P0013: Exhaust Camshaft Position Actuator Circuit (Bank 1)
Key takeaways
- P0013 means the engine computer sees an electrical problem in the circuit that drives the bank 1 exhaust cam timing solenoid.
- It is usually safe to drive, though the engine may idle rough or feel flat; stalling or a flashing light means get it checked soon.
- A loose or oil-soaked connector, a broken wire or a failed solenoid is the usual cause, and those fixes run $100 to $450.
- GM covered broken wires inside the exhaust cam solenoid on some 2.0L turbo engines under special coverage, so ask for a bulletin check first.
- The expensive outcome is a cam phaser replacement at about $800 to $2,000.
What P0013 means
Your engine computer found an electrical problem with the part that adjusts exhaust cam timing on bank 1. Scanners call it “B Camshaft Position Actuator Circuit / Open (Bank 1).” Camshaft “B” is the exhaust cam on most engines, and bank 1 is the side with cylinder 1; four-cylinder engines only have bank 1. The exhaust cam phaser is moved by oil pressure that an electric solenoid (the oil control valve) directs. The computer drives that solenoid and watches the circuit, and if it sees an open circuit, a short or current that doesn’t match its command, it stores P0013. This is the exhaust-side twin of P0010.
Is it safe to drive?
Yes, in most cases. With the solenoid out of action the computer usually leaves the exhaust 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 hold an idle or the check engine light flashes (misfire), keep trips short and get it checked. Our guide on whether you can drive with the check engine light on explains steady versus flashing. Check the oil level too; 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 exhaust solenoid | Inspect the connector and latch; wiggle test while watching 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 exhaust cam timing solenoid (oil control valve), including a broken internal wire | 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. Free, and oil leaking past the solenoid seal is what usually ruins the connector.
- Inspect the solenoid connector. Look for oil inside the plug, 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. Most P0013 cases end here.
- Swap or replace the solenoid only after the wiring checks out. On engines where the intake and exhaust solenoids are the same part, swapping them and seeing whether the code changes to P0010 is a cheap test.
- Look for a bulletin. The pattern is mostly GM and Chrysler. GM issued special coverage for a wire that can break inside the exhaust cam solenoid on 2014 Malibu, Regal and CTS 2.0L turbo engines and on some 2013 ATS and Malibu, and a bulletin replacing both cam actuators on 2010–2012 Equinox and Terrain. Chrysler bulletins cover an unseated oil control valve connector on the 2021 Ram 1500, an engine ground pigtail on the 2021 Jeep Gladiator 3.6L, and cam phaser replacement on the 2023 Challenger and 300.
- Clear it and drive after the repair; a circuit code usually comes back quickly if the fault is still there.
20 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0013. The Chevrolet Equinox accounts for 6 of them and the Chevrolet Malibu for 5. 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 exhaust cam timing solenoid, about $150–$450, and on a car covered by a special coverage bulletin it may cost nothing. The expensive outcome is a cam phaser at around $800–$2,000, which means opening the front of the engine. Testing the circuit before buying parts matters here, because a new solenoid on a broken wire changes nothing.
Related codes
P0013 often appears with P0010, the intake-side circuit code, and both together point to a shared ground or harness. P0014 is the exhaust cam over-advanced code; a solenoid that has died electrically can set it too. If you also see P0016 or P0017, the cam-to-crank correlation codes, the timing chain moves up the list. For more on what a steady light means, see check engine light on.
What owners report to NHTSA
20 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0013, 19 of them since 2015, across 10 different models. The component owners most often filed it under: engine.
Most-reported models
| Vehicle | Complaints | Model years reported |
|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET EQUINOX | 6 | 2011, 2012, 2014, 2015, 2017 |
| CHEVROLET MALIBU | 5 | 2009, 2010, 2019 |
Manufacturer service bulletins that name P0013
20 technical service bulletins and manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA mention P0013, from 8 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) …
- RAM 1500 (2021), bulletin 10198464: Oil Control Valve Connector Not Seated This bulletin involves inspecting the oil control valve connector and possibly seating the connector. Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination. Upon …
- 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…
- CHEVROLET MALIBU (2014), bulletin 10212581: Special Coverage. Some vehicles equipped with a 2.0L turbo engine, may have a condition where a wire within the exhaust camshaft position actuator solenoid valve may break. If this were to occur, the Malfunction Indicato…
- CADILLAC CTS (2014), bulletin 10212581: Special Coverage. Some vehicles equipped with a 2.0L turbo engine, may have a condition where a wire within the exhaust camshaft position actuator solenoid valve may break. If this were to occur, the Malfunction Indicato…
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
What is the difference between P0013 and P0010?
Both are circuit codes for the cam timing solenoid on bank 1. P0010 is the intake cam (camshaft A), and P0013 is the exhaust cam (camshaft B). Both at once point to something they share, like a ground, a harness or the engine computer's power feed.
Can I drive with P0013?
Usually, yes. The computer parks the exhaust cam in its default position, so the engine runs but may idle rough or use a bit more fuel. If it stalls, won't idle or the check engine light flashes, keep trips short and have it looked at.
Can low oil cause P0013?
Not directly, because P0013 is an electrical code. Oil can still be part of the story when it leaks past the solenoid seal into the connector. Check the level anyway; it's free and the timing system depends on it.
Will a new solenoid fix P0013?
Only if the solenoid is the fault. Measure its resistance and test the wiring first. On some GM 2.0L turbo engines the wire break is inside the solenoid itself, which is why GM covered the part.