P0011 means the intake camshaft on bank 1 is more advanced than the computer commanded, and the variable valve timing (VVT) system cannot bring it back into range.
Also written as PO011 or P011.
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P0011 means the intake camshaft on bank 1 is more advanced than the computer commanded, and the variable valve timing (VVT) system cannot bring it back into range. The most common trigger is dirty or low engine oil, because VVT relies on clean oil pressure to move the cam phaser through the oil control valve (VVT solenoid). Ignoring it can lead to rough running and, on some engines, timing-component wear.
Yes in the short term, but do not delay a look at your oil. P0011 does not usually strand you, and the car will typically still drive, sometimes with a rough idle or slight hesitation. Because the root cause is almost always dirty or low engine oil starving the variable valve timing system, check the oil level and change it right away - running low or sludged oil for an extended period risks wear well beyond the VVT solenoid.
Listed roughly most-likely first. Confirm with a scan tool and the freeze-frame data before replacing parts.
| Fix | DIY parts | At a shop |
|---|---|---|
| Change the oil and filter with the correct grade | $25 - $60 | $60 - $150 |
| Replace the oil control valve (VVT solenoid) | $40 - $150 | $150 - $400 |
| Replace the cam phaser or timing chain | $150 - $400 | $400 - $700 |
Ranges are rounded and for the US market only - actual price depends on region, shop labor rates, and the exact make and model.
These open an Amazon search - add your year, make and model, because most of these parts are fitment-specific.
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P0011 means camshaft position on bank 1 is over-advanced, or the system is not responding to what the PCM commanded. Variable valve timing shifts cam timing on the fly to trade low-end torque against high-end power and efficiency, and it does this hydraulically using engine oil pressure routed through a control solenoid into the cam phaser. Because the whole mechanism runs on oil, this code is an oil condition code far more often than a failed-part code - and that makes it one of the most preventable faults you can get.
Replacing the camshaft position sensor because the code mentions camshaft position is a common and useless repair. This code is about the phaser failing to reach a commanded position, not about a sensor failing to report it. Check oil and the control solenoid first.
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Difficulty: Moderate. Time: 0.5 - 4 hours. DIY parts: $40 - $400. Shop total: $150 - $1,200.
The oil change and solenoid cleaning are firmly DIY, take about an hour, and have a real chance of clearing the code outright - always try them first. Phaser replacement is a different matter: it sits behind the timing cover on most engines and turns into a major front-of-engine job that most people should hand to a shop.
Oil changes on time, at the exact specified viscosity. Variable valve timing is the system that punishes extended oil intervals first and hardest. Sludge clogs the solenoid screen, low pressure starves the phaser, and wrong viscosity stops it responding. Every one of those is a maintenance choice rather than a mechanical failure. ServiceSage tracks your oil interval against real mileage and tells you before it is overdue - which on a VVT engine is the difference between a 60 dollar service and a four figure timing job. Track this maintenance free.
Typical US independent-shop repair cost for P0011 runs about $100 - $700, depending on the root cause. Common fixes: Change the oil and filter with the correct grade (about $60 - $150 at a shop); Replace the oil control valve (VVT solenoid) (about $150 - $400 at a shop); Replace the cam phaser or timing chain (about $400 - $700 at a shop).
No, not on its own. P0011 will keep coming back every time the relevant monitor re-runs until the underlying cause is actually repaired - clearing it with a scan tool without fixing what triggered it only delays the light coming back on.
Related trouble codes: P0016 - Crankshaft / Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor A), P0014 - Exhaust Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 1), P0017 - Crankshaft / Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor B)
Nissan: P0011 is heavily reported on Nissan four-cylinders, where the documented pattern is intake VVT trouble aggravated by oil condition - the intake valve timing control system runs on oil pressure. Fresh oil of the right grade and an intake VVT solenoid check are the established first steps before any timing work.
Honda: On Hondas this family of codes usually traces to the VTC actuator or oil pressure to it, and low or aged oil is the classic aggravator. A cold-start rattle for the first second is the commonly reported companion symptom.
Toyota: Toyotas set this less often; when they do, the OCV (oil control valve) for the intake cam and oil sludge from stretched intervals are the usual suspects. The valve is accessible and testable before anything larger.