Car Scanner ELM OBD2

What it is

Car Scanner ELM OBD2 is a vehicle diagnostics and trip computer app from CAR SCANNER LLC, listed under Auto & Vehicles. It was released on Jan 23, 2018 and last updated on 2026-09-26. It is free to install and rated Everyone. It connects to a car’s engine management system through an OBD2 adapter.

What it does well

The feature list is deep. You can arrange your own dashboard from the gauges and charts of your choice, and there is a HUD mode that projects data onto a windshield. The app reads and resets diagnostic trouble codes and includes a large database of code descriptions. It can show freeze frame data, which is the state of the sensors when a code was saved, and it supports Mode 06 self-monitoring test results. A check for emission test readiness is included, and so are extended custom PIDs.

Performance and trip tools are listed as well. There is an acceleration measurement tool for runs such as 0 to 60 and 0 to 100, and a trip computer with fuel consumption statistics. Connection profiles add extra features for a long list of makes. The listing also describes coding of hidden settings for some Volkswagen group, Toyota and Lexus, and Renault and Dacia cars.

What the ratings show

The score is 4.7 from 368,025 ratings, and the app has 10,000,000+ installs. Five stars make up 83.2% and four stars 10.6%. Three stars are 2.4%, two stars 0.7% and one star 3%. That is a smaller pool than the big consumer apps, but it is still a sizable sample for a tool aimed at car owners.

Where it falls short

The app does nothing alone. The listing says it requires a Wi-Fi, Bluetooth or Bluetooth LE adapter that is ELM327 compatible, plugged into the car’s diagnostic socket. It suggests several adapter brands and warns that cheap adapters marked v2.1 are supported but have many bugs. The listing gives no adapter prices.

Compatibility is the other limit. It works with vehicles that follow the OBD2 standard, most built after 2000 and some back to 1996. The listing notes that vehicles differ in the sensors they support, and that coding compatibility may depend on modules and firmware versions.

Who it suits

It suits car owners and hobbyists who are happy to buy an adapter and want detailed live data and fault codes. Check your vehicle and adapter against the listing before you start.