P0011: Intake Camshaft Timing Over-Advanced (Bank 1)
Key takeaways
- P0011 means the variable valve timing system moved the bank 1 intake camshaft further than the computer asked for, or couldn't hold it on target.
- Low oil, the wrong oil viscosity or old sludgy oil is the first thing to rule out, because the timing system is moved by oil pressure.
- The usual part is the oil control (VVT) solenoid at $150–$450; a cam phaser or timing chain job is the expensive end at $800–$3,000.
- Short trips are OK while you check the oil; a rattle at startup, stalling or a flashing light means stop and have it looked at.
- Many P0011 bulletins are engine computer software updates, including Subaru and Jeep, so ask for a bulletin check before buying parts.
What P0011 means
The part of your engine that shifts the intake cam timing went further than the computer told it to, or couldn’t hold where it was told. Scanners call it “A Camshaft Position Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 1).” “A” is the intake cam on most engines, and bank 1 is the side with cylinder 1. The engine computer sends oil to a cam phaser through an oil control solenoid, then compares the actual cam angle (from the cam sensor) with the angle it commanded. When the gap stays too large, it sets P0011.
Is it safe to drive?
Short trips, yes, while you check the oil. The car may idle rough, hesitate or use more fuel, and some cars go into a reduced-power mode.
The symptoms that change the answer: a rattle from the engine for a few seconds at startup, stalling, an oil pressure light, or a flashing check engine light. Those point to low oil pressure, a worn phaser or a stretched timing chain, and driving on them can turn a solenoid job into an engine job. Park it and get it checked.
Causes, ranked
| Cause | How you confirm it | Typical cost (US independent shop, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Low oil, wrong viscosity or overdue oil | Check the dipstick and the service record; compare the grade used with the one on the oil cap | $50–$120 oil change |
| Engine software needing an update | Shop or dealer checks for a PCM/ECM bulletin | $100–$200, or free under warranty |
| Oil control (VVT) solenoid sticking or its screen clogged | Command it with a scan tool and watch the cam angle respond; pull it and look at the screen | $150–$450 |
| Wiring or connector at the solenoid | Check resistance and the plug for oil wicking into it | $100–$250 |
| Cam phaser sticking or worn | Cam angle won’t follow commands with a good solenoid and good oil pressure; startup rattle | $800–$2,000 |
| Stretched timing chain or worn guides | Cam/crank correlation codes P0016/P0017 alongside; chain slack on inspection | $1,200–$3,000 |
What to check first
- Check the oil level and grade. Top up or change to the viscosity on your oil cap, clear the code and drive a few days. This fixes more P0011s than you’d think.
- Ask for a bulletin and software check. On many newer cars the fix is a computer update.
- Test the oil control solenoid with a scan tool and inspect its screen for debris.
- Look at the wiring to the solenoid for oil in the connector.
- Only then look at the phaser or chain, and ask for the cam/crank correlation data that justifies it.
Many of the 190 bulletins are software. Subaru has ECM reprogramming for the 2023 Forester, Impreza, Crosstrek and BRZ, Jeep has PCM updates for the 2023 Wagoneer and Grand Wagoneer, and Honda/Acura bulletins for the Integra and Civic Type R describe the computer letting the timing overshoot its target. Kia has a bulletin on some Soul engines for an incorrect cam reluctor wheel. In the NHTSA complaint data, the Chevrolet Equinox leads with 20 owner reports.
What it costs
The cheap outcome is an oil change for $50–$120, or a software update. The common outcome is an oil control solenoid, $150–$450 installed. The expensive outcome is a cam phaser ($800–$2,000) or a full timing chain job ($1,200–$3,000). Diagnosis first matters here because a phaser or chain replaced on a car that only needed the right oil is money gone.
Related codes
P0011 often appears with its neighbors: P0010 (intake cam actuator circuit), P0012 (intake cam retarded), P0014 (exhaust cam bank 1) and the correlation codes P0016 and P0017, which raise the odds of a chain problem. On V6 and V8 engines, P0021 is the same fault on bank 2; both at once points to oil or software. If the car stalls or rattles, see car stalls while driving and car rattling noise.
What owners report to NHTSA
124 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0011, 107 of them since 2015, across 50 different models. The component owners most often filed it under: engine.
Most-reported models
| Vehicle | Complaints | Model years reported |
|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET EQUINOX | 20 | 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015 |
| HYUNDAI SONATA | 8 | 2009, 2012, 2015, 2016 |
| GMC TERRAIN | 7 | 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2023 |
| CHEVROLET SONIC | 6 | 2012, 2015, 2017 |
| CHEVROLET MALIBU | 5 | 2009, 2014, 2018 |
| CHEVROLET TRAVERSE | 5 | 2010, 2018 |
| HYUNDAI ELANTRA | 4 | 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 |
| HYUNDAI TUCSON | 4 | 2016, 2017, 2018 |
| GMC SIERRA 1500 | 4 | 2014, 2019, 2021, 2022 |
| BUICK ENCLAVE | 3 | 2008, 2018 |
Manufacturer service bulletins that name P0011
190 technical service bulletins and manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA mention P0011, from 21 makes. A bulletin means the manufacturer has documented a known cause or a fix procedure for that model. Examples:
- ACURA INTEGRA (2024), bulletin 10253575: Service Bulletin - MIL comes on and sets DTC P0011 (Variable Valve Timing Control (VTC) A System Malfunction) due to a lack of oil control by the PCM, causing the VTC to overshoot its target.
- HONDA CIVIC TYPE R (2023, 2024), bulletin 10253840: Service Bulletin - During the engine warm-up, the Variable Valve Timing Control system may not be able to control within the VTC target. As a result, the malfunction indicator lamp (MIL) is illuminated and sets DTC P0011…
- SUBARU BRZ (2022, 2023, 2024), bulletin 11009691: "This bulletin announces availability of new reprograming files for the Engine Control Module (ECM) developed to remedy the following DTCs: P0016: Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation Bank 1 Sensor A P0017…
- SUBARU FORESTER (2023), bulletin 10237260: This bulletin announces availability of reprogramming files for the Engine Control Module (ECM) to address rare cases of DTCs P0011 (A Camshaft Position Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance Bank 1) and P0021 (A Cam…
- SUBARU IMPREZA (2023), bulletin 10237264: This bulletin announces availability of reprogramming files for the Engine Control Module (ECM) to address rare cases of DTCs P0011 (A Camshaft Position Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance Bank 1) and P0021 (A Cam…
- SUBARU CROSSTREK (2023), bulletin 10237262: This bulletin announces availability of reprogramming files for the Engine Control Module (ECM) to address rare cases of DTCs P0011 (A Camshaft Position Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance Bank 1) and P0021 (A Cam…
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 P0011?
Yes, and it's the first thing to check. The variable valve timing system uses engine oil pressure to move the camshaft, so low oil, the wrong viscosity or dirty oil can make it overshoot. Top up or change to the grade on your oil cap or in the owner's manual, clear the code and see if it returns.
Can I drive with P0011?
For short trips, usually. The car may idle rough or feel down on power. If you hear a rattle from the engine at startup, it stalls, or the oil light flickers, park it, because running low on oil or a stretched chain can damage the engine.
What's the difference between P0011 and P0014?
P0011 is the intake camshaft on bank 1; P0014 is the exhaust camshaft on bank 1. The causes are the same kind (oil, solenoid, phaser), just on the other cam.
Will a new VVT solenoid fix P0011?
Often, if the oil is right and the solenoid screen is clogged or the solenoid sticks. A shop can command it with a scan tool and watch the cam angle respond before you buy one.