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Check engine light · Engine codes

P0010: A Camshaft Position Actuator Circuit (Intake, Bank 1)

Powertrain · GenericP0010
Get it fixed soon
What it means

The variable valve timing for the intake camshaft on bank 1 isn't where the computer asked it to be.

How serious

Get it fixed soon. A few more days of normal driving is usually OK, but waiting can turn a small repair into a bigger one or a breakdown.

Where a shop starts

Low, old or wrong-grade engine oil. Then: sticking oil control (VVT) solenoid; worn or stretched timing chain.

Owners named P0010 in 55 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the Chevrolet Equinox.

Models that report it most

Complaints that name P0010, by model. Raw counts, not a failure rate: popular models get more complaints. Tap a model for its years, mileage and what owners say fixed it.

P0010 by model: P0010 Chevrolet Equinox (22) · P0010 Hyundai Sonata (10)

The details

What P0010 means

The variable valve timing for the intake camshaft on bank 1 isn't where the computer asked it to be. The engine can idle rough, lose power or use more fuel. Low or dirty oil is a common trigger, because oil pressure moves the timing.

Can I drive with P0010?

Get it fixed soon. A few more days of normal driving is usually OK, but waiting can turn a small repair into a bigger one or a breakdown.

42% of the owner complaints that name P0010 also say the car stalls or shuts off. A complaint can describe more than one problem, so this doesn't prove the code caused it.

Common causes of P0010
  • Low, old or wrong-grade engine oil
  • Sticking oil control (VVT) solenoid
  • Worn or stretched timing chain
  • Faulty cam phaser

A shop should confirm the cause with a scan and tests before replacing parts.

What owners describe
  • Stalls or shuts off: 42% of complaints
  • Uses or leaks oil: 24% of complaints
  • Loses power or goes into limp mode: 22% of complaints
  • Brakes or ABS act up: 13% of complaints

Share of complaints naming the code whose text also mentions each problem.

Model years that report P0010 most

2014 Chevrolet Equinox (6), 2015 Hyundai Sonata (6), 2012 Chevrolet Equinox (5), 2015 Chevrolet Equinox (4), 2016 Hyundai Sonata (4), 2011 Chevrolet Equinox (3).

Related codes

P0011 P0012 P0013 P0014 P0015 P0016 P0017 P0018

Quick answers

What does P0010 mean?

A Camshaft Position Actuator Circuit (Intake, Bank 1). The variable valve timing for the intake camshaft on bank 1 isn't where the computer asked it to be. The engine can idle rough, lose power or use more fuel. Low or dirty oil is a common trigger, because oil pressure moves the timing.

Can I drive with P0010?

Get it fixed soon. A few more days of normal driving is usually OK, but waiting can turn a small repair into a bigger one or a breakdown.

What causes P0010?

Low, old or wrong-grade engine oil; Sticking oil control (VVT) solenoid; Worn or stretched timing chain; Faulty cam phaser.

Counts: NHTSA owner complaints whose text names P0010. A complaint is an owner's report, not a diagnosis. Meanings: the standard SAE J2012 definitions in our own words; manufacturer codes only where verified for that make. General information, not repair advice for your car.

Updated · Free to use with credit: Source: The Lemon Index (lemonindex.com). Get the data

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