P0301 Code: Meaning, Symptoms, Causes & Fixes
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Causes ranked by likelihood
| Cause | Likelihood | DIY difficulty |
|---|---|---|
| Bad spark plug on cyl 1 — Cheapest fix. Replace and clear code. | Most likely | 2/5 |
| Failing ignition coil on cyl 1 — Swap with cyl 2 — if the misfire moves, replace the coil. | Possible | 2/5 |
| Faulty fuel injector on cyl 1 — Listen with a stethoscope for the click. | Less likely | 2/5 |
| Low compression on cyl 1 — Burnt valve or worn rings — major repair. | Less likely | 2/5 |
Symptoms of P0301
- Engine vibration at idle
- Flashing check engine light
- Power loss
How to diagnose P0301
- Confirm the code. Read P0301 with an OBD-II scanner and note the freeze-frame data (speed, temperature, load) recorded when it set.
- Check for companion codes. Look for other stored or pending codes such as P0300, P0302 — they often point to one shared root cause.
- Check: Bad spark plug on cyl 1. Cheapest fix. Replace and clear code.
- Check: Failing ignition coil on cyl 1. Swap with cyl 2 — if the misfire moves, replace the coil.
- Check: Faulty fuel injector on cyl 1. Listen with a stethoscope for the click.
- Check: Low compression on cyl 1. Burnt valve or worn rings — major repair.
- Clear and verify. After the repair, clear the code and complete a full drive cycle to confirm P0301 does not return.
Can I drive with P0301?
Drive only if absolutely necessary. A flashing check engine light means stop driving — you're damaging the catalytic converter.
Related codes
Related symptoms
P0301 by vehicle
- P0301 on the Ford F-150
- P0301 on the Ford Escape
- P0301 on the Ford Explorer
- P0301 on the Ford Focus
- P0301 on the Ford Mustang
- P0301 on the Chevrolet Silverado
- P0301 on the Chevrolet Equinox
- P0301 on the Chevrolet Malibu
- P0301 on the Chevrolet Tahoe
- P0301 on the Chevrolet Traverse
- P0301 on the Chevrolet Cruze
- P0301 on the Toyota Camry
- P0301 on the Toyota Corolla
- P0301 on the Toyota RAV4
- P0301 on the Toyota Highlander
- P0301 on the Toyota Tacoma
- P0301 on the Toyota Prius
- P0301 on the Honda Civic
- P0301 on the Honda Accord
- P0301 on the Honda CR-V
- P0301 on the Honda Pilot
- P0301 on the Honda Odyssey
- P0301 on the Nissan Altima
- P0301 on the Nissan Rogue
- P0301 on the Nissan Sentra
- P0301 on the Jeep Grand Cherokee
- P0301 on the Jeep Wrangler
- P0301 on the Jeep Cherokee
- P0301 on the Hyundai Elantra
- P0301 on the Hyundai Sonata
- P0301 on the Hyundai Santa Fe
- P0301 on the Hyundai Tucson
- P0301 on the Kia Forte
- P0301 on the Kia Sorento
- P0301 on the Kia Sportage
- P0301 on the Kia Telluride
- P0301 on the Kia Optima
- P0301 on the Subaru Outback
- P0301 on the Subaru Forester
- P0301 on the GMC Sierra
- P0301 on the GMC Acadia
- P0301 on the Ram 1500
- P0301 on the Dodge Charger
- P0301 on the Volkswagen Jetta
- P0301 on the Mazda CX-5
- P0301 on the BMW 3 Series
- P0301 on the BMW X5
- P0301 on the Mercedes-Benz C-Class
Frequently asked questions
What does P0301 mean?
P0301 means cylinder 1 misfire detected. P0301 means cylinder 1 specifically is misfiring. The fastest diagnosis is to swap the spark plug and ignition coil from cylinder 1 to another cylinder and see if the code follows.
Can I drive with code P0301?
Drive only if absolutely necessary. A flashing check engine light means stop driving — you're damaging the catalytic converter.
What is the most common cause of P0301?
Bad spark plug on cyl 1 — Cheapest fix. Replace and clear code.
What are the symptoms of P0301?
Engine vibration at idle, Flashing check engine light, Power loss.
How much does it cost to fix P0301?
A typical shop repair range is $30–$600, depending on which cause it turns out to be. Cheaper causes such as low compression on cyl 1 should be ruled out first.