Posted on 10/31/2025
Your catalytic converter reduces harmful emissions and helps your engine run efficiently. But when it becomes clogged, your vehicle will show signs that something isn’t quite right. Left untreated, a clogged catalytic converter can lead to poor performance, increased fuel consumption, or even engine damage. If you’re wondering whether your catalytic converter might be causing issues, here are five clear signs to watch for. 1. Poor Acceleration or Sluggish Performance One of the most noticeable symptoms of a clogged catalytic converter is a loss of power when accelerating. If you step on the gas and your car doesn’t respond like it used to, it could be because exhaust gases are trapped in the engine, creating back pressure. This back pressure makes it harder for your engine to push exhaust out and pull fresh air in, choking performance. Drivers often describe the sensation as the car feeling bogged down or slower to respond, especially during uphil ... read more