Can drive — fix at your convenience.
P0461 means the fuel level sensor's reading is out of the expected range or not changing as it should. This sensor sits in the fuel tank and tells the gauge and computer how much fuel is left. The fault usually affects the accuracy of your fuel gauge rather than how the car runs.
$100 – $400
Varies by vehicle and root cause.
Yes, it's generally safe to drive. The catch is that your fuel gauge may be unreliable, so fill up more often and watch your mileage so you don't accidentally run out of gas.
Repairs usually run about $100 to $400. A wiring fix is on the low end, while replacing the in-tank fuel level sensor or sending unit costs more because the tank often has to be accessed.
Not really. It's a low-severity code that mostly affects the accuracy of your fuel gauge, not how the car drives. It's still worth fixing so you can trust your gauge again.
The fuel level sensor sends a faulty or out-of-range signal, so the gauge can't show the true amount of fuel. Replacing or repairing the sensor restores accurate readings.