Ignition and pre-heatingManufacturer codeUrgency: Garage soon
Code P1351: by make (VW/Audi, Peugeot/Citroën, Ford)
P1351 means: manufacturer-specific: the meaning depends on the make. On VW/Audi, bank 1 camshaft sensor range or performance problem; on Peugeot/Citroën, ignition coil control circuit high voltage or a fault in the ignition diagnostic input.[1][2] It is a manufacturer-specific code and must be read with the make in mind. On Audi and Volkswagen, the ECU considers the bank 1 camshaft sensor signal to be out of range or inconsistent.[1][2]
What code P1351 means
It is a manufacturer-specific code and must be read with the make in mind. On Audi and Volkswagen, the ECU considers the bank 1 camshaft sensor signal to be out of range or inconsistent.[1][2]
On Peugeot and Citroën, the source defines it as a fault in the ignition diagnostic input circuit (IDM) or high voltage in the coil control circuit. Ford defines it similarly: an ignition diagnostic circuit fault.[1][2]
On Toyota and Lexus it indicates a range or performance problem with the right bank's variable valve timing sensor; on BMW, a fault in the idle control valve's closing solenoid signal.[1][2]
Original definition (SAE J2012): Manufacturer-specific: Audi/VW camshaft position (CMP) sensor bank 1 range/performance; Peugeot/Citroën IDM input circuit malfunction / ignition coil control circuit high voltage[1][2]
Causes of P1351
From most to least likely, according to the sources.
Symptoms
- Engine warning light on.[1]Engine warning light: faults that cause it
- Possible starting difficulties or uneven running, depending on the circuit affected.[1]Hard to start: faults that cause it
How to diagnose P1351
In order: from the most likely and cheapest to check to the most expensive.
- 1Identify the make and engine and look up the definition that applies; also read any other stored codes.[1][2]
- 2Check the wiring and connectors of the affected circuit (camshaft sensor or ignition circuit).[1][2]
- 3Check the valve timing and the sensors on VW/Audi engines, or the ignition module and coils on makes with the ignition definition.[1][2]
Can I keep driving with P1351?
Garage soon
The sources set no single severity, because it depends on the make. If the engine runs unevenly or fails to start, get to a garage soon.[1][2]
Parts related to code P1351
The parts that most often cause this code. The code points to the circuit, not always the part: diagnose before you buy.
Ignition coil
Camshaft adjuster
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Documented faults related to P1351
Known faults of specific engines and cars, with their repair cost, the affected years and their sources.
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.
Ignition coils and spark plugs: the most serious faults by engine and car
- Medium severityFrequency: Very frequent1.4 and 1.6 16vIgnition coil failureThe individual ignition coils are the most-cited fault of the K4J/K4M in the European Renault versions: they fail frequently and cause jerking, loss of power and the engine warning light coming on. It is a cheap electrical part to replace, not internal engine damage.Appears at around 30,000 km
- High severityFrequency: Occasional1.2 PureTechSpark plug breakage on the 130 hp 1.2 PureTech turboOn the 130 hp 1.2 PureTech/e-THP turbo the original spark plugs can break; if a fragment falls into the cylinder it can damage the engine. Autojournal cites a 2015 recall to replace them on the 308 II.
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonBMW N43/N46Injector, ignition coil and NOx sensor failures (N43)On the direct-injection BMW N43, failures of the injectors, ignition coils (mainly in 2007-2008 units, now rare after a BMW service action) and the NOx sensor of its lean-burn combustion have been documented. The indirect-injection N46 does not have that sensor and does not suffer these failures.
- Medium severityFrequency: CommonBMW N54/N55Oil in the spark plug wells from the rocker cover gasketOn the N54 and N55 the rocker cover gasket hardens with age and lets oil seep into the spark plug wells. Guides treat it as a known fault: it smells of burnt oil and can damage spark plugs and coils.
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.
Frequently asked questions
What does P1351 mean on a Peugeot or Citroën?
A fault in the ignition diagnostic circuit or high voltage in the coil control circuit, according to the source.[1]
What does P1351 mean on an Audi or Volkswagen?
A range or performance problem with the bank 1 camshaft sensor.[1][2]
Is P1351 a glow plug code?
In the sources consulted it does not appear with that meaning for any European make; it is an ignition or valve timing sensor code.[1][2]
Will I pass the MOT with code P1351?
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.
- P1351 - TroubleCodes.net (definiciones por fabricante)TroubleCodes.net · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026
- P1351 - Manufacturer Controlled DTCDTCSearch · 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