diff --git a/selfdrive/ui/tests/test_obdyssey_ui.py b/selfdrive/ui/tests/test_obdyssey_ui.py
index 311317fda..2bbf0e19b 100644
--- a/selfdrive/ui/tests/test_obdyssey_ui.py
+++ b/selfdrive/ui/tests/test_obdyssey_ui.py
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ from openpilot.starpilot.system.bluetooth.tests.test_bluetooth import FakeParams
 from openpilot.starpilot.system.obdyssey.protocol import OBDysseyStatus
 from openpilot.system.ui.lib.application import gui_app
 from openpilot.system.ui.widgets.bluetooth import device_status_text
+from openpilot.system.ui.widgets import obdyssey as obdyssey_widget
 from openpilot.system.ui.widgets.obdyssey import OBDysseyScreen
 from openpilot.system.ui.widgets.obdyssey import DTC_STATE_CLEAN, DTC_STATE_FAULTS, DTC_STATE_IN_PROGRESS, DTC_STATE_UNAVAILABLE
 
@@ -73,6 +74,8 @@ def make_obdyssey_screen(client: FakeOBDysseyClient, params: FakeParams) -> OBDy
   screen._clear_in_progress = False
   screen._retry_in_progress = False
   screen._last_error = ""
+  screen._smoke_test_retry_at = None
+  screen._smoke_test_retry_used = False
   return screen
 
 
@@ -172,6 +175,92 @@ def test_obdyssey_ready_refresh_preserves_telemetry_and_dtcs():
   assert screen._dtc_state == DTC_STATE_FAULTS
 
 
+def test_obdyssey_failed_sample_retries_once_and_recovers(monkeypatch):
+  class SequencedClient(FakeOBDysseyClient):
+    def __init__(self):
+      super().__init__(connected=True)
+      self.read_calls = 0
+
+    def read_signals(self, _ids: list[str]) -> dict:
+      self.read_calls += 1
+      if self.read_calls == 1:
+        return {
+          "signals": {},
+          "errors": {"BOLT_HVBAT_SOC": {"type": "ElmNoDataError", "message": "ELM returned NO DATA"}},
+        }
+      return {"signals": {"BOLT_HVBAT_SOC": 78.5}, "errors": {}}
+
+  class StopAfterTwoRefreshes:
+    def __init__(self):
+      self.refreshes = 0
+      self.stopped = False
+
+    def clear(self):
+      self.refreshes = 0
+      self.stopped = False
+
+    def is_set(self):
+      return self.stopped
+
+    def wait(self, _timeout):
+      self.refreshes += 1
+      self.stopped = self.refreshes >= 2
+      return self.stopped
+
+  monkeypatch.setattr(obdyssey_widget, "SMOKE_TEST_RETRY_DELAY", 0.0)
+  client = SequencedClient()
+  screen = make_obdyssey_screen(client, FakeParams(IsOffroad=True))
+  screen._stop_event = StopAfterTwoRefreshes()
+
+  screen._worker_loop()
+
+  assert client.read_calls == 2
+  assert screen._live_telemetry == {"BOLT_HVBAT_SOC": 78.5}
+  assert screen._last_error == ""
+
+
+def test_obdyssey_failed_sample_does_not_retry_indefinitely(monkeypatch):
+  class ErrorClient(FakeOBDysseyClient):
+    def __init__(self):
+      super().__init__(connected=True)
+      self.read_calls = 0
+
+    def read_signals(self, _ids: list[str]) -> dict:
+      self.read_calls += 1
+      return {
+        "signals": {},
+        "errors": {"BOLT_HVBAT_SOC": {"type": "ElmNoDataError", "message": "ELM returned NO DATA"}},
+      }
+
+  class StopAfterThreeRefreshes:
+    def __init__(self):
+      self.refreshes = 0
+      self.stopped = False
+
+    def clear(self):
+      self.refreshes = 0
+      self.stopped = False
+
+    def is_set(self):
+      return self.stopped
+
+    def wait(self, _timeout):
+      self.refreshes += 1
+      self.stopped = self.refreshes >= 3
+      return self.stopped
+
+  monkeypatch.setattr(obdyssey_widget, "SMOKE_TEST_RETRY_DELAY", 0.0)
+  client = ErrorClient()
+  screen = make_obdyssey_screen(client, FakeParams(IsOffroad=True))
+  screen._stop_event = StopAfterThreeRefreshes()
+
+  screen._worker_loop()
+
+  assert client.read_calls == 2
+  assert screen._live_telemetry == {}
+  assert screen._last_error == "ELM returned NO DATA"
+
+
 def test_obdyssey_screen_clear_codes_safety_gating(monkeypatch):
   fake_client = FakeOBDysseyClient(connected=True)
   params = FakeParams(IsOffroad=False)
diff --git a/system/ui/widgets/obdyssey.py b/system/ui/widgets/obdyssey.py
index de02f0aaf..0c4f98c9f 100644
--- a/system/ui/widgets/obdyssey.py
+++ b/system/ui/widgets/obdyssey.py
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ SMOKE_TEST_SIGNAL_IDS = (
   "BOLT_HVBAT_SOC",
   "BOLT_HVBAT_VOLTAGE",
 )
+SMOKE_TEST_RETRY_DELAY = 2.0
 
 
 class OBDysseyScreen(Widget):
@@ -109,6 +110,8 @@ class OBDysseyScreen(Widget):
     self._clear_in_progress = False
     self._retry_in_progress = False
     self._last_error = ""
+    self._smoke_test_retry_at: float | None = None
+    self._smoke_test_retry_used = False
 
   def _go_back(self):
     gui_app.pop_widget()
@@ -150,14 +153,35 @@ class OBDysseyScreen(Widget):
       # API v2 separates successful values from per-signal errors. Keep a
       # small compatibility path for developer fakes implementing the old
       # flat dictionary contract.
+      error_message = ""
       if isinstance(readings, dict) and "signals" in readings:
         self._live_telemetry = dict(readings.get("signals", {}))
+        errors = readings.get("errors", {})
+        if isinstance(errors, dict) and errors:
+          first_error = next(iter(errors.values()))
+          if isinstance(first_error, dict):
+            error_message = str(first_error.get("message") or first_error.get("type") or "")
+          else:
+            error_message = str(first_error)
       else:
         self._live_telemetry = dict(readings or {})
+      if error_message:
+        self._last_error = error_message
+      elif self._live_telemetry:
+        self._last_error = ""
+
+  def _reset_smoke_test_retry(self):
+    self._smoke_test_retry_at = None
+    self._smoke_test_retry_used = False
+
+  def _schedule_smoke_test_retry(self):
+    if self._available_signals and not self._live_telemetry and not self._smoke_test_retry_used:
+      self._smoke_test_retry_at = time.monotonic() + SMOKE_TEST_RETRY_DELAY
 
   def show_event(self):
     super().show_event()
     self._stop_event.clear()
+    self._reset_smoke_test_retry()
     self._poller_thread = threading.Thread(target=self._worker_loop, daemon=True)
     self._poller_thread.start()
 
@@ -241,11 +265,13 @@ class OBDysseyScreen(Widget):
         self._connect_adapter()
         self._status = self._client.status()
       self._read_smoke_test_signals()
+      self._schedule_smoke_test_retry()
     except Exception as err:
       self._last_error = str(err)
 
     # Main status loop.  Vehicle reads remain demand-driven; this screen takes
-    # one small sample after connection/recovery rather than polling all PIDs.
+    # one small sample after connection/recovery, with one delayed retry when
+    # the sample returns no values rather than polling all PIDs.
     while not self._stop_event.is_set():
       try:
         was_diagnostic_ready = self._diagnostic_ready()
@@ -259,15 +285,23 @@ class OBDysseyScreen(Widget):
 
         if self._diagnostic_ready():
           if not was_diagnostic_ready:
+            self._reset_smoke_test_retry()
             self._read_smoke_test_signals()
-          # A ready → ready status refresh is not a lifecycle transition.
-          # Preserve the last successful telemetry and DTC results.
+            self._schedule_smoke_test_retry()
+          elif (self._smoke_test_retry_at is not None
+                and time.monotonic() >= self._smoke_test_retry_at):
+            self._smoke_test_retry_at = None
+            self._smoke_test_retry_used = True
+            self._read_smoke_test_signals()
+          # A ready → ready status refresh is not a lifecycle transition,
+          # except for the single bounded retry above.
         elif was_diagnostic_ready:
           # Only clear stale readings when leaving a usable backend state;
           # don't repeatedly erase an already-empty/error state on every poll.
           self._live_telemetry.clear()
           self._dtcs.clear()
           self._dtc_state = DTC_STATE_UNAVAILABLE
+          self._reset_smoke_test_retry()
       except Exception as err:
         self._last_error = str(err)