the 3.0L twin-turbo VR30DDTT wears prematurely and lets engine oil leak internally past the bearing seals into the exhaust and intake tracts. Burning oil produces heavy white or blue smoke, fouls the catalyst, and trips the MIL; in severe cases the turbo loses boost control and comes apart internally, sending debris downstream. Infiniti acknowledged the defect with a turbocharger emission warranty extension covering 2017-2018 Q60 alongside 2016-2018 Q50, extending coverage on the turbocharger assembly to Full Useful Life — 10 years or 120,000 miles, whichever comes first — where the failure presents as white smoke or an oil leak with a MIL-on condition.

The 2.2 SKYACTIV-D runs two EGR valves and recirculates exhaust gas aggressively to meet emissions targets. Soot from that recirculated gas bakes onto the intake shutter valve, the intake manifold runners and the EGR passages; owners have found manifolds and EGR valves 80 percent blocked. Once the shutter valve sticks, airflow control is lost - power falls off progressively, multiple dash warnings appear, and the engine can stall with no restart. Mazda Australia recalled 35,476 diesel Mazda3 (2014-2016), Mazda6 (2012-2018) and CX-5 (2012-2018) vehicles specifically over carbon deposits in the intake shutter valve causing premature wear of engine components, with stated symptoms including increased stopping distance and smoke from the engine bay. The clogged manifold also buries the MAP sensor port, which is the near-universal cause of P0106 on this engine.