P0018

Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation Bank 2 Sensor A

Q: Is it safe to drive with P0018?

Not really. A genuine cam/crank timing mismatch can misfire and, in severe cases, cause valve-to-piston contact. Keep driving to a minimum until it's checked.

Q: Can I just clear P0018?

You can clear it, but it returns quickly unless the underlying timing, oil, or sensor fault is fixed.

Camshaft / crankshaft timing Generic OBD-II High

What it means

P0018 sets when the ECM detects that the crankshaft and the bank 2 camshaft (sensor A) are out of their expected timing relationship. It often points to a variable-valve-timing problem or a stretched timing chain, but can also be a faulty sensor. Because true timing errors can hurt performance and, in bad cases, the engine, it should be diagnosed promptly.

High

Can I keep driving? Risky — the ECM sees crank and cam timing out of sync; the engine may run rough, lose power, or refuse to start, so drive as little as possible until it's diagnosed.

Real-world scan data

Seen in

241

scans in the past year

Found in

<0.1%

of scans

0.1%

of scans that found faults

Appears alongside · share of P0018 scans

P0016in 30.7% of scans

P0017in 30.7% of scans

P0019in 25.3% of scans

Figures reflect only diagnostic scans recorded through our own apps and tools. Cars are typically scanned because a symptom or warning light prompted it, so these counts describe our scan records — not the incidence of faults in any model, and not the quality, reliability, or safety of any vehicle. No comparison between manufacturers or models is implied. All trademarks belong to their respective owners; no affiliation or endorsement is implied.

Common symptoms

What you'll notice

Check-engine light on
Hard starting or a no-start
Rough idle or engine misfire
Reduced power and hesitation
Rattle from the timing cover on some engines

Common causes

Most likely first

Camshaft timing physically out of position (stretched or jumped timing chain, worn guides/tensioner)Likely
Stuck or clogged variable-valve-timing (VVT) oil-control solenoid on bank 2Common
Low or dirty engine oil starving the VVT phaserCommon
Faulty bank 2 camshaft position sensor or crankshaft position sensorLess often
Damaged wiring or connectors at either sensorLess often
Faulty ECM (rare)Less often

How to diagnose & fix

Work through it in order

Read freeze-frame data and check for companion sensor or VVT codes to narrow the fault.
Check engine oil level and condition first — low or sludgy oil is a common, cheap cause of VVT timing errors.
Inspect the bank 2 cam and crank sensor connectors and wiring for damage or corrosion.
Test the VVT oil-control solenoid for correct resistance and free operation; clean or replace if stuck.
If timing is mechanically off, inspect the timing chain, tensioner, and guides for stretch or wear.
Clear the code and re-test; replace a confirmed faulty sensor only after ruling out timing and oil issues.

FAQ

Quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0018?+

Not really. A genuine cam/crank timing mismatch can misfire and, in severe cases, cause valve-to-piston contact. Keep driving to a minimum until it's checked.

Can I just clear P0018?+

You can clear it, but it returns quickly unless the underlying timing, oil, or sensor fault is fixed.

Read & clear P0018 yourself

Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.

▶ Get it on Google Play

✓ Verified name — SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6Guidance reviewed by OBD DashX