COMPATIBILITY
Will it work on your vehicle?
OBD Hound reads standard OBD-II data through a Bluetooth ELM327 adapter. Most modern vehicles expose enough information for a full health report, but coverage varies by fuel type, year and region.
Quick answer
- Gasoline cars and light trucks sold in the US since 1996, in the EU since 2001, and in most other markets since the mid-2000s.
- Diesels and hybrids usually work for engine, emissions and battery basics, but some manufacturer-specific data is not exposed.
- Most heavy-duty commercial trucks use J1939 rather than consumer OBD-II, so a standard ELM327 adapter will not connect.
North America
OBD-II has been mandatory for gasoline vehicles since 1996 and for light-duty diesels since 2004 (CAN protocol required from 2008).
Europe
EOBD covers gasoline vehicles from 2001 and diesels from 2004. Full OBD-II compatibility became standard around 2005.
Asia-Pacific
Japan (J-OBD), South Korea and Australia adopted OBD-II or compatible standards between the early and mid-2000s. Most 2006+ imports are supported.
Other markets
Many countries follow US or EU rules. If your vehicle has a 16-pin diagnostic port under the dash, it is likely readable.
By vehicle type
Gasoline cars & light trucks
Best coverage. Engine, fuel trim, ignition, emissions, sensors and fault codes are all readable through generic OBD-II.
Diesel vehicles
Core engine and emissions PIDs work, but diesel-specific data such as DPF soot load or injector correction values are usually manufacturer-proprietary.
Hybrids
Internal-combustion parameters and some battery data are often available, but hybrid powertrain details may require a factory scanner.
Full EVs
EVs are not required to expose the same generic data. Many standard PIDs will return no data. OBD Hound is not designed for EV battery diagnostics.
Heavy-duty trucks & commercial equipment
Class 4+ trucks, buses and off-road equipment typically use SAE J1939 or ISO 11783, not consumer OBD-II.
Motorcycles & powersports
Some bikes use OBD-II, but many use proprietary connectors and protocols. Check that your bike has a standard 16-pin OBD-II port.
What you need
ELM327-compatible Bluetooth dongle
Any BLE or Bluetooth-serial ELM327 clone that supports the protocols below. Wi-Fi adapters are not supported.
A 16-pin OBD-II port
Usually located under the dashboard, within reach of the driver. If your vehicle has one, it is almost certainly readable.
Protocols supported
OBD Hound speaks the standard protocols an ELM327 adapter can bridge:
- ISO 15765-4 CAN (11-bit & 29-bit)
- ISO 9141-2
- ISO 14230-4 KWP2000
- SAE J1850 PWM / VPW
Important limitations
- OBD Hound reads generic OBD-II parameters. Manufacturer-specific codes, transmission data, airbag, ABS, TPMS and advanced ADAS systems usually require a factory scan tool.
- The app can clear generic fault codes and reset monitors, but it cannot perform bi-directional actuator tests, key programming or module coding.
- Some vehicles expose only a subset of Mode 01 PIDs. If the ECU does not report a parameter, OBD Hound will show “no data” rather than guess.
- A reading outside spec points to a system or sensor to inspect; it is not a guaranteed parts-replacement list. Always verify with physical tests before replacing components.
Not sure? Try the simulated vehicle first — no adapter or account required.
Open the scanner