P0305

Cylinder 5 Misfire Detected

Ignition / misfire Generic OBD-II High

What it means

P0305 means cylinder 5 is misfiring — its fuel isn't burning properly, so the engine runs rough and loses power. Because a misfiring cylinder sends unburned fuel into the exhaust, sustained misfires can overheat and destroy the catalytic converter, making this a code to fix quickly.

High

Can I keep driving? Drive as little as possible — an active misfire (especially a flashing light) can quickly damage the catalytic converter.

Real-world scan data

Seen in

716

scans in the past year

Found in

0.1%

of scans

0.2%

of scans that found faults

Appears alongside · share of P0305 scans

P0300in 59.6% of scans

P0303in 28.4% of scans

P0304in 28.1% 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 (may flash during an active misfire)
Rough idle, shaking, or stalling
Hesitation and loss of power on acceleration
Increased fuel consumption

Common causes

Most likely first

Worn spark plug on cylinder 5Likely
Failing ignition coil on cylinder 5Common
Clogged or leaking fuel injector on cylinder 5Common
Vacuum leak near cylinder 5Less often
Low compression on cylinder 5 (valves, rings, head gasket)Less often

How to diagnose & fix

Work through it in order

Read freeze-frame data, then inspect the cylinder 5 spark plug and coil first — the most common cause.
Swap the coil (and plug) with a neighbouring cylinder; if the misfire follows, replace that part.
Check the cylinder 5 injector and look for vacuum leaks nearby.
If it persists, run a compression test on cylinder 5. Clear and re-test.

FAQ

Quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0305?+

No — especially with a flashing light. A single-cylinder misfire dumps raw fuel into the exhaust and can ruin the catalytic converter.

Can I just clear P0305?+

It comes back within a few drive cycles until the misfire on cylinder 5 is repaired.

Read & clear P0305 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