P0024: Exhaust Camshaft Timing Over-Retarded (Bank 2)
Key takeaways
- P0024 means the bank 2 exhaust camshaft ended up further retarded (later) than the engine computer commanded, or didn't return when told to.
- It only sets on engines with two cylinder banks, such as V6, V8 and flat (boxer) engines.
- Check the oil level and condition first; the variable timing system is moved by oil pressure and low or dirty oil upsets it.
- The next suspect is the bank 2 exhaust oil control (VVT) solenoid at $150 to $450; a phaser or timing chain is the expensive end at $800 to $3,000.
- Ford bulletins blame small debris sticking the cam timing solenoid on many 2015–2021 models, so ask for a bulletin check before buying parts.
What P0024 means
The exhaust camshaft on bank 2 is sitting later in its timing than the engine computer asked for. Scanners call it “B Camshaft Position Timing Over-Retarded (Bank 2).” Camshaft “B” is the exhaust cam on most engines, and bank 2 is the side without cylinder 1, so this code only appears on V6, V8 and flat engines. The computer moves the cam with a phaser that runs on oil pressure, directed by an oil control solenoid, then compares the actual cam angle from the cam sensor with its command. When the cam stays too far retarded for too long, P0024 sets.
Is it safe to drive?
Short trips, yes, while you check the oil. The car may idle rough, hesitate or feel down on power, 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, old or wrong-grade oil | Dipstick reading, oil change history, sludge under the oil cap | $0–$120 (top up or oil change) |
| Sticking bank 2 exhaust oil control (VVT) solenoid | Command it with a scan tool and watch cam position; check resistance; look for debris on the screen | $150–$450 |
| Wiring or connector at the solenoid or cam sensor | Wiggle test, look for oil in the connector, check for chafing at the valve cover | $100–$250 |
| Engine software needing an update | A bulletin covers your car | $100–$200, or free under warranty |
| Stuck or worn bank 2 exhaust cam phaser | Cam won’t follow commands with a good solenoid and good oil pressure; rattle at cold start | $800–$2,000 |
| Stretched timing chain, worn guides or tensioner | Cam-to-crank correlation values out of range, often with P0018 or P0019 | $1,200–$3,000 |
What to check first
- Oil level and condition. Top up or change it with the grade the manufacturer specifies. Oil is the fluid that moves the cam, so this comes before any part.
- Other codes. P0024 alone points toward the bank 2 exhaust solenoid or phaser. With P0014, P0011 or P0021 it points to something shared, like oil pressure, software or the chain.
- Solenoid test. A shop commands the solenoid and watches the cam respond. Debris on the solenoid screen is common and sometimes cleanable. Swapping bank 1 and bank 2 exhaust solenoids, where they are the same part, shows whether the fault moves.
- Wiring and connectors at the solenoid and cam sensor, especially for oil wicking into the plug.
- Clear it and drive after an oil change. If P0024 doesn’t return in a week of mixed driving, that was the answer.
- Phaser and chain last, and only after oil pressure and the solenoid check out.
Bulletins show a clear pattern. Ford and Lincoln describe small debris making the variable cam timing solenoid stick on many 2015–2021 models, including the Edge, Fiesta, C-Max, MKC, Continental and Aviator. GM has a bulletin for the 2018 Traverse and Enclave covering stalling, low idle and P0011, P0014, P0021 or P0024, and a preliminary notice on some 2016–2019 Cadillac ATS where all four codes set together.
What it costs
The cheap outcome is an oil change, $50 to $120, or a software update. The common outcome is a bank 2 exhaust VVT solenoid at $150 to $450. The expensive outcome is a phaser ($800 to $2,000) or a timing chain job ($1,200 to $3,000), which is why a solenoid and oil pressure test, usually an hour of diagnosis, is worth paying for before anyone quotes a chain. If the engine also rattles, the rattling noise guide helps you describe it.
Related codes
P0024 often shows up with P0021 (bank 2 intake over-advanced), P0025 (bank 2 exhaust over-advanced) or the bank 2 correlation codes P0018 and P0019. 28 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0024; the Chevrolet Traverse accounts for 5 (4 of them 2018 models), followed by the Hyundai Santa Fe and Chevrolet Colorado with 4 each. A complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed cause.
What owners report to NHTSA
28 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0024, 27 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 TRAVERSE | 5 | 2010, 2018 |
| HYUNDAI SANTA FE | 4 | 2014, 2016, 2017 |
| CHEVROLET COLORADO | 4 | 2019, 2020, 2021 |
Manufacturer service bulletins that name P0024
53 technical service bulletins and manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA mention P0024, from 8 makes. A bulletin means the manufacturer has documented a known cause or a fix procedure for that model. Examples:
- FORD EDGE (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), bulletin 10194428: Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. This may be due to sma…
- LINCOLN AVIATOR (2020, 2021, 2017, 2018), bulletin 10194428: Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. This may be due to sma…
- FORD TAURUS POLICE INTERCEPTOR (2014, 2015, 2016, 2017), bulletin 10201050: Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. This may be due to sma…
- LINCOLN MKC (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), bulletin 10169986: Some 2015-2020 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. This may be due to sm…
- FORD FIESTA (2015, 2016, 2017, 2018), bulletin 10169986: Some 2015-2020 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. This may be due to sm…
- CHEVROLET TRAVERSE (2018), bulletin 10190246: Transmission Shudder, Low Idle, Stalling after Auto Start , Reduced Engine Power Displayed on Driver Information Center (DIC), Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated - DTCs P034B, P0506, P0011, P0014, P0021 and/or …
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 P0024 and P0014?
Both are exhaust camshaft timing codes. P0014 is bank 1 and over-advanced; P0024 is bank 2 and over-retarded. The causes are the same kind (oil, solenoid, phaser, chain), just on a different side and in the other direction.
Can an oil change fix P0024?
Sometimes. The cam phaser is moved by engine oil, so oil that is low, sludgy or the wrong viscosity can let the cam lag behind its target. If the oil was overdue, change it with the grade on the oil cap or in the owner's manual, clear the code and drive a few days before buying parts.
Can I drive with P0024?
Short trips, usually. Expect a rough idle or less power. A rattle at start-up, stalling or an oil pressure light means park it, because low oil pressure or a stretched chain can damage the engine.
Why do P0011, P0014, P0021 and P0024 show up together?
When all four cam timing codes set at once, the cause is usually something every cam shares: oil level or pressure, the timing chain, or engine software. GM has bulletins on exactly that group on some Cadillac ATS and 2018 Traverse and Enclave models.