Fault Code Lookup › Powertrain codes › P0301
P0301 Powertrain · generic OBD-II
Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected
P0301 is a standard code covering engine, transmission, fuel and emissions. It names the system that logged the fault, not the part that failed. Below: which cars owners reported it on, what happened, and recalls on those cars, from 188 complaints filed with NHTSA. Updated November 3, 2026.
- 188owner reports
- 43car models
- 1mention a crash
- 1mention a fire
- 2012–2025model years
Which cars get code P0301?
Every model whose owners mentioned P0301 in a complaint, most reports first. Each year opens that car's full problem report. Popular models collect more reports because more of them are on the road.
Ford Edge
43 reportsFord Fusion
25 reportsFord Mustang
6 reportsChevrolet Cruze
3 reportsChrysler Pacifica
3 reportsFord Explorer
3 reportsJeep Wrangler
3 reportsChevrolet Malibu
2 reportsChevrolet Silverado
2 reportsFord F-150
2 reportsFord Focus
2 reportsGMC Yukon
2 reportsJaguar F-TYPE
2 reportsAlfa Romeo Giulia
1 reportAudi A3
1 reportAudi Q7
1 reportBMW 3 Series
1 reportChevrolet Cruze Limited
1 reportChevrolet Equinox
1 reportChevrolet Impala
1 reportChevrolet Impala Limited
1 reportChevrolet Malibu Limited
1 reportChevrolet Sonic
1 reportChevrolet Spark
1 reportChevrolet Trax
1 reportChrysler Town and Country
1 reportDodge Grand Caravan
1 reportFiat 500
1 reportFord F-350
1 reportFord Ranger
1 reportGMC Sierra
1 reportJeep Compass
1 reportJeep Grand Cherokee
1 reportJeep Grand Cherokee L
1 reportMercedes-Benz C-Class
1 reportMercedes-Benz CLA-Class
1 reportMercedes-Benz Metris
1 reportRam 1500
1 reportVolkswagen Atlas
1 reportVolkswagen CC
1 reportVolkswagen Jetta
1 reportVolkswagen Jetta SportWagen
1 reportWhere does P0301 show up?
By brand
- Ford144
- Chevrolet15
- Jeep6
- Chrysler4
- Volkswagen4
- GMC3
- Mercedes-Benz3
- Jaguar2
- Audi2
- Alfa Romeo1
- BMW1
- Dodge1
- Fiat1
- Ram1
Component the owner filed it under
Is there a recall for P0301?
The others concern the component owners file this code under (Engine) on the same cars; they may or may not relate to the code. Recall repairs are free; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine: Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025-2026 Explorer, Ranger, and Bronco vehicles. The engine may fail, which can result in a loss of drive power.
2025 Ford Explorer. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Engine And Engine Cooling: Exhaust System: Emission Control: Gas Recirculation Valve (Egr Valve) Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Ranger, Lincoln Nautilus, Mustang, Maverick, Explorer, Escape, Lincoln Corsair, Bronco Sport, and Bronco vehicles. The exhaust gas recirculation (EGR) valve may fail, resulting in an unexpected loss of drive power.
2025 Ford Explorer. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine: Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2025 Transit, F-150, and Explorer vehicles. The connecting rod and rod bearing components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure.
2025 Ford Explorer. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Engine Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Escape, and 2025 Bronco Sport vehicles. The cylinder head may have been improperly manufactured, which can cause the ball plugs to fail, resulting in an oil leak.
2024 Ford Escape, 2023 Ford Escape. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Engine Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Escape, 2021-2023 Corsair, and 2022-2023 Maverick vehicles equipped with 2.5L HEV or PHEV engines that were repaired incorrectly under recall 23V380. In the event of an engine failure, engine oil and fuel vapor may be released into the engine…
2023 Ford Escape. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Engine And Engine Cooling: Engine: Hard Parts Internal/Mechanical General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2021-2024 Cadillac Escalade and Escalade ESV, Chevrolet Silverado 1500, Suburban, and Tahoe, GMC Sierra 1500, Yukon, and Yukon XL vehicles equipped with a 6.2L V8 gas engine. The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing…
2021 GMC Yukon. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Engine Volkswagen Group of America, Inc. (Volkswagen) is recalling certain 2024-2025 Atlas and Atlas Cross Sport vehicles. The engine cover may have been improperly installed after vehicle service, allowing it to come loose and contact hot engine surfaces.
2024 Volkswagen Atlas. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Engine And Engine Cooling: Cooling System: Pump BMW of North America, LLC. (BMW) is recalling certain 2012-2015 X1 sDrive28i, X1 xDrive28i, 2012-2016 Z4 sDrive28i, 528i, 528i xDrive, 328i, 328xi, 2016-2018 X5 xdrive 40e, 2014-2016 228i, 228xi, 428i, 428i xDrive, 328xi Gran Turismo, 2013-2017 X3 sDrive28i, X3 xDrive28i, 2015-2018 X4 xDrive28i…
2014 BMW 3 Series. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
What happened when owners saw P0301?
10 of the 188 reports, spread across the models above, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
My vehicle has experienced a recurring cylinder 1 misfire (code P0301) over approximately two years. Ignition coils and spark plugs on cylinder 1 were replaced multiple times by different repair shops, but the misfire repeatedly returned, sometimes within months, sometimes within about a year. Wiring and injector testing was also performed and ruled out as the cause. A mechanic ultimately performed a leak-down/compression test and borescope inspection and found a compression leak located in the cylinder wall between cylinders 1 and 2, indicating internal engine damage. I was advised that this is not economically repairable and would require a full engine replacement. After researching this…
My 2017 ford edge titanium 2.0 ecoboost has lost power and my coolant warning goes on. My check engine light stays on OBD scanner states p0301 cylinder one misfire. I have taken the spark plug out of cylinder 1 and did a coolant compression test and can clearly see coolant leaking onto cylinder 1. I do have a video of this as well.
For the past year, I have been dealing with a recurring check engine light on my Ford Fusion related to Diagnostic Trouble Code P0301 – Cylinder 1 Misfire. Despite multiple repair attempts by qualified mechanics, the issue continues to return, leaving me with mounting repair bills, lost confidence in my vehicle, and serious concerns about its reliability and safety. Every time the check engine light has appeared, I have taken my vehicle in for diagnosis and repair. Each time, I was assured the problem had been fixed. However, the repair would only last anywhere from a week to a month before the exact same code would return. I have now experienced this issue on August 8 2025, January 9 2026…
Head gasket blew, and car overheated immediately on the freeway, with no warning signs, and at only 43,000 miles when a failure like this should not occur. Had to find a place to pull over and be towed to avoid more engine damage. Both independent mechanic and Ford dealership has confirmed this. Official diagnosis is "Remove and replace cylinder head assembly and replace head gasket – coolant intrusion cylinder 1, P0316, P0301.” Apparently it's a known issue with this particular engine and has a pending lawsuit.
Recently my car's check engine light and the message "Service Stabilitrak" started coming up on my car, then my car started shaking while idling. I quickly took the car to my mechanic who assessed it, replaced my spark plugs, which did not solve the issue, and recommended I go to the dealership. In between these appointments my car was consistently shaking while idling and I would have difficulties accelerating especially after coming to a complete stop and often while making turns, this worsened after adding fuel to my car. The nearest Chevrolet dealership did a compression test and found that the psi in cylinder 1 was only 85, while the rest of the cylinders are 180 psi. They reported…
Vehicle “slams” into gear and goes into “limp” mode. RPM’s increase dramatically and speed accelerate ration is very low. Check engine light on and several U codes show. And P0301
I am reporting recurring engine misfires involving my 2025 Ford Explorer Platinum equipped with the 2.3L EcoBoost engine. The vehicle currently has approximately 15,700 miles. The first incident occurred approximately five months ago. The check-engine warning appeared and the vehicle was diagnosed by an authorized Ford dealership with DTC P0303, indicating a cylinder 3 misfire. The cylinder 3 spark plug was replaced. A second misfire subsequently occurred at approximately 15,700 miles. The vehicle again exhibited an engine misfire/check-engine warning and was transported through Ford Roadside Assistance for service. An authorized Ford dealership diagnosed DTC P0301, indicating a cylinder 1…
The engine's cylinder head/valve train has failed internally, allowing combustion gases to enter the cooling system — confirmed via a chemical block test performed by a master automotive technician on November 29, 2024, which verified combustion gases present in the coolant. This is a widely documented defect on this engine and model year, related to valve seat erosion in the cylinder head. Symptoms first appeared in June 2018 as an unusual higher-pitched, stressed sound from the engine. Over time this progressed to recurring, confirmed misfires on cylinders 1, 2, 3, and 5 (diagnostic codes P0300, P0301, P0302, P0303, P0305) and a mixture control fault (P219B). The check engine light has…
P0301 Error - Cylinder 1 Misfire. First the Check Engine light and Service Stabilitrack light turn on. Then seconds later, the car began to violently shake and sometimes the gas will not go resulting in the car being stuck in the middle of the road for about 60 seconds before moving again in stop-and-go traffic. These warning lights turn off and on. The dealer says this is the result of a plastic piece breaking due to general wear-and-tear and the only solutions are to replace the pistons or replace the whole engine. Multiple smaller repair shops say this is a known issue and it doesn't have any open recalls. [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA)…
While driving my 2018 Silverado, the 5.4L, 327c.i. engine began idling very rough, shaking and periodically stalling. The check engine light began blinking and it threw codes PO308 & PO301. After compression test & new plugs/wires, it was found that the injectors had open circuits on injector #'s 1 & 8. The only way to replace the injector is through the bank. In this case both banks 1 & 2 were affected. Cylinder #1 is through bank #1 & cylinder #8 is through bank # 2. After removing the intake manifolds and injectors, it was found that the injectors were not providing fuel to the engine causing a misfire on 2 random cylinders #1 & #8. Called the dealer to order parts and discovered they…
P0301: questions drivers ask
What does code P0301 mean?
P0301 is a generic OBD-II powertrain code. Its standard definition is "Cylinder 1 Misfire Detected". The code tells you which system set the fault, not which part failed; the owner reports on this page show what it meant in practice for 43 car models.
Which cars get code P0301 most often?
In NHTSA owner complaints, P0301 is mentioned most for the Ford Escape (61), Ford Edge (43), Ford Fusion (25), across 43 models and model years 2012 to 2025. Popular models collect more reports because more of them are on the road.
Is there a recall for code P0301?
No NHTSA recall text names P0301 directly. 8 recalls on the cars that report this code concern the same component owners name most (Engine); they may or may not relate to the code. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What should I do if my car shows P0301?
Write down when the code appeared and what the car did (warning lights, loss of power, noises, speed, weather). Check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls, ask a dealer or independent workshop to read the stored freeze-frame data before anyone clears the code, and keep the repair order. If the car loses power in traffic, stop driving it. CarHooq does not diagnose: these are owner reports and official recall notices, not repair advice.
How this page was made
CarHooq read the text of every owner complaint filed with NHTSA for 19 US and European brands (model years 2012 onwards) and picked out the diagnostic trouble codes owners wrote down. This page lists every mention of P0301. The definition is the generic SAE J2012 wording; a carmaker may use the code slightly differently. Nothing here is a diagnosis. Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain), retrieved November 3, 2026. How CarHooq reports are made.
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