FIXD OBD2 Scanner is useless | OWNER’S REVIEW

I tested the FIXD adapter and app again in 2025 on real cars to see if anything improved since my first review. The short version: the adapter itself is still usable with other apps, but the FIXD Premium subscription is even harder to justify now that we have free tools like ChatGPT and better scanners in the same price range.

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FIXD sensor overview

What This Tool Actually Is

FIXD is basically a Bluetooth ELM327-style adapter with a branded app and a paid subscription.

The hardware itself is nothing special. The main product is the app and the FIXD Premium plan that promises AI mechanic help, odometer fraud checks, buyer’s guide, emission pre-check, and some extra reports.

Underneath, it is still just reading standard OBD2 data.

❌No coding.
❌No service resets.
❌No bi-directional tests.
❌Mostly engine-only diagnostics.

If you want a real upgrade from basic ELM327, look at my best Bluetooth OBD2 scanners or used car check scanners instead. Those are proper tools, not just a paid app wrapped around simple OBD data.

Test Results on Real Cars

I tested it on real cars.

Cars I used:
• 2005 Volkswagen diesel (old VW with lots of stored faults)
• Toyota Corolla
• Plus a few other cars in my garage for quick checks

On the 2005 VW, I had a fresh full-system scan from ThinkDiag2. That scan found multiple faults across engine, transmission, access authorization, climate, body, airbag, and more. Then I plugged in FIXD.

FIXD detected only 9 fault codes and even inside the engine it missed some codes that ThinkDiag2 found. One example: fault P0638 (throttle-related) was visible in the ThinkDiag report, but FIXD did not show it at all. This means FIXD is not even reliable as an engine-only scanner on this car.

For other systems, FIXD reported “all clear” in transmission, ABS, and airbag, even though the full-system tool showed real faults in those modules. So advanced module scanning is not trustworthy.

Free version behavior in my test:

• Can connect and identify the car
• Can read some engine codes
• Can clear codes
• Live data is limited and most interesting stuff is behind Premium
• Many “AI” features and odometer fraud checks are locked

Premium trial behavior:

• I had to enter card details just to start the trial
• They offer first year around half price after the trial ends, then go up to full price (around $99/year in my testing)
• After unlocking Premium, scanning behavior did not improve
• Still only engine + a few main modules, still missing faults
• “Odometer fraud” feature failed on a car where I personally changed the mileage as a test
• Emission pre-check is just standard readiness monitors, something any cheap scanner shows for free
• Live data is super basic, only a few PIDs, no proper graphs

Conclusion from testing:
Both free and premium FIXD apps are weak.
The scanning is not reliable, the Premium features add nothing you can’t get for free, and the whole product is designed to push the subscription, not to be the best diagnostic tool.

Manufacturer Specs vs Real Testing

Area	Manufacturer Claim	What I Saw in Testing
Easy health reports	Simple interface	Yes, but shallow info
Scan multiple systems	Engine + main modules	Missed many faults, modules shown “clear” when they weren’t
AI mechanic help	Smart repair advice	Worse than free ChatGPT answers
Odometer fraud check	Detect suspicious mileage	Failed on a car with known changed mileage
Emission pre-check	Helps you pass inspection	Just standard readiness monitors behind paywall
Live data	See what your engine is doing	Very few PIDs, no serious graphs
Buyer’s guide and value tools	Helps used car buyers	Generic info you can recreate with free tools

Hardware / Software / Plans / Internet Dependency

Hardware

Small Bluetooth adapter.
Plugs in like any other ELM327.
LEDs show power and connection.
Nothing special here. It just works like a basic dongle.

Software (FIXD app)

App is clean and beginner-friendly.
Nice icons, simple menus, easy to navigate.
But most useful things are locked behind FIXD Premium.

Free tier:
• Basic engine scan
• Clear engine codes
• Very limited live data
• Some simple “manual diagnosis” based on choosing symptoms

Premium tier adds:
• AI mechanic
• Confirmed fix and cost ranges
• Emission pre-check (readiness)
• Odometer fraud check (did not work in my test)
• Buyer’s guide, ownership calculator, issue forecast, incident history
Most of this is generic info you can get from free ChatGPT + Google + free OBD apps.

Plans and pricing

In my testing:
• Premium subscription around $99/year
• If you start a trial and let it expire, FIXD may offer 50% off first year
• Still too expensive for what you get
• The adapter is a one-time purchase, the subscription is recurring

For the same money per year, you can buy a ThinkDiag2 or similar tool that gives full-system scan, bi-directional tests, service resets, and partial coding. That is a much smarter way to spend this budget.

Internet and account

You need an account and internet connection to use FIXD properly.
Premium features especially depend on cloud services and AI.
If you just want to read codes offline, a normal ELM327 with Car Scanner is a better idea.

Supported Service Resets

FIXD is not a real service-reset tool.

It does not offer proper functions like:
• EPB reset
• ABS bleed
• Steering angle reset
• DPF regeneration
• Battery registration

The closest thing to “service” is:
• Emission pre-check (readiness monitors)
• Some generic maintenance tips
Both are much easier and cheaper with other tools or apps.

For any serious service work, you need a proper scanner like Mucar VO7, Kingbolen K7, Thinkcar tablets, or even a good Bluetooth bi-di scanner.

Supported Languages

In my testing, FIXD app was in English.
Other languages may exist, but I did not test them, so they are not available in my testing.

If English is not your first language, you can still combine FIXD (or any adapter) with Google Translate and ChatGPT to understand fault codes and guides much better than the app alone.

Comparison Section

FIXD vs OBDeleven

OBDeleven is a VAG-focused tool for coding and adaptations.
FIXD is a generic adapter with a paid app and no coding.

OBDeleven works best on VW/Audi/Škoda/Seat. It can do long coding, adaptations, and basic SFD support on modern models. FIXD just reads some engine data and sells you a subscription.

Feature	FIXD	OBDeleven
Platform	Bluetooth + phone	Bluetooth + phone
Focus	Basic engine help	VAG coding and diagnostics
Coding	No	Yes, strong on VAG
Service resets	No real resets	Many VAG procedures
Subscription	Yearly	Optional credits, but tool is useful without subs
Best for	Beginners who want a simple app (if it worked well)	VAG owners who want real control

SFD note: OBDeleven can handle SFD unlocks on newer VW/Audi where supported. FIXD is not even close to this level.
Wrong coding can damage modules, so never change options blindly, but at least OBDeleven is built for this work. FIXD is not.

FIXD vs ELM327 Adapters (Veepeak, vLinker, etc.)

This is the most fair comparison. FIXD is basically a branded ELM327.

For me, Veepeak or vLinker MS are better choices:

• Cheaper or similar price
• No forced subscription
• Work with many apps
• More stable and open

Feature	FIXD	Veepeak / vLinker
Price (adapter)	Often higher than $20	Veepeak under $20, vLinker ~ $30
Subscription	Yes, ~$99/year	No
App choice	Mostly FIXD app	Any compatible OBD app
Engine codes	Missed some in my testing	More reliable with good apps
Live data	Locked, basic	Full graphs, dashboards (Car Scanner, Torque)
Full-system	No	Engine-only, but honest about it

The truth is simple:
If you buy any good ELM327 adapter and use Car Scanner ELM OBD2, you already have more useful features than FIXD Premium gives you.

FIXD vs other 4-system scanner

Kingbolen S608 is a 4-system handheld scanner for Engine, ABS, SRS, and Transmission with real bi-directional tests and several built-in reset functions. FIXD is only a small Bluetooth dongle with a paid app that mostly reads basic engine data.

One year of FIXD Premium costs similar money to buying the S608 outright. S608 then gives you proper diagnostics on four main systems, active tests, and multiple hot service resets, while FIXD keeps charging every year for weak features that free apps and ChatGPT can already do better.

Feature	FIXD	Kingbolen S608
Hardware	Tiny Bluetooth dongle	Handheld scanner with screen
Systems	Mostly engine	4 systems (Engine, ABS, SRS, Transmission)
Bi-directional	No	Yes on 4 systems
Service resets	No real resets	Multiple reset functions (car dependent)
Coding	No	No (focus is 4-system + resets)
Updates	Cloud, subscription app	Device firmware updates, no yearly “app” fee in my testing info

FIXD vs Carista

Carista is another app with its own adapter and subscription, but there is one big difference:
Carista actually does some real coding and customizations on supported cars.

FIXD does not. It sells an AI mechanic and some basic OBD views.

Feature	FIXD	Carista
Adapter type	Bluetooth dongle	Bluetooth dongle
Coding	No	Yes, on supported brands
Live data	Weak	Better engine data via OBD
Used with other adapters	No (FIXD app locked)	Carista app can work with some third-party dongles
Value	Very poor	Still needs caution, but can unlock real features

I still warn about Carista’s subscription model and limited depth, but at least you get something that FIXD doesn’t offer at all: coding and customizations. FIXD Premium is mostly selling you text and basic OBD data.

FIXD vs Carly

Carly is also subscription-based and not cheap. But Carly at least offers:

• Brand-specific coding
• Deeper diagnostics on BMW, VAG, etc.
• Some useful service resets

FIXD offers none of this.

Feature	FIXD	Carly
Focus	Generic engine help	Brand-focused coding and diagnostics
Coding	No	Yes (on supported brands)
Service resets	No	Basically no, maybe one
Odometer / used car tools	Weak in my test	Useless
Subscription	Expensive for what you get	Also expensive

These are like 2 of WORST value-for-money OBD2 scanner on the planet. Do not buy either of them.

Final Verdict

FIXD adapter by itself is okay if you get it cheap and only use the free app + other OBD apps. As a Bluetooth ELM327 dongle, it works. As a full product with its own Premium subscription, it completely fails my tests.

The free FIXD app is too limited and misses trouble codes.
The Premium subscription adds features that free ChatGPT and free OBD apps already do better.
Scanning is not reliable enough to trust, even for basic engine diagnostics.
Odometer fraud detection and buyer’s tools were useless in my testing.

Who should buy it?
Maybe someone who gets the adapter at a big discount and only wants a very simple check engine helper, and plans to use other apps anyway.

Who should skip it?
Everyone who is thinking about paying for FIXD Premium. For the same money you can buy a real scanner like ThinkDiag2, Mucar, or a good tablet that will do full-system scans, bi-directional tests, and real service resets.

How to save money
If you already own FIXD, use the adapter with Car Scanner ELM OBD2 or similar apps and forget the subscription.
If you don’t own it yet, I would buy a Veepeak or vLinker instead, or go straight to a proper scanner from my best OBD2 scanners and best Bluetooth scanners lists.