Summary
P0011 means the intake camshaft on Bank 1 is positioned more advanced than the PCM is commanding. The most common causes are dirty or low engine oil (30%), a stuck VVT solenoid (30%), and a stretched or jumped timing chain (15%). Check your oil level and condition first — an overdue oil change is the cheapest and most common fix.
Severity: Moderate — rough idle, stalling possible
Safe to drive: Yes, short distances — rough idle and poor performance likely
Repair cost: $30–$500 depending on cause
DIY difficulty: Easy to Moderate
What does P0011 mean?
Your engine's variable valve timing (VVT) system adjusts when the intake valves open and close to optimize performance and efficiency at different RPMs. The PCM commands a specific camshaft position through a VVT solenoid (oil control valve) and then verifies the actual position using the camshaft position sensor and crankshaft position sensor.
P0011 is set when the PCM detects that the intake camshaft on Bank 1 is more advanced (opening earlier) than what it commanded. Unlike P0010 which is an electrical circuit code, P0011 indicates the mechanical timing position is actually wrong. The camshaft is stuck or moving to an over-advanced position.
When the camshaft is stuck advanced, you will typically notice rough idle (especially when cold), possible stalling at low RPM, poor fuel economy, and sometimes a rattling noise from the timing chain area. The engine may run fine at highway speeds since advanced timing is normal at higher RPMs.