Timing and crank/cam sensorsGeneric OBD-II codeUrgency: Garage soon
Code P0015: camshaft "B" over-retarded (bank 1)
P0015 means: camshaft "B" (exhaust) position, bank 1: timing over-retarded.[1][2] The ECU compares the position of the bank 1 exhaust camshaft with that of the crankshaft and detects that it is lagging behind what the variable valve timing system is commanding. It is the opposite case to P0014, where the camshaft is too far advanced.[1][2]
What code P0015 means
The ECU compares the position of the bank 1 exhaust camshaft with that of the crankshaft and detects that it is lagging behind what the variable valve timing system is commanding. It is the opposite case to P0014, where the camshaft is too far advanced.[1][2]
Unlike P0013, which is an electrical fault in the circuit, this code points to a timing offset: it may be down to the phaser and its solenoid, the oil, or the timing drive itself.[1][2]
Original definition (SAE J2012): "B" Camshaft Position – Timing Over-Retarded (Bank 1)[1][2]
Causes of P0015
From most to least likely, according to the sources.
Symptoms
- Engine warning light on.[1][2]Engine warning light: faults that cause it
- Uneven idle.[1][2]Vibrations: faults that cause it
- Loss of power and poor performance.[1][2]Less power: faults that cause it
- Hard starting or stalling in some cases.[1]Hard to start: faults that cause it
- Higher fuel consumption.[1][2]Uses more fuel: faults that cause it
How to diagnose P0015
In order: from the most likely and cheapest to check to the most expensive.
- 1Check when the oil was last changed and what it looks like; if it is dirty or due, change it using the grade the manufacturer specifies and see whether the code returns.[1]
- 2Inspect the camshaft sensor, its connector and the wiring, which runs next to the rocker cover.[1][2]
- 3Check the phaser solenoid (resistance, dirt in the filter) following the values in the model's manual.[1][2]
- 4If all of the above is fine, have the valve timing checked (chain or belt marks), a more invasive job best left to a garage.[1][2]
Can I keep driving with P0015?
Garage soon
Out-of-step timing hurts performance and, if the cause is a stretched chain or belt, carrying on using the car can increase wear and end up damaging the engine.[2]
Parts related to code P0015
The parts that most often cause this code. The code points to the circuit, not always the part: diagnose before you buy.
Camshaft adjuster
Timing chain kit
Timing kit
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Documented faults related to P0015
Known faults of specific engines and cars, with their repair cost, the affected years and their sources.
Faults in which this code appears
Variable valve timing (VVT) actuator: the most serious faults by engine and car
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalPorsche V8 and V6 (Cayenne and Panamera)Loosening of the camshaft adjuster boltsPorsche acknowledges that the fixing bolts of the camshaft adjusters on certain Cayenne S and Turbo and Panamera models built up to September 2011 can fail: noise, vibration, engine warning light and, in rare cases, stalling. There has been a worldwide workshop campaign since 2012.
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonBMW N43/N46Wear of the Valvetronic and the VANOS solenoid valvesOver the years, the eccentric shaft or the actuator motor of the Valvetronic can wear and cause heavy idle fluctuations; the VANOS solenoid valves also fail over time, with similar symptoms and a loss of power. According to English-language Wikipedia, the 1.6-litre N43B16 does not have Valvetronic.
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonM111Camshaft adjuster oil leak into the wiringYes: the magnet (solenoid valve) of the M111 camshaft adjuster can lose its seal, and the oil creeps up by capillary action to the connector and the wiring loom. Mercedes-Benz has the same repair cable as for the M271 (part number A2711502733), which is cheap to fit.
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonM271Oil leaking from the camshaft adjuster solenoids into the wiringYes: the camshaft adjuster solenoids (magnets) of the M271 can lose their seal, and the oil wicks up to the connector and the wiring loom, and can even reach the control unit. Mercedes-Benz has a specific repair cable (reference A2711502733) that is cheap to fit.
Timing chain: the most serious faults by engine and car
- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequent1.5 BlueHDiWear and breakage of the 7 mm chain between the camshaftsIn 1.5 BlueHDi engines built between October 2017 and January 2023, the 7 mm chain linking the camshafts can stretch and break, causing serious engine damage. Stellantis has recalled them and covers the fault for 10 years or 240,000 km.Repair (garage): €730–€820
- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequent1.2 and 1.4 TSITiming chain stretch and tensioner failure (EA111)On the 1.2 and 1.4 TSI EA111 (2006-2015) the chain can stretch and the tensioner fall short; if the chain jumps a tooth, the valves hit the pistons. Volkswagen admitted the defect in 2012 and revised the chain and tensioner between 2010 and 2011.Repair (garage): €700–€1,400Appears at around 30,000 km
- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequentBMW N47Rear timing chain stretch and breakageYes: the N47 has its timing chain at the rear of the engine, next to the gearbox, and on a very high proportion of units, especially those built between 2007 and 2009, it stretches or breaks prematurely because of an inadequate tensioner, with a risk of destroying the engine.Repair (garage): €1,590–€3,000Appears at around 50,000 km
- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequentOM651Timing chain stretch and tensioner failureYes: the OM651 timing chain can stretch prematurely, above all on units built up to 2013, and in 2014-2015 Mercedes-Benz recalled around 114,000 vehicles in Germany over a defective sealing ring in the tensioner. A metallic rattle on a cold start is the first sign.Repair (garage): €2,000–€3,500Appears at around 120,000 km
Timing belt: the most serious faults by engine and car
- Critical severityFrequency: Very frequent1.2 PureTechOil-bath timing belt degradationThe oil-bath belt on the 1.2 PureTech (2012-2025) can swell and shed debris that blocks the oil pump pick-up; without lubrication, the engine can be destroyed. Stellantis covers it up to 10 years or 180,000 km and asks for it to be changed every 100,000 km or 6 years.Repair (garage): €400–€800
- Critical severityFrequency: Common1.0 EcoBoostDegradation of the timing belt running in oilYes: the 1.0 EcoBoost's timing belt runs in oil and can degrade over the years, shedding bits of rubber that block the oil pump and seize the engine without warning. The NHTSA is investigating the case in the United States and Ford has shortened the recommended replacement interval.Repair (garage): €800–€1,200
- Critical severityFrequency: Common1.5 / 2.0 EcoBlueDegradation of the wet timing belt (2.0 EcoBlue)Yes: the 2.0 EcoBlue debuted a timing belt that runs bathed in oil on Ford's diesels. Over the years it can degrade and shed debris that affects the lubrication circuit, with a risk of seizure. A roundup by Autopista.es places it in the Focus, Kuga, Transit and Transit/Tourneo Custom.
- Critical severityFrequency: Common1.0 / 1.5 VTEC TurboEngine failure caused by the wet timing beltYes: the 1.0 VTEC Turbo (P10A2) uses an oil-bath timing belt that degrades over time, blocks the lubrication circuit and can destroy the engine completely. Fiches-auto.fr documents several cases in the Honda Civic between 72,000 and 114,000 km.Appears at around 72,000 km
Engine sensors: the most serious faults by engine and car
- High severityFrequency: Occasional2.0 DTI and 2.2 DTIVP44 injection pump and air mass meter failureGerman Wikipedia documents recurring failures of the Bosch VP44 injection pump and the air mass meter in the early years of this engine. An owner testimony for this engine describes the pump being replaced at 192,500 km, at a cost the owner calls «prohibitive».
- Medium severityFrequency: Common2.0 TDIClogged particulate filter or faulty pressure sensorThe 2.0 TDI's particulate filter clogs if the car mostly makes short journeys, because it never gets to regenerate; sometimes the fault is just the differential pressure sensor. Cleaning it costs around €200 and replacing it, €800 to €3,000.Repair (garage): €800–€3,000
- Medium severityFrequency: Common1.4 and 1.6 8vCrankshaft position sensor failure (TDC sensor)The crankshaft position sensor (capteur PMH, or TDC sensor) appears repeatedly in the reliability sources for the Clio II, the Kangoo I and the Dacia Logan I with this engine, with hard cold starting or stalling as the main symptoms. It is a cheap part, but the failure can leave you stranded.
- Medium severityFrequency: Common1.4 and 1.6 16vCrankshaft position sensor failureThe crankshaft position sensor (capteur PMH) appears repeatedly in the reliability sources for almost every generation with this engine, with hard cold starting, stalling or the car cutting out unexpectedly. It is a cheap part, but the failure can leave you stranded.
P0015 by make
Documented faults that can trigger P0015 in each make's engines and cars.
- P0015 on Renault12
- P0015 on Volkswagen11
- P0015 on BMW10
- P0015 on Mercedes-Benz10
- P0015 on Nissan10
- P0015 on Seat10
- P0015 on Škoda10
- P0015 on Citroën9
- P0015 on Opel9
- P0015 on Peugeot9
- P0015 on Audi8
- P0015 on Ford8
- P0015 on Dacia7
- P0015 on DS6
- P0015 on MINI6
- P0015 on Fiat5
- P0015 on Jeep4
- P0015 on Mazda4
- P0015 on Porsche4
- P0015 on Volvo4
Frequently asked questions
What does "over-retarded" mean in P0015?
That the bank 1 exhaust camshaft is behind the position the ECU is asking for relative to the crankshaft.[1][2]
Can I drive with code P0015?
It is better to take it to a garage soon: if the cause is timing drive wear, carrying on using the car can make the damage worse.[2]
What is the difference between P0014 and P0015?
P0014 indicates camshaft "B" over-advanced; P0015, over-retarded. In both cases the oil, the phaser and the timing drive are checked.[1][2]
Can bad oil cause P0015?
Yes. The phaser is moved by oil pressure, and dirty oil or oil of the wrong viscosity is one of the first causes to rule out.[1][2]
Will I pass the MOT with code P0015?
If the code has switched on the engine warning light, no: with that light on, the inspection records a serious defect, and on Euro 5 and Euro 6 cars the ITV (Spain's roadworthiness inspection, similar to the MOT) also reads the OBD diagnostic system. Repair the fault before you go; clearing the code just before the inspection does not help either, because it counts as a serious defect.[3]
Not sure what is wrong with your car? Describe what you notice in the symptom diagnosis or see all fault codes.
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- P0015 – Camshaft position (CMP) exhaust/right/rear, bank 1 – timing over-retardedTroubleCodes.net · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026
- P0015 Code Symptoms, Causes, Diagnostic Steps & Cost GuideFlagship One (FS1 Inc.) · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026
- Desmontando mitos: ¿puede pasar mi coche la ITV con el testigo de «avería motor» encendido?Diariomotor · Motoring press · published 8 March 2021 · consulted 2 October 2026 · in Spanish