Park distance control sensors — commonly called PDC or parking sensors — are ultrasonic transducers mounted flush in the bumper that emit sound pulses and measure the time taken for echoes to return from nearby objects. The control module converts that time data into distance readings, triggering audible or visual warnings as the gap closes. A single failed sensor silences one zone of the system, leaving a blind spot the driver may not notice until after a collision. Physical damage is the most obvious cause of failure — even a light tap in a car park can crack the plastic housing or break the internal piezoelectric element — but corrosion of the wiring connector and paint ingress around the sensor aperture are equally common culprits. Many sensors also fail after high-pressure jet washing directed at the bumper apertures. Because OE numbers encode the sensor diameter, frequency, and colour code specific to each vehicle model, using the correct reference ensures the replacement sits flush, matches the painted finish class, and communicates correctly with the original control module. VEMO and Frankberg cover a broad range of passenger car applications across the German brands in particular, whilst Meat & Doria offers wide coverage for French and Italian vehicles.
Sensors are vehicle-specific in diameter, thread pitch, cable length, and sometimes colour-code. The OE reference on this page is mapped via TecDoc to your exact chassis — use the make-model-year selector to filter results, then confirm the number matches either the existing sensor body or your vehicle's parts list. Note that front and rear bumper sensors often carry different OE references even on the same car, so specifying position matters.
OEM sensors from the vehicle manufacturer are paired to the specific PDC control module and guaranteed to match the operating frequency and output voltage range the module expects. Quality aftermarket sensors from brands like VEMO or Frankberg are produced to the same frequency specification and housing dimensions, providing equivalent function. Generic universal sensors sold without an OE reference are a false economy — even a small frequency mismatch causes persistent fault codes and erratic distance readings that the module cannot filter out.
No — individual sensors can be replaced without changing the full set. However, if the vehicle is several years old and one sensor has failed due to moisture or connector corrosion, it is worth inspecting the remaining sensors in the same bumper aperture at the same time, as they will have experienced identical environmental exposure. Replacing a single sensor that shows a fault code is entirely valid; replacing all four or six in one session only makes sense where age-related failure is likely to recur soon.
The most obvious sign is the system warning the driver of a fault on start-up — most PDC systems flash a warning icon or sound three beeps to indicate a dead sensor. In normal use, a defective sensor creates a dead zone in the coverage pattern, so the system beeps correctly on one side of the vehicle but stays silent on the other even when an obstacle is present. Intermittent false alarms — beeping rapidly in an empty space — can also indicate a sensor whose piezoelectric element is cracked or whose lens is obscured by mud or ice.
Showing 100 of 5,518 Park distance control sensor OE numbers. Enter the OE on the main OE search to jump to any reference.
