P0442 on a 2015 Ford Fusion

P0442 means the EVAP system could not hold pressure or vacuum during a leak test, but the leak is small.

Not your vehicle? See general P0442 info.

Most common causes on the 2015 Ford Fusion

Ranked from 1,049 NHTSA owner complaints filed for this vehicle.

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1
Canister purge valve (CPV) stuck open or failed
High severity
Owners had the purge valve explicitly diagnosed/replaced after code P1450 and stalling right after refueling, including one repeat failure of the same part.
Reported in 6 NHTSA complaints
Parts:purge valve
2
Fuel vapor odor from a cracked EVAP canister or lines
Medium severity
Persistent gasoline smell after fueling and a loud air sound at the filler with no visible leak points to an internal EVAP leak path.
Reported in 2 NHTSA complaints
Parts:EVAP canister EVAP lines
3
P1450 EVAP vacuum-bleed fault / restricted fuel tank vent path
Medium severity
Code P1450 ("unable to bleed up fuel tank vacuum") was pulled repeatedly along with a burping/sucking gas-cap noise, pointing to a blocked or stuck vent path rather than a simple purge valve.
Reported in 1 NHTSA complaint
4
Loose, cross-threaded, or worn fuel filler cap
Low severity
The single most common trigger for a small EVAP leak code; verify the cap clicks fully and the seal is intact before condemning other components.
Common cause
Parts:fuel cap
5
Canister vent valve stuck closed
Medium severity
A vent valve that won't open blocks fresh-air purge flow and can trigger vacuum/pressure-based EVAP faults similar to those reported here.
Common cause
Parts:vent valve
6
Rusted or corroded fuel filler neck
Low severity
Rust-through of the filler neck creates a leak path that a smoke test will reveal; more common on high-mileage, road-salt-exposed vehicles.
Common cause

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These causes are aggregated from NHTSA owner complaints and general repair knowledge — this is not a diagnosis. P0442 on your car still needs shop confirmation before any repair.

Common symptoms

Check engine light
Fuel smell near vehicle
Usually drives normally
Hard start after fueling in some cases

What to check before replacing parts

Tighten and inspect the gas cap

Look for: A cap that doesn't click to full tightness, has a visibly cracked or flattened seal, or is simply missing is the single most common cause of a small EVAP leak — rule it out first.

Smoke-test the EVAP system

Look for: Because this is a small leak, expect only a thin wisp of smoke or a faint hiss at one spot (a hose, seam, or valve) rather than an obvious cloud — look closely and take your time.

Check purge valve sealing

Look for: A purge valve that doesn't hold vacuum when commanded closed lets a small amount of air bleed through, which the system reads as a leak during its self-test.

Inspect hoses near the tank and engine bay

Look for: Look for small cracks, soft/collapsed spots, or a hose that has pulled loose slightly at a fitting — any of these can leak just enough to trip a small-leak code without an obvious fuel smell.

Verify vent valve operation

Look for: A vent valve that doesn't seal fully when commanded closed prevents the system from holding vacuum during its self-test, which reads as a small leak even with no physical leak in the hoses.

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Matching symptoms

Check Engine Light