This article will help you determine if you can use OBDLink® adapters with your vehicle.

Your vehicle must be compliant with the On-Board Diagnostics version 2 (OBD-II) standard to use OBDLink adapters.

OBD-II compliance is determined not by where the vehicle was manufactured, but by the country or region where the manufacturer intended it to be sold as new.


After you have confirmed that your vehicle is OBD-II compliant, we recommend you read Which OBDLink® adapter is right for me? This article helps you evaluate the OBDLink adapter products and decide which one is best for your particular requirements.


TABLE OF CONTENTS


Vehicles sold in the United States

Our OBDLink adapters work on all 1996 and newer cars and light trucks sold in the United States.

United States legislation requires all cars and light trucks model year (MY) 1996 and newer to be OBD-II compliant. More information is available on the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) website

OBDLink adapters work on many manufacturer's vehicles sold in the United States, including: 


Acura
Alfa Romeo
Ariel Atom
Aston Martin
Audi
Bentley
BMW
Buick
Cadillac
Chevrolet
Chrysler
Citroen
Daewoo
Daihatsu
Daimler
Dodge
Ferrari
Fiat
Ford
Geo
GMC
Holden
Honda
Hummer
Hyundai
Infiniti
Isuzu
Jaguar
Jeep
Kia
Lamborghini
Lancia
Land Rover
Lexus
Lincoln
Lotus
Maserati
Mazda
McLaren
Mercedes
Mercury
MG
Mini
Mitsubishi
Nissan
Oldsmobile
Opel
Pagani
Panoz
Peugeot
Plymouth
Pontiac
Porsche
Regal
Renault
Rolls-Royce
Roush
Rover
Saab
Saleen
Saturn
Seat
Scion
Shelby
Skoda
Smart
Subaru
Suzuki
Tesla
Toyota
Triumph
TVR
Vauxhall
Volkswagen
Volvo
Yugo



Note: Hybrid and Electric vehicles are low or zero emission vehicles, however, OBDLink adapters may not work. Check your vehicle manual, research online, or consult with your dealership.


Vehicles sold outside the United States


OBD-II compliant vehicles

To read the chart below, choose the country where your vehicle was sold as new to see if it is OBD-II compliant.


Country of Sale

Full OBD-II Compliance 
in this Model Year and onward

Limited OBD-II Compliance 
in this Model Year(s)

European Union (Diesel)

2007

2004-2006

European Union (Petrol)

2002

2001

Canada

1998


Algeria

2014


Argentina (Domestic)

2008


Argentina (Imports)

2009


Australia (Diesel)

2007


Australia (Petrol)

2006


Bahrain

2018

2017-2018

Brazil (Petrol)

2007

2005-2006

Brazil (Diesel)

2015

2013-2014

Chile (Diesel)

2013


Chile (Petrol)

2014


China (Beijing - Petrol)

2008


China (Country - Diesel)

2011


China (Country - Petrol)

2010


Costa Rica

N/A

2017 and onward

Hong Kong

2006


India

2017

2013-2016

Iran

2012


Israel

2003


Japan

2008

2003-2007

Kuwait

2018

2017-2018

Mexico

2007


Morocco

2010


New Zealand (Diesel)

2007


New Zealand (Petrol)

2006


Nigeria

2015


Oman

2018

2017-2018

Peru

2018

2003-2017

Philippines

2016


Qatar

2018 

2017-2018

Russia

2012

2010-2011

Saudi Arabia

2018

2017-2018

Singapore

2014


South Korea

2010

2005-2009

Taiwan

2008


Thailand

2013


Turkey

2013


United Arab Emirates

2018

2017-2018

Vietnam

2017


Yemen

2018

2017-2018



2001 or newer model year gasoline vehicles sold in the European Union

Commission Directive 70/220/EEC, Annex I:

8.1. Vehicles with positive-ignition engines
With effect from 1 January 2000 for new types and from 1 January 2001 for all types, vehicles of category M1, except vehicles the maximum mass of which exceeds 2500 kg, and vehicles of category N1 class I, must be fitted with an on-board diagnostic (OBD) system for emission control in accordance with Annex XI. [...]

Note that here "European Union" means countries that were members of the EU in 2000.



2004 or newer model year diesel vehicles sold in the European Union

Commission Directive 70/220/EEC, Annex I:

8.2. Vehicles with compression-ignition engines
Vehicles of category M1, except
- vehicles designed to carry more than six occupants including the driver,
- vehicles whose maximum mass exceeds 2500 kg,
from 1 January 2003 for new types and from 1 January 2004 for all types, must be fitted with an on-board diagnostic (OBD) system for emission control in accordance with Annex XI.

Note that here "European Union" means countries that were members of the EU in 2003.


Other vehicles

If your vehicle does not fall into any of the above categories, look under the hood and try to locate a label (Figure 1) that explicitly states that the vehicle was designed to comply with OBD-II legislation.


Image showing a typical vehicle emission control information label. The words "OBD II CERTIFIED" are circled in red and highlighted.

Figure 1. Vehicle Emission Control Information Label


In this case, OBD-II is used as a general term and can mean any of the following:

  • OBD II (California ARB)
  • EOBD (European OBD)
  • JOBD (Japanese OBD)

You may also consult your vehicle's owner's manual and perhaps contact your local dealer. However, be aware of the fact that many dealers do not know the difference between OBD and OBD-II.

If the vehicle is not OBD-II compliant, you can't use a generic OBD-II scan tool such as OBDLink adapters to obtain diagnostic information from your vehicle.


But my car has the 16-pin OBD connector, shouldn't it be OBD-II compliant?

No, not necessarily. A lot of European and Asian manufacturers equipped their vehicles with D-shaped 16-pin connectors long before they began installing OBD-II systems on those vehicles. One curious thing to note here is the fact that most non-EOBD compliant vehicles had a Data Link Connector (DLC) that does not fully conform to SAE J1979. Figure 2 shows the correct DLC type.


An image of the SAE standard J1962 Vehicle Connector used for OBD-II information.

Figure 2. J1962 Vehicle Connector, Type A



Learn more

  • After you have confirmed that your vehicle is OBD-II compliant, we recommend you read these articles:
    • Which OBDLink® adapter is right for me? This article helps you evaluate the OBDLink adapter products and decide which one is best for your particular requirements. 
    • Are enhanced diagnostics available for my vehicle? This article helps you confirm if enhanced diagnostics are available for your vehicle.
      Note: OBDLink adapters support all OBD-II compliant vehicles. You can read OBD-II diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) using the free OBDLink app (Android and iOS) or OBDwiz (Windows). You need enhanced diagnostics to read additional manufacturer-specific DTCs and Parameter IDs (PIDs). For example, if you have a Ford vehicle, you may want to read and clear Ford-specific DTCs for the anti-lock braking system (ABS). 
  • See this Wikipedia article on PIDs that are supported by the SAE OBD-II standard.  
  • For descriptions of terms used in this article, see the Glossary of Acronyms and Terms.


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