P0344: Camshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Intermittent (Bank 1)
Key takeaways
- P0344 means the engine computer saw the bank 1 camshaft position signal drop out or glitch, then come back.
- If the car has stalled, cut out or won't start with P0344, don't drive it; if it runs normally, short trips to a shop are usually fine.
- Intermittent codes are most often a loose connector or chafed wire, so the wiring gets checked before a new sensor.
- A wiring repair runs $100–$250 and a camshaft position sensor $120–$350; a failing cam phaser is the rare expensive outcome at $800–$2,000.
- Ford found that short-trip driving can put enough moisture in the oil to set P0344 on its hybrids, and fixes it with a new sensor and an oil change.
What P0344 means
The engine computer keeps losing the signal from the camshaft sensor on bank 1 for a moment, then getting it back. Scanners call it Camshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Intermittent (Bank 1 or Single Sensor). The cam sensor reads a toothed target on the camshaft so the computer knows which cylinder is on its compression stroke; it uses that, together with the crankshaft sensor, to time fuel injection, spark and variable valve timing. P0344 sets when pulses go missing or arrive erratically compared with what the crank signal says they should be. Sensor A is usually the intake camshaft; bank 1 is the side with cylinder 1, or the whole engine on a four-cylinder.
Is it safe to drive?
No, if the car has stalled, cut out or won’t start; short trips otherwise. Many engines keep running on the crank signal alone, but some can stall or refuse to restart when the cam signal drops out. When the engine dies, steering and braking take much more effort. If P0344 set with a stall or no-start, have the car towed. If it set once and the car runs normally, drive gently and only as far as a shop.
Causes, ranked
| Cause | How you confirm it | Typical cost (US independent shop, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Loose or corroded connector, or chafed wiring | Wiggle test drops the signal; oil in the plug, rubbed insulation, broken retaining clip | $100–$250 |
| Failed camshaft position sensor | Signal erratic on a scope with good wiring; often worse when hot | $120–$350 |
| Engine software needing an update | A bulletin covers your make, model and year | $100–$200, often $0 under warranty |
| Moisture or sludge in the oil (short-trip driving) | Milky residue under the oil cap; a matching bulletin | $120–$350 for the sensor, plus a $50–$120 oil change |
| Weak battery or poor ground | Low cranking voltage; code sets on slow cranks | $150–$350 for a battery; less for a ground repair |
| Failing cam phaser or worn timing parts | Cam timing codes like P0016 alongside, rattle at start-up, wiring and sensor test good | $800–$2,000 for a phaser |
What to check first
- Note what happened. A stall or no-start with P0344 is urgent; a code with no symptoms usually points to a connector or wiring fault.
- Inspect the connector and harness for oil, corrosion, a broken clip, or a wire rubbing on a bracket or a moving part.
- Check the battery and grounds. Low voltage during cranking can make sensor signals look erratic.
- Ask for a bulletin check. The pattern is wiring and software. Jeep has a harness inspection and a new retainer clip for P0344 on the 2012–2015 Wrangler, and Ford found a harness rubbing the steering shaft on the 2020–2021 Escape. Stellantis has engine computer updates for the 2018 Wrangler, 2016–2017 Durango and Grand Cherokee, 2017 Pacifica and 2011 Town & Country, and Chrysler engineering asked technicians to capture cam and crank data before replacing a cam sensor for this code. Ford’s hybrid bulletin covers moisture in the oil from short trips.
- Replace the sensor only when the circuit is good and the signal is bad.
16 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0344; 4 are Jeep Wranglers and 3 are Ford Focuses. 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 camshaft position sensor at $120–$350. The expensive outcome is a failing cam phaser at $800–$2,000, which is rare and usually comes with other cam timing codes. About an hour of diagnosis, usually $100–$180, keeps you from buying a sensor for a loose plug. If you’re unsure whether to tow, ask our AI mechanic.
Related codes
P0344 often appears with P0340 (bank 1 cam sensor circuit) or P0341 (range or performance), with the bank 2 code P0345 when wiring is shared, or with the crankshaft code P0335. Timing codes like P0016 point toward the phaser or timing chain. If the engine cranks but won’t fire, see car cranks but won’t start; if it dies on the road, see car stalls while driving.
What owners report to NHTSA
16 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0344, 12 of them since 2015, across 9 different models. The component owners most often filed it under: engine.
Most-reported models
| Vehicle | Complaints | Model years reported |
|---|---|---|
| JEEP WRANGLER | 4 | 2005, 2013, 2016 |
| FORD FOCUS | 3 | 2016, 2017 |
Manufacturer service bulletins that name P0344
30 technical service bulletins and manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA mention P0344, from 7 makes. A bulletin means the manufacturer has documented a known cause or a fix procedure for that model. Examples:
- FORD ESCAPE (2020, 2021), bulletin 10201593: Some 2020-2021 Escape vehicles may exhibit a loss of voltage reference (VREF) or runs rough, blow fuse 44 and may or may not set DTC's P06A7,P0840,P0842,P0845,P0847,P2122,P2127,P0522,P008A,P06A6,P2196,P0192, P0212,P0340,…
- LINCOLN MKZ HYBRID (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016), bulletin 10171962: 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2020 Fusion Hybrid/MKZ Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a MIL with Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P0340 and/or P0344. This may occur due to excessive moisture build up in the engine oil. Excess moisture o…
- FORD FUSION HYBRID (2013, 2014, 2015, 2016), bulletin 10171962: 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2020 Fusion Hybrid/MKZ Hybrid vehicles may exhibit a MIL with Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P0340 and/or P0344. This may occur due to excessive moisture build up in the engine oil. Excess moisture o…
- JEEP WRANGLER (2018), bulletin 10183099: Flash: Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates This bulletin involves reprogramming the Powertrain Control Module (PCM) with thelatest available software. The customer may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) il…
- DODGE DURANGO (2016, 2017), bulletin 10176589: Flash: Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates This bulletin involves reprogramming the PCM with the latest available software. Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination. Upon further inves…
- JEEP GRAND CHEROKEE (2016, 2017), bulletin 10176589: Flash: Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates This bulletin involves reprogramming the PCM with the latest available software. Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination. Upon further inves…
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 P0344?
If the car has stalled, won't start, or cuts out, no; have it towed. If it runs normally and the code set once, short, local trips to a shop are usually fine, but an intermittent signal can get worse without warning.
What are the symptoms of P0344?
Often just the check engine light. When the signal drops out long enough you may notice longer cranking before it starts, a stumble or hesitation, reduced power, or a stall that clears up after a restart.
Will a new camshaft sensor fix P0344?
Sometimes, but intermittent codes are often a loose connector, a chafed wire or a harness rubbing on something that moves. Have the circuit wiggle-tested and the connector checked before the sensor is replaced.
What is the difference between P0340 and P0344?
P0340 means the computer lost the bank 1 camshaft signal or saw it out of range. P0344 means the signal was there but kept dropping out. P0344 leans even harder toward a loose connection or damaged wire.