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All codes › P0012 › 2017 Honda Civic

P0012 on a 2017 Honda Civic

Intake Cam Over-Retarded (Bank 1, VVT)

Severity: high Safe to drive (short term) Compact Sedan 2015-2019 Honda Civic

What does P0012 mean on a 2017 Honda Civic?

P0012 is set when the engine control module commands the Bank 1 intake camshaft to a specific advance position and the actual cam position remains too retarded — the phaser is stuck in or near its base position instead of advancing as commanded. P0012 is the inverse of P0011; both point at the same family of failures but in the opposite direction.

Symptoms on a 2017 Honda Civic

Likely causes on a 2017 Honda Civic

  1. Stuck-closed VVT oil control valve (cannot direct oil to advance the cam) Most common
    Estimated repair: $100– $450
  2. Low engine oil level or pressure Most common
    Estimated repair: $50– $200
  3. Sludged oil galleries restricting flow to the phaser Common
    Estimated repair: $100– $600
  4. Failed cam phaser stuck at base (retarded) position Common
    Estimated repair: $600– $1,800
  5. Cam position sensor reporting offset position Occasional
    Estimated repair: $100– $400
  6. Wiring fault between PCM and the OCV Occasional
    Estimated repair: $80– $350

How to diagnose this on a 2017 Honda Civic

  1. Check oil level and condition

    Low oil starves the VVT phaser of working pressure. Confirm level is at full on a warm engine and oil is clean. Sludgy oil blocks the small passages that feed the phaser — change oil and filter with the correct viscosity before chasing further.

    Tools: Dipstick check, Replacement oil and filter (if needed)

  2. Measure oil pressure with a mechanical gauge

    Confirm pressure is in spec at idle (typically 15–25 psi) and at 2500 RPM (40–60 psi). Low pressure must be repaired (oil pump, worn bearings) before the VVT system can function.

    Tools: Mechanical oil pressure gauge

  3. Test the intake OCV electrically and mechanically

    Remove the OCV, inspect for sludge and metal at the inlet screen, and apply 12 V — the valve should click cleanly. Air should flow when energized and seal when de-energized. A stuck-closed valve cannot advance the cam, which sets P0012.

    Tools: Socket set, 12 V test source, Brake cleaner, Compressed air

  4. Command cam advance with a scan tool

    A bidirectional scan tool can command the intake cam to advance while watching cam position in live data. A healthy system responds within 1–2 degrees of command. No movement points at the actuator (phaser); slow movement points at the OCV.

    Tools: Bidirectional scan tool

  5. Verify the cam phaser mechanically

    If electrical and oil-side tests pass but the cam still does not advance, the phaser itself is stuck or worn internally. Replacement requires timing cover removal on most engines.

    Tools: Engine-specific timing tools

Known Technical Service Bulletins for the 2015-2019 Honda Civic

Manufacturers publish Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) when a known issue affects a specific vehicle. These bulletins come from the NHTSA database for your Honda Civic.

+14 more TSBs available in MECH AI's TSB explorer for this vehicle.

Common fixes

About the 2015-2019 Honda Civic

The 2015-2019 Honda Civic was commonly sold with the following powertrains: 2.0L I4, 1.5L Turbo I4, 1.8L I4. Common trims include LX, Sport, EX, Touring.

P0012 vs P0011

These two codes describe opposite-direction failures of the same hardware:

In practice P0012 is more common than P0011 because the default “stuck” position for a failing phaser is the base (retarded) position. The phaser advances under oil pressure; lose oil pressure and the spring retracts it.

What “over-retarded” actually means

The intake cam at base position represents the engine at idle. When the ECM commands advance, oil is directed into the phaser to rotate the cam relative to the crank. A stuck-closed OCV (or insufficient oil pressure) leaves the phaser at base — the engine runs but without the mid-range advance that gives modern engines their torque and economy. The result: sluggish performance and worse fuel economy.

When the OCV is the only repair needed

A surprisingly high percentage of P0012 cases on engines under 100k miles resolve with OCV cleaning alone — no replacement. The sludge that builds up at the OCV inlet screen restricts oil to the phaser. Brake cleaner and a soft brush, plus a fresh oil change, can clear the code for thousands of miles.

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