P0012–P0025 A Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Retarded Bank 1
The camshaft is not lining up with the crankshaft where the ECU commanded. On these engines that is usually the variable-valve-timing adjuster, its solenoid, or oil that is too old or too low to move the adjuster.
Can you drive it? This class of fault can cause real mechanical damage if you keep driving on it. A persistent misfire also destroys the catalytic converter, which is the expensive part.
Which code is which
Same fault, different cylinder or bank — diagnosed the same way. Several set together usually means one shared cause.
| Code | Definition | Severity |
|---|---|---|
P0012 | A Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Retarded Bank 1 | Do not keep driving |
P0015 | B Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Retarded Bank 1 | Do not keep driving |
P0022 | A Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Retarded Bank 2 | Do not keep driving |
P0025 | B Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Retarded Bank 2 | Do not keep driving |
The definition
P0012: A Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Retarded Bank 1.
P0012 is a powertrain code (the engine or gearbox), defined by the SAE standard - it means the same thing on any make of car, and any generic OBD-II reader will decode it.
What to check first
Cheapest and fastest checks first:
- Check the oil level and when it was last changed. These adjusters run on oil pressure and are the first thing to suffer from old or low oil.
- Check the cam adjuster solenoid and its screen for sludge.
- Only then suspect the timing chain or belt and its tensioner.
Reading the code is the easy part
A code names the circuit that complained. What tells you why is watching the sensor behind it while the engine runs — and that is where a code reader stops and a diagnostic tool starts.
VAGPULSE reads every module in a VW, Audi, Skoda or SEAT — not just the engine — shows the live measuring blocks behind this fault, gives you the freeze-frame conditions it was logged under, and clears it once you have fixed it. It also does what a generic OBD reader cannot on a VAG: service resets, coding, adaptations, and Stage 1–3 flashing with your original file saved first.
$249 once. No subscription, unlimited cars. Windows 10/11.
See VAGPULSE — $249 Look up another codeSoftware downloads instantly · cable ships September 30 · cable guarantee — refund if it won't connect
Prefer to work on your phone? The VAGPULSE Android app is a free download and its demo mode runs against a sample car with no hardware at all, so you can see exactly what it reads before spending anything. Reading your car with it needs the VAGPULSE cable, which comes with the licence.
Common questions
What does P0012 mean?
P0012 means A Camshaft Position - Timing Over-Retarded Bank 1. The camshaft is not lining up with the crankshaft where the ECU commanded. On these engines that is usually the variable-valve-timing adjuster, its solenoid, or oil that is too old or too low to move the adjuster.
Can I drive with P0012?
This class of fault can cause real mechanical damage if you keep driving on it. A persistent misfire also destroys the catalytic converter, which is the expensive part.