P0345: Camshaft Position Sensor A Circuit (Bank 2)
Key takeaways
- P0345 means the engine computer saw no signal, or an unusable one, from the camshaft position sensor on bank 2.
- If the car has stalled or won't start with P0345, don't drive it; if it runs normally, short trips to a shop are usually fine.
- Most fixes are a damaged connector or wiring ($100–$250), a software update, or a new camshaft sensor ($120–$350).
- Most manufacturer bulletins for P0345 are Stellantis engine computer updates, so ask for a bulletin check before buying parts.
- 15 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0345; 5 are Nissan Maximas, 4 of them 2003 models.
What P0345 means
The engine computer can’t read the camshaft sensor on bank 2. Scanners call it Camshaft Position Sensor A Circuit (Bank 2). 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. P0345 sets when the bank 2 cam signal is missing or out of range while the crank sensor shows the engine turning. Sensor A is usually the intake camshaft. Bank 2 is the cylinder head that doesn’t have cylinder 1, so this code only appears on V6, V8 and flat engines.
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 and the bank 1 cam sensor, but they may crank longer, run rough or stall. When the engine dies, steering and braking take much more effort. If P0345 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) |
|---|---|---|
| Damaged connector or wiring | Oil, corrosion or chafing at the sensor plug; wiggle test drops the signal | $100–$250 |
| Engine software needing an update | A bulletin covers your make, model and year | $100–$200, often $0 under warranty |
| Failed camshaft position sensor | Signal missing or erratic on a scope with good wiring | $120–$350 |
| Sensor at the wrong clearance or poorly seated | Code appeared after engine work, or a clearance bulletin covers the car | $0–$150 to reseat; $120–$350 if the sensor is replaced |
| Weak battery or poor ground | Low cranking voltage; code sets on slow cranks | $150–$350 for a battery; less for a ground repair |
| Cam phaser or valve timing fault | Cam timing codes 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 P0345 is urgent; a code with no symptoms usually points to wiring or an intermittent fault.
- Test the battery and cranking voltage. It costs nothing and rules out a common false trigger.
- Inspect the connector and harness for oil, corrosion, rubbing on brackets, or heat damage near the exhaust.
- Ask for a bulletin check. Most P0345 bulletins are Stellantis engine computer updates: the 2021 Pacifica and Pacifica Plug-In Hybrid, 2019 ProMaster, 2018 Wrangler, and 2016–2017 Durango, Grand Cherokee and 2017 Pacifica. Chrysler engineering also asked that phaser, actuator and oil control valve be replaced together when an exhaust phaser is changed for P0345 on some Durango, Grand Cherokee and Pacifica models. Subaru (2011–2013 models with FA and FB engines) and Scion (2013 FR-S) have bulletins for cam sensor clearance out of specification.
- Replace the sensor only when the circuit is good and the signal is bad.
15 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0345: 5 are Nissan Maximas (4 from 2003) and 3 are Nissan Muranos. Those are owner reports, not a confirmed cause.
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 cam phaser or valve timing repair at $800–$2,000, which usually comes with other timing codes or a start-up rattle. About an hour of diagnosis, usually $100–$180, keeps you from buying a sensor for a wiring fault. If you’re unsure whether to tow, ask our AI mechanic.
Related codes
P0345 often comes with P0340 (the bank 1 cam sensor) when wiring or software is shared, or with P0344, P0346 and P0349 from the same sensor family. The crankshaft code P0335 alongside it points to a common power or ground. If the engine cranks but won’t fire, see car cranks but won’t start; if you hear a rattle at start-up, see car rattling noise.
What owners report to NHTSA
15 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0345, 9 of them since 2015, across 7 different models. The component owners most often filed it under: engine.
Most-reported models
| Vehicle | Complaints | Model years reported |
|---|---|---|
| NISSAN MAXIMA | 5 | 2003, 2004 |
| NISSAN MURANO | 3 | 2005, 2007 |
Manufacturer service bulletins that name P0345
36 technical service bulletins and manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA mention P0345, from 7 makes. A bulletin means the manufacturer has documented a known cause or a fix procedure for that model. Examples:
- CHRYSLER PACIFICA (2021), bulletin 10212398: Flash: Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates This bulletin involves updating the PCM with the latest available software. Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination. Upon further investigat…
- CHRYSLER PACIFICA PLUG-IN HYBRID (2021), bulletin 10223177: Flash: Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates This bulletin involves updating the PCM with the latest available software. Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination. Upon further investigat…
- RAM PROMASTER (2019), bulletin 10214639: 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 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 a P0345 code?
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 expect it could stall or be slow to restart.
Where is bank 2?
On a V6, V8 or flat engine, bank 2 is the row of cylinders that doesn't include cylinder 1. Four-cylinder inline engines have no bank 2, so P0345 only shows up on engines with two cylinder heads.
What are the symptoms of P0345?
Often the check engine light plus a longer crank before the engine starts. Some cars run rough, lose power or stall, and variable valve timing may be switched off, which makes the engine feel flat.
Does P0345 always mean a new camshaft sensor?
No. A chafed or oil-soaked connector, a weak battery, engine software, a sensor sitting at the wrong clearance, or a valve timing problem can all set it. Test the circuit before replacing the sensor.