P0302: Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected

Severity: HighDrive it? Short trips onlyTypical cost: $120–$4,500417 NHTSA complaints · 436 bulletinsPowertrain (generic, all makes)

Written by the Mechronic editorial team with AI writing tools from NHTSA complaint and bulletin data · Published September 24, 2026.

Not yet reviewed by a mechanic. Every number on this page comes from public data or is a shop estimate the page labels as such. Treat cost figures as a starting point for your own quotes. How review works

Key takeaways

  • P0302 means the computer saw cylinder 2 fail to fire properly often enough to count as a misfire.
  • Drive only short distances gently; if the check engine light flashes, stop, because unburned fuel can overheat the catalytic converter.
  • Swapping the cylinder 2 ignition coil with a neighbor is the fastest free test: if the misfire moves, the coil is bad.
  • 417 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0302, and the Ford Escape leads with 85.
  • Most fixes cost $120-$600; low compression from a valve or head gasket problem is the expensive end at $1,500-$4,500.

What P0302 means

One cylinder, number 2, isn’t burning its fuel properly. The scanner name is “Cylinder 2 Misfire Detected”. The computer watches crankshaft speed. Each firing cylinder gives the crank a small push. When cylinder 2’s push is missing or weak often enough, the computer counts misfires and sets P0302. A misfire needs one of three things to go wrong in that cylinder: spark, fuel, or compression. Because the code names one cylinder, the cause is usually a part that serves only that cylinder. That is good news: it narrows the search to a handful of parts, and the first test costs nothing.

Is it safe to drive?

Short trips only, and gently. A misfire makes the engine shake and lose power, and the unburned fuel goes straight into the catalytic converter.

The answer changes the moment the check engine light flashes. The EPA’s OBD guidance says a blinking light means a severe problem, such as a catalyst-damaging misfire, that should be addressed as soon as possible. Our advice is stricter: slow down, get off the road, and have the car towed if you can. If you have to move it, keep it short, slow and light on the throttle. See check engine light flashing for what to do right now.

Causes, ranked

CauseHow you confirm itTypical cost (US independent shop, 2026)
Worn or fouled spark plugPlug is worn, oily or cracked; misfire follows the plug when swapped$150–$350 a set (4-cyl), $250–$600 (V6/V8)
Failed ignition coilSwap coil with cylinder 1 or 3; misfire moves with it$120–$300 per coil
Oil or coolant in the plug wellWet plug well, cracked boot$150–$500 seal plus plug/coil
Clogged or leaking fuel injectorInjector balance test, noid light, misfire stays after coil and plug swap$250–$600 per injector
Vacuum leak near cylinder 2Smoke test at the intake, lean fuel trims$50–$400
Low compression (valve, ring, head gasket)Compression and leak-down test$1,500–$4,500

What to check first

  • Note whether the light is steady or flashing, and whether the misfire happens cold, at idle or under load.
  • Swap the cylinder 2 coil with a neighboring cylinder, clear the code and drive. If the code becomes P0301 or P0303, the coil is the problem.
  • Pull and inspect the spark plug. Check the gap, the tip color and whether oil or coolant is in the well.
  • Test the injector and look for vacuum leaks if the misfire stays on cylinder 2.
  • Run a compression test before paying for anything bigger.
  • Check bulletins. Ford has misfire bulletins for 2023–2025 1.5L, 2.0L and 2.3L EcoBoost models (Escape, Corsair, Mustang, Nautilus, Explorer) and a software bulletin for the 2024 F-150 PowerBoost. Chrysler-group brands have several PCM software updates that list P0302.

What it costs

The cheap outcome is a single coil at $120–$300. The common outcome is plugs plus a coil, or an injector, somewhere between $150 and $600. The expensive outcome is low compression from a valve or head gasket problem at $1,500–$4,500. Driving on a misfire can add a $1,000–$2,500 converter to the bill, which is why the coil swap test is worth doing today. If you want a second opinion on your symptoms, ask our AI mechanic.

P0302 often appears with P0300 (random misfire) and sometimes with neighbors like P0301 or P0304. A misfire left too long can set P0420 once the converter is damaged. If the car is shaking too, see check engine light and car shaking.

What owners report to NHTSA

417 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0302, 402 of them since 2015, across 88 different models. The component owners most often filed it under: engine.

Most-reported models

VehicleComplaintsModel years reported
FORD ESCAPE852014, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020
FORD EDGE612007, 2016, 2017, 2018
FORD FUSION362015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
DODGE GRAND CARAVAN172013, 2015, 2016, 2018, 2019
HONDA CR-V162000, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021
HONDA ACCORD132011, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2024
HONDA ODYSSEY122012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
JEEP WRANGLER112005, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2018
JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE102012, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017
KIA SOUL102013, 2014, 2016, 2018, 2021

Manufacturer service bulletins that name P0302

436 technical service bulletins and manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA mention P0302, from 29 makes. A bulletin means the manufacturer has documented a known cause or a fix procedure for that model. Examples:

  • ACURA ACURA (2021, 2022, 2023, 2019), bulletin 10233209: Service Bulletin - Under certain circumstances, the vehicle may experience driveability concerns. This may result in the following DTCs to set: P0300 (Random Misfire Detected), P0301 (No. 1 Cylinder Misfire Detected), P0…
  • RAM 1500 (2025), bulletin 11008018: "Flash: Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates Customers must experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination and the vehicle must exhibit/set one or more of the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTCs): P01…
  • LINCOLN NAUTILUS (2024, 2025, 2023), bulletin 11010920: Some 2023-2025 Escape/Corsair vehicles equipped with a 1.5L or 2.0L EcoBoost engine, 2024 Mustang vehicles equipped with a 2.3L EcoBoost engine, 2024-2025 Nautilus, and 2025 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L EcoBoos…
  • FORD EXPLORER (2025, 2023, 2024), bulletin 11010920: Some 2023-2025 Escape/Corsair vehicles equipped with a 1.5L or 2.0L EcoBoost engine, 2024 Mustang vehicles equipped with a 2.3L EcoBoost engine, 2024-2025 Nautilus, and 2025 Explorer vehicles equipped with a 2.3L EcoBoos…
  • FORD MUSTANG (2024, 2023), bulletin 10253555: Some 2023-2024 Escape/Corsair vehicles equipped with a 1.5L or 2.0L EcoBoost engine, 2024 Mustang vehicles equipped with a 2.3L EcoBoost engine, and 2024 Nautilus vehicles may exhibit an engine misfire condition with dia…
  • LINCOLN CORSAIR (2023, 2024), bulletin 10253555: Some 2023-2024 Escape/Corsair vehicles equipped with a 1.5L or 2.0L EcoBoost engine, 2024 Mustang vehicles equipped with a 2.3L EcoBoost engine, and 2024 Nautilus vehicles may exhibit an engine misfire condition with dia…

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 I drive with a P0302 code?

Only short, gentle trips to get it fixed, and only while the light is steady. If the light flashes or the car shakes hard, pull over and have it towed. A misfiring cylinder dumps unburned fuel into the exhaust, which can melt the catalytic converter.

Which cylinder is number 2?

It depends on the engine. On an inline engine it is the second cylinder from one end, but which end counts as the front depends on the maker. On V engines, cylinder 2 can be on either bank depending on the numbering. The repair manual or an engine diagram for your exact model is the only safe answer.

Is P0302 always the spark plug or coil?

Those are the most common answers, but not always. If the misfire stays on cylinder 2 after swapping coils and plugs, the shop should check the injector, look for a vacuum leak near that cylinder, and run a compression test.

How much does it cost to fix P0302?

Usually $120-$300 for a coil or $150-$350 for a set of plugs on a four-cylinder. An injector runs $250-$600. Low compression from a valve or head gasket problem is the expensive case at $1,500-$4,500.

References