OBD-II Code · Powertrain
P0012
"A" Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Retarded (Bank 1)
Severity
medium
Worth booking. It costs fuel, emissions or comfort until it is fixed.
Can you drive it
Only if running normally
A short trip to a shop may be reasonable if the light is steady and the car runs normally. Stop safely for a flashing light, severe shaking, overheating, loss of power, or another urgent warning. The code alone cannot confirm safety.
Indicative cost (USD)
$150–$1,200
Varies by vehicle, diagnosis, parts, and local labor. This is not a repair quote.
The intake cam on bank 1 is more retarded than commanded. Phaser stuck or oil control failing.
How a shop works this
Work from evidence to part, not the other way round. A code names a circuit or a symptom; it does not name the part that failed.
Note every code that is set, not just this one.
Codes that appear together usually narrow the cause faster than any one of them read alone.
Read the freeze frame — the conditions the fault was recorded under.
Cold or warm, idle or load, road speed and engine speed. A fault that only appears cold is a different fault from one that only appears under load, even with the same code on the scanner.
Confirm the fault is current rather than history.
Clear the code and see whether it returns under those same conditions. A code that does not come back may have been logged during a repair, a flat battery, or a bad connection that has since been disturbed.
Then work the likely-causes list in the order shown.
That order is what a shop checks first for this code — wiring and connections before the component they run to, because a connector costs nothing to inspect and is a common answer.
If the code comes back after a repair, the underlying fault is still there. That is the point to bring in a scanner with live data and freeze-frame, or a shop that has one.
Common symptoms
- Check engine light
- Loss of power
- Rough idle
- Possible reduced fuel economy
Likely causes
- Stuck VVT phaserMost common
- Dirty engine oil/sludge
- Failed oil control valve (OCV)
- Stretched timing chain
Read the full diagnostic procedureBank 1 intake camshaft is mechanically OVER-RETARDED — the PCM commands advance and the cam either won't move off the park (most retarded) position,…
Bank 1 intake camshaft is mechanically OVER-RETARDED — the PCM commands advance and the cam either won't move off the park (most retarded) position, or moves and falls back. The opposite failure mode of P0011, but with overlapping root causes.
Cheapest-first ladder
- Live-data the commanded vs actual cam angle at 2500 rpm warm — actual should advance to within 2 degrees of commanded; if actual stays at 0 degrees while commanded climbs to 15-25 degrees, the phaser isn't getting oil pressure or the OCV isn't routing it.
- Swap the OCV solenoid with a known-good one (or the Bank 2 OCV if equipped) and recheck — if P0012 follows the solenoid, the solenoid is dead internally.
- Clean the OCV screen — same varnish-clog story as P0010/P0011.
- Hot oil pressure test — below 10 psi at idle means worn bearings or oil pump are starving the phaser, and replacing the phaser won't fix it. Don't condemn the cam phaser until you've verified the OCV solenoid is electrically and hydraulically functional and oil pressure is in spec.
Vehicle-specific patterns2007-2012 Nissan Altima/Sentra QR25DE — OCV solenoid internal screen plugs, replace solenoid with updated part 23796-JA11C.
- 2007-2012Nissan Altima/Sentra QR25DE — OCV solenoid internal screen plugs, replace solenoid with updated part 23796-JA11C.
- 2006-2014Honda Pilot/Ridgeline/Odyssey J35 — VTC actuator stuck in retard position from oil sludge, common at 100k+ on neglected oil change intervals.
- 2009-2013Mazda CX-7/CX-9 2.5L and 2.3L DISI — front cam OCV mounting bolt loosens and the solenoid leaks oil, retorque to 7.5 ft-lb and replace the o-ring.
- 2008-2012Chevy Malibu/Equinox 2.4L Ecotec — known OCV failure, GM bulletin PIP4986 covers the diagnosis.
Estimated repair$50 to $1,400.
Look up another code
P0012 — frequently asked
What does a P0012 code mean?
The intake cam on bank 1 is more retarded than commanded. Phaser stuck or oil control failing.
What causes a P0012 code?
Common causes: Stuck VVT phaser; Dirty engine oil/sludge; Failed oil control valve (OCV); Stretched timing chain.
What are the symptoms of a P0012 code?
Typical symptoms: Check engine light; Loss of power; Rough idle; Possible reduced fuel economy.
Is it safe to drive with a P0012 code?
Only if running normally. A short trip to a shop may be reasonable if the light is steady and the car runs normally. Stop safely for a flashing light, severe shaking, overheating, loss of power, or another urgent warning. The code alone cannot confirm safety. Estimated repair: $150-$1,200.
How do I diagnose a P0012 code?
Work from evidence to part, not the other way round. A code names a circuit or a symptom; it does not name the part that failed. 1. Note every code that is set, not just this one. 2. Read the freeze frame — the conditions the fault was recorded under. 3. Confirm the fault is current rather than history. 4. Then work the likely-causes list in the order shown.
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