Timing and crank/cam sensorsGeneric OBD-II codeUrgency: Garage soon
Code P0011: camshaft over-advanced (variable valve timing)
P0011 means: camshaft position "A": timing over-advanced or system performance (bank 1).[1][2][3] The ECU has detected that camshaft "A" on bank 1 (the intake one) is more advanced than it commanded, or that the variable valve timing (VVT) system is not responding as it should. It only occurs on engines with variable valve timing.[1][2][3][4]
What code P0011 means
The ECU has detected that camshaft "A" on bank 1 (the intake one) is more advanced than it commanded, or that the variable valve timing (VVT) system is not responding as it should. It only occurs on engines with variable valve timing.[1][2][3][4]
The ECU commands the camshaft to advance or retard using a solenoid that meters pressurised oil to the phaser, and checks with the camshaft sensor whether it has moved as requested. If the actual position does not match the requested one, it stores the code. That is why the oil (level, condition and viscosity) is the first thing to check.[3][4][5]
It is a generic OBD-II code (it starts with P0), so it means the same on any make; what changes from one engine to another is the most likely cause.[6]
Original definition (SAE J2012): Camshaft Position A - Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 1)[1][2][3]
Codes from the same family
They indicate the same problem in a specific cylinder, bank or sensor. Causes, symptoms and diagnosis are those on this page.
Causes of P0011 and its family
From most to least likely, according to the sources.
- 1Oil in poor condition or at a low level: dirty, sludgy, of the wrong viscosity, or with blocked passages that leave the phaser without hydraulic pressure. Carista says dirty oil is the number one cause of variable valve timing faults.[1][2][3][4][5]
- 2Oil control solenoid (VVT or OCV) stuck, with its screen blocked by sludge or with an electrical fault, such as a short circuit.[1][2][3][4]
- 3Worn or seized camshaft phaser (cam adjuster), which cannot return to its base position.[2][3][4]
- 4Damaged solenoid wiring or connector: breaks, wear or a poor connection.[1][2][3]
- 5Stretched, worn or incorrectly fitted timing chain or belt, with the camshaft out of time.[1][2][3][5]
- 6Faulty camshaft or crankshaft position sensor. Rick's considers it the least likely cause.[3]
- 7ECU fault (rarely).[2][3]
Symptoms
- Engine warning light on.[1][2][4]Engine warning light: faults that cause it
- Difficulty starting the engine.[1][2]Hard to start: faults that cause it
- Loss of power.[1][4]Less power: faults that cause it
- Rough idle.[2][4]Vibrations: faults that cause it
- The engine may stall, for example when stopping.[2][4]Engine stalls: faults that cause it
- Fuel consumption increases.[2][4]Uses more fuel: faults that cause it
- Metallic rattling from the top of the engine on starting or accelerating, if the phaser cannot hold the commanded position.[2][3][4]Chain noise: faults that cause it
- Hesitation when accelerating and misfires.[2][4]Jerking: faults that cause it
- Poor combustion, with a risk of failing the emissions test.[1][2]
How to diagnose P0011
In order: from the most likely and cheapest to check to the most expensive.
- 1Start with the oil: check the level and condition, and make sure you are using the viscosity the manufacturer specifies. If the level is low, top up and look for leaks if it drops again; if it is dirty or not the right one, change it along with the filter and see whether the code returns.[1][2][3][4][5]
- 2Read the other codes: according to Rick's, a P0014, a P0017 or similar alongside P0011 can point to a bigger problem in the timing system.[3][5]
- 3Check the solenoid's connector and wiring: rubbing against other parts, corrosion, poor contact. With a multimeter, check that power and earth reach it, and measure its resistance.[1][2][3]
- 4With the diagnostic tool, activate the bank 1 intake-side solenoid and watch in live data how the camshaft advance moves. If the solenoid clicks but the timing does not move, it points to the phaser; if it does not click, it points to the solenoid.[4]
- 5Remove the solenoid and check whether its screen is blocked by sludge or debris, whether there are oil leaks and whether it moves when briefly powered (MechanicBase warns not to hold the voltage for more than a second).[2][3][5]
- 6Listen to the phaser with a mechanic's stethoscope on starting: a metallic rattle usually gives away a failing phaser.[3]
- 7If everything above is fine, check the timing chain or belt and the camshaft timing, especially if the timing has been worked on recently.[2][3][5]
- 8Replace the solenoid or the phaser only when the tests indicate it; after the repair, Carista advises using oil of the grade the manufacturer recommends.[4]
Can I keep driving with P0011?
Garage soon
The sources do not agree on the severity. Autodoc Club considers it a fault to resolve immediately and MechanicBase advises not to keep driving, because with the timing out of adjustment the fault gets worse and, if the cause is a chain or a belt, the engine can suffer serious damage; Rick's warns that carrying on driving without fixing it can end in serious engine failure, while Carista classes it as medium severity. The quickest thing is to check the oil level and condition straight away, and not to put off the visit to the garage.[1][2][3][4]
Documented faults related to P0011
Known faults of specific engines and cars, with their repair cost, the affected years and their sources.
Faults in which this code appears
Variable valve timing (VVT) actuator: the most serious faults by engine and car
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalPorsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)Loosening of the camshaft adjuster boltsPorsche acknowledges that the fixing bolts of the camshaft adjusters on certain Cayenne S and Turbo and Panamera models built up to September 2011 can fail: noise, vibration, engine warning light and, in rare cases, stalling. There has been a worldwide workshop campaign since 2012.
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonBMW N43/N46Wear of the Valvetronic and the VANOS solenoid valvesOver the years, the eccentric shaft or the actuator motor of the Valvetronic can wear and cause heavy idle fluctuations; the VANOS solenoid valves also fail over time, with similar symptoms and a loss of power. According to English-language Wikipedia, the 1.6-litre N43B16 does not have Valvetronic.
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonM111Camshaft adjuster oil leak into the wiringYes: the magnet (solenoid valve) of the M111 camshaft adjuster can lose its seal, and the oil creeps up by capillary action to the connector and the wiring loom. Mercedes-Benz has the same repair cable as for the M271 (part number A2711502733), which is cheap to fit.
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonM271Oil leaking from the camshaft adjuster solenoids into the wiringYes: the camshaft adjuster solenoids (magnets) of the M271 can lose their seal, and the oil wicks up to the connector and the wiring loom, and can even reach the control unit. Mercedes-Benz has a specific repair cable (reference A2711502733) that is cheap to fit.
Engine sensors: the most serious faults by engine and car
- High severityFrequency: Occasional2.0 DTI and 2.2 DTIVP44 injection pump and air mass meter failureGerman Wikipedia documents recurring failures of the Bosch VP44 injection pump and the air mass meter in the early years of this engine. An owner testimony for this engine describes the pump being replaced at 192,500 km, at a cost the owner calls «prohibitive».
- Medium severityFrequency: Common2.0 TDIClogged particulate filter or faulty pressure sensorThe 2.0 TDI's particulate filter clogs if the car mostly makes short journeys, because it never gets to regenerate; sometimes the fault is just the differential pressure sensor. Cleaning it costs around €200 and replacing it, €800 to €3,000.Repair (garage): €800–€3,000
- Medium severityFrequency: Common1.4 and 1.6 8vCrankshaft position sensor failure (TDC sensor)The crankshaft position sensor (capteur PMH, or TDC sensor) appears repeatedly in the reliability sources for the Clio II, the Kangoo I and the Dacia Logan I with this engine, with hard cold starting or stalling as the main symptoms. It is a cheap part, but the failure can leave you stranded.
- Medium severityFrequency: Common1.4 and 1.6 16vCrankshaft position sensor failureThe crankshaft position sensor (capteur PMH) appears repeatedly in the reliability sources for almost every generation with this engine, with hard cold starting, stalling or the car cutting out unexpectedly. It is a cheap part, but the failure can leave you stranded.
Timing chain: the most serious faults by engine and car
- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequent1.5 BlueHDiWear and breakage of the 7 mm chain between the camshaftsIn 1.5 BlueHDi engines built between October 2017 and January 2023, the 7 mm chain linking the camshafts can stretch and break, causing serious engine damage. Stellantis has recalled them and covers the fault for 10 years or 240,000 km.Repair (garage): €730–€820
- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequent1.2 and 1.4 TSITiming chain stretch and tensioner failure (EA111)On the 1.2 and 1.4 TSI EA111 (2006-2015) the chain can stretch and the tensioner fall short; if the chain jumps a tooth, the valves hit the pistons. Volkswagen admitted the defect in 2012 and revised the chain and tensioner between 2010 and 2011.Repair (garage): €700–€1,400Appears at around 30,000 km
- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequentBMW N47Rear timing chain stretch and breakageYes: the N47 has its timing chain at the rear of the engine, next to the gearbox, and on a very high proportion of units, especially those built between 2007 and 2009, it stretches or breaks prematurely because of an inadequate tensioner, with a risk of destroying the engine.Repair (garage): €1,590–€3,000Appears at around 50,000 km
- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequentOM651Timing chain stretch and tensioner failureYes: the OM651 timing chain can stretch prematurely, above all on units built up to 2013, and in 2014-2015 Mercedes-Benz recalled around 114,000 vehicles in Germany over a defective sealing ring in the tensioner. A metallic rattle on a cold start is the first sign.Repair (garage): €2,000–€3,500Appears at around 120,000 km
Timing belt: the most serious faults by engine and car
- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequent1.2 PureTechOil-bath timing belt degradationThe oil-bath belt on the 1.2 PureTech (2012-2025) can swell and shed debris that blocks the oil pump pick-up; without lubrication, the engine can be destroyed. Stellantis covers it up to 10 years or 180,000 km and asks for it to be changed every 100,000 km or 6 years.Repair (garage): €400–€800
- Critical severityFrequency: Common1.0 EcoBoostDegradation of the timing belt running in oilYes: the 1.0 EcoBoost's timing belt runs in oil and can degrade over the years, shedding bits of rubber that block the oil pump and seize the engine without warning. The NHTSA is investigating the case in the United States and Ford has shortened the recommended replacement interval.Repair (garage): €800–€1,200
- Critical severityFrequency: Common1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlueDegradation of the wet timing belt (2.0 EcoBlue)Yes: the 2.0 EcoBlue debuted a timing belt that runs bathed in oil on Ford's diesels. Over the years it can degrade and shed debris that affects the lubrication circuit, with a risk of seizure. A roundup by Autopista.es places it in the Focus, Kuga, Transit and Transit/Tourneo Custom.
- Critical severityFrequency: Common1.0 / 1.5 VTEC TurboEngine failure caused by the wet timing beltYes: the 1.0 VTEC Turbo (P10A2) uses an oil-bath timing belt that degrades over time, blocks the lubrication circuit and can destroy the engine completely. Fiches-auto.fr documents several cases in the Honda Civic between 72,000 and 114,000 km.Appears at around 72,000 km
Wiring, connectors and short circuits: the most serious faults by engine and car
- Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalBMW N62 / N63Additional turbo coolant pump with a risk of short circuit and fireIn 2011 BMW recalled 5, 6 and 7 Series, X5 and X6 models built between 2007 and 2011 because of the additional turbo coolant pump: moisture, a short circuit and, in extreme cases, a fire. In 2012 there was another campaign for a crack in the pump, with a more robust version.
- High severityFrequency: Occasional1.3 TCeBlown fuel pump fuseOn the Renault Captur II and Clio V with the 1.3 TCe engine, a 20-amp fuse can blow and leave the car without an engine. According to L'argus, in April 2021 this fault still had no factory fix; the official service centre's diagnosis includes checking, and sometimes replacing, the catalytic converter.
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalM264/M254Poorly tightened 48 V earth wiring in the mild-hybrid system (fire risk)Mercedes-Benz has issued several recalls (2022-2025) because the 12 V and 48 V earth connections of some cars with a 48 V system may be poorly tightened: resistance rises, the connection heats up and a fire cannot be ruled out. The official workshop checks them and repairs them if necessary in an hour or more.
- High severityFrequency: Occasional1.9 TDIUnit injector tappet wear and injector wiring damageOn the unit injector system, the tappets that operate the injectors can wear if the oil is not changed on time, and the injector wiring can be damaged by contact with oil, causing misfires or loss of power.
- Critical severityFrequency: CommonRover 75Seat SRS connector fault with airbag and seatbelt warning light onAuto Express warns that the Rover 75's seat SRS connector can cause the airbags to fail, and dealers were fixing it with revised connectors. The Dutch APK inspection puts the airbag or seatbelt fault warning among the most frequent defects across almost all series.
- Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalAlfa Romeo GiuliettaShort circuit from badly routed wiring that can prevent gear shifting (KBA campaign, 2010-2015)Yes: according to Germany's KBA, on Alfa Romeo Giulietta cars built between 2010 and 2015 inadequate cable routing could cause a short circuit and, as a result, gear-shift failure.
P0011 by make
Documented faults that can trigger P0011 in each make's engines and cars.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with code P0011?
The sources do not agree on the severity: Autodoc Club asks for it to be resolved immediately; MechanicBase flatly advises not to keep driving; Rick's warns that carrying on driving without fixing it can end in serious engine failure; Carista classes it as medium severity. The quickest thing is to check the oil level and condition now.[1][2][3][4]
What should be checked first with a P0011?
The oil: level, condition and viscosity. Carista considers dirty oil the number one cause of variable valve timing faults, and MechanicBase points out that an oil and filter change may be enough before moving on to something more complicated.[2][4]
What do the "A" and "bank 1" in P0011 mean?
The "A" refers to the camshaft that operates the intake valves ("B" would be the exhaust one), and bank 1 is the one containing cylinder number 1. On V engines, an equivalent fault on the other bank sets P0021.[2][3]
What is the difference between P0011 and P0012?
P0011 indicates that the camshaft is more advanced than commanded. If it is retarded, other codes appear: P0012 on bank 1 or P0022 on bank 2.[2]
Does P0011 mean the same on all makes?
It is a generic code with the same definition for all manufacturers, although some makes name it differently: MechanicBase cites the case of Nissan, which describes it as intake valve timing control performance on bank 1.[2][6]
Will I pass the MOT with code P0011?
If the code has switched on the engine warning light, no: with that light on, the inspection records a serious defect, and on Euro 5 and Euro 6 cars the ITV (Spain's roadworthiness inspection, similar to the MOT) also reads the OBD diagnostic system. Repair the fault before you go; clearing the code just before the inspection does not help either, because it counts as a serious defect.[10]
Not sure what is wrong with your car? Describe what you notice in the symptom diagnosis or see all fault codes.
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- Código OBD2 P0011: causas, síntomas y cómo corregirloAutodoc Club · Technical documentation · consulted 2 October 2026 · in Spanish
- P0011 Code – Meaning, Causes & How to fix itMechanic Base · Technical documentation · consulted 2 October 2026
- P0011 Trouble Code: How to Fix ItRick's Free Auto Repair Advice · Technical documentation · published 20 February 2025 · consulted 2 October 2026
- P0011: OBD-II code P0011 means the intake camshaft on bank 1 is more advanced than the PCM commandedCarista · Technical documentation · consulted 2 October 2026
- DTC P0011 or P0014, Saab 9-5 (9650) 2011, motor de gasolina de 2.0 lSaab WIS Online (Saab Workshop Information System) · Technical documentation · consulted 2 October 2026
- On-board diagnosticsWikipedia · Other source · consulted 2 October 2026
- Código OBD2 P0012: causas, síntomas y cómo corregirloAutodoc Club · Technical documentation · consulted 4 October 2026 · in Spanish
- P0012 – Camshaft Position "A" – Timing Over-Retarded (Bank 1)Mechanic Base · Technical documentation · consulted 4 October 2026
- P0012 – Camshaft position (CMP), intake/left/front, bank 1 timing over -retardedTroubleCodes.net (BAT Auto) · Technical documentation · consulted 4 October 2026
- Desmontando mitos: ¿puede pasar mi coche la ITV con el testigo de «avería motor» encendido?Diariomotor · Motoring press · published 8 March 2021 · consulted 2 October 2026 · in Spanish