P0010: Intake Camshaft Position Actuator Circuit (Bank 1)
Key takeaways
- P0010 means the engine computer sees an electrical problem in the circuit that drives the bank 1 intake cam timing solenoid.
- It is usually safe to drive, but expect a rough idle or less power; get it checked soon if the engine stalls.
- A damaged connector, chafed wire or failed solenoid is the most common cause, and both are relatively cheap.
- Chrysler, Jeep and Ram bulletins name P0010, with fixes from an added engine ground to cam phaser replacement.
- Most fixes cost $100–$450; a cam phaser replacement can reach about $2,000.
What P0010 means
Your engine computer found an electrical problem with the part that adjusts intake cam timing. Most modern engines vary when the intake valves open using a cam phaser, which is moved by oil pressure that an electric solenoid (often called the oil control valve) directs. The computer drives that solenoid and watches the circuit. If it sees an open circuit, a short or a current that doesn’t match what it commanded, it stores P0010, “Intake Camshaft Position Actuator Circuit (Bank 1).” On a few engines the actuator is fully electric, but the idea is the same. Bank 1 is the side with cylinder 1; four-cylinder engines only have bank 1.
Is it safe to drive?
Yes, in most cases. With the solenoid out of action the computer usually parks the cam in its default position, so the engine runs but may idle rough, feel flat at low speed or use a little more fuel. The symptom that changes the answer: if the engine stalls, won’t idle, or the check engine light flashes (misfire), keep trips short and get it checked. Our guide to a check engine light that’s on explains steady versus flashing. Also check the oil level; if it’s low, top it up before driving further.
Causes, ranked
| Cause | How you confirm it | Typical cost (US independent shop, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Loose, corroded or oil-soaked connector at the solenoid | Inspect the connector; wiggle test with scan data | $100–$250 |
| Chafed or broken wiring, or a poor engine ground | Continuity and voltage drop tests between solenoid and computer | $100–$250 |
| Failed cam timing solenoid (oil control valve) | Resistance out of spec, or it doesn’t click when commanded | $150–$450 |
| Engine software needing an update | A bulletin covers your make, model and year | $100–$200 |
| Failed cam phaser (on engines where the actuator is part of the phaser) | Circuit and solenoid test good, code persists, or a bulletin points to it | $800–$2,000 |
| Faulty engine computer driver | Everything else tests good; rare | $800–$1,800 |
What to check first
- Check the oil level and condition. Free, and a cam timing system works badly on low or sludgy oil.
- Inspect the solenoid connector. Oil leaking past the solenoid seal can wick into the connector; look for green corrosion, bent pins or a connector that isn’t fully latched.
- Test the circuit. Measure solenoid resistance and check the wiring back to the computer, including grounds. This is where most P0010 cases end.
- Swap or replace the solenoid only after the wiring checks out. On V6 and V8 engines with two solenoids, swapping sides and seeing if the code moves to the other bank is a cheap test.
- Look for a bulletin. The pattern is Chrysler-family: on 2021 Ram 1500 and Jeep Gladiator 3.6L engines the fix involves splicing a pigtail into the engine ground harness, and a 2023 Dodge Challenger and Chrysler 300 bulletin calls for cam phaser actuator replacement. Mitsubishi and Honda issued engine computer software updates for it.
- Clear it and drive once the repair is done; a circuit code usually resets quickly if the fault is still there.
NHTSA data shows 57 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0010. The Chevrolet Equinox accounts for 22 of them, followed by the Hyundai Sonata with 10. Those are owner reports, not confirmed causes.
What it costs
The cheap outcome is a connector or wiring repair at $100–$250, or a software update. The common outcome is a new cam timing solenoid, about $150–$450. The expensive outcome is a cam phaser replacement at around $800–$2,000, which needs the timing cover or front of the engine opened. Circuit testing before parts matters here, because a solenoid swap on a broken wire changes nothing.
Related codes
P0010 often appears with P0011 (intake timing over-advanced) or P0012 (over-retarded), and the cam/crank correlation codes P0016 and P0017. P0014 is the matching exhaust-cam code. If you want help sorting several timing codes at once, ask our AI mechanic.
What owners report to NHTSA
57 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0010, 56 of them since 2015, across 15 different models. The component owners most often filed it under: engine.
Most-reported models
| Vehicle | Complaints | Model years reported |
|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET EQUINOX | 22 | 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2016 |
| HYUNDAI SONATA | 10 | 2015, 2016 |
| CHEVROLET MALIBU | 5 | 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014 |
| KIA OPTIMA | 5 | 2016, 2017 |
| GMC TERRAIN | 3 | 2014, 2015 |
Manufacturer service bulletins that name P0010
35 technical service bulletins and manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA mention P0010, from 12 makes. A bulletin means the manufacturer has documented a known cause or a fix procedure for that model. Examples:
- DODGE CHALLENGER (2023), bulletin 10248935: Cam Phaser Actuators Replacement Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination. Upon further investigation, the technician may find one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) …
- CHRYSLER 300 (2023), bulletin 10248935: Cam Phaser Actuators Replacement Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination. Upon further investigation, the technician may find one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs) …
- MITSUBISHI ECLIPSE CROSS (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021), bulletin 10200031: This Technical Information Notice was sent to dealers providing instructions for reprogramming the Engine Control Module pertaining to DTC P0010 - P0017.
- JEEP GLADIATOR (2021), bulletin 10221660: 3.6L Check Engine Light and Rough Running Engine This bulletin involves cutting off a wiring harness eyelet and splicing in a pigtail to the engine ground harness. Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (M…
- RAM 1500 (2021), bulletin 10221658: 3.6L Check Engine Light and Rough Running Engine This bulletin involves cutting off a wiring harness eyelet and splicing in a pigtail to the engine ground harness. Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (M…
- CADILLAC ESCALADE (2020), bulletin 10174855: This Preliminary information communicatesThe vehicle may have an SES lamp with any of the following DTCP06DA, P06DB, P06DC, P250A, P0300, P0340, P0341, P0335, P0336, P0641, P0011, P0010, P2088, P2089, and/or P2230. Possi…
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database and manufacturer communications file, snapshots September 2026. A complaint or bulletin that mentions a code is a report about that vehicle, not a statement that the code has one cause.
Frequently asked questions
Can low oil cause P0010?
Not usually on its own. P0010 is an electrical circuit code, while oil problems more often set timing codes like P0011. Check the oil anyway, because low or dirty oil makes cam timing problems worse and it costs nothing to look.
What is bank 1?
Bank 1 is the side of the engine with cylinder 1. On a four-cylinder engine there is only one bank, so bank 1 is the whole engine.
Can I replace the cam timing solenoid myself?
On many four-cylinder engines the solenoid is held by one bolt on the front or top of the engine and is a simple swap. Test the wiring first, because a new solenoid won't fix a broken wire.
Will P0010 go away on its own?
An intermittent connector problem can make it come and go, but the fault is still there. If it returns after clearing, have the circuit tested.