P0024 on a 2012 Toyota Highlander
Exhaust Cam Over-Advanced (Bank 2, VVT)
P0024 on a 2012 Toyota Highlander indicates exhaust cam over-advanced (bank 2, vvt). It usually stays drivable short-term but should be diagnosed promptly. The most common cause is stuck or sludged bank 2 exhaust-side vvt oil control valve (typically $100–$450). Confirm the root cause before replacing parts.
What does P0024 mean on a 2012 Toyota Highlander?
P0024 is set when the engine control module commands the Bank 2 exhaust camshaft ("B" camshaft) to a position and the actual cam position reads too far advanced, or the phaser fails to track the command within tolerance. It is the Bank 2 counterpart of P0014. Bank 2 is the cylinder bank that does NOT contain cylinder number 1, so this code only appears on V6, V8, V10, V12, and flat / boxer engines. The causes are the familiar variable valve timing set: a stuck oil control valve, oil that cannot do its job, or a failing phaser.
The symptoms, causes, and diagnostic steps below describe P0024 itself, so they read the same on nearby Toyota Highlander model years. Powertrain and trim details vary year to year — confirm the specifics against your own vehicle before buying parts.
Is it safe to drive a 2012 Toyota Highlander with P0024?
In most cases a 2012 Toyota Highlander stays drivable for short trips with P0024 active, but diagnose and repair it promptly. This is a high-severity code — ignoring it can lead to further damage or a failed emissions test.
What are the symptoms of P0024 on a 2012 Toyota Highlander?
- Check Engine Light is illuminated
- Rough idle, often worse when the engine is hot
- Reduced low-end torque and slow throttle response
- Possible stalling at low RPM
- Increased emissions at idle
- Slight reduction in fuel economy
- Cold-start rattle from the cam area
What causes P0024 on a 2012 Toyota Highlander?
| Cause | Likelihood | Estimated repair (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Stuck or sludged Bank 2 exhaust-side VVT oil control valve | Most common | $100–$450 |
| Low engine oil level or pressure starving the Bank 2 exhaust phaser | Most common | $50–$200 |
| Sludged oil passages from skipped oil changes | Common | $100–$600 |
| Failed Bank 2 exhaust cam phaser / VVT actuator | Common | $600–$1,800 |
| Stretched timing chain affecting Bank 2 exhaust cam position | Occasional | $800–$3,000 |
| Damaged Bank 2 exhaust cam sensor wiring or connector | Occasional | $80–$350 |
| Failed Bank 2 exhaust cam position sensor | Occasional | $100–$400 |
Cost ranges are editorial estimates for parts and labor at an independent U.S. shop — not quotes. What you actually pay moves with your region, the shop's hourly rate, which engine you have, and how much diagnostic time the job takes. Dealer service departments typically sit above these ranges.
How to diagnose this on a 2012 Toyota Highlander
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Confirm oil level, condition, and pressure
The phaser is driven by pressurised engine oil, so this is not a box-ticking step — it is the leading cause. Check level on level ground with the engine warm, look at the oil for sludge or a burnt smell, and confirm the viscosity matches the OEM specification. Then measure pressure with a mechanical gauge at idle and at 2500 RPM.
Tools: Mechanical oil pressure gauge, Dipstick or level check procedure
-
Identify which bank is Bank 2 before removing anything
Bank 2 is the bank without cylinder number 1, and which physical side that is depends on the manufacturer's cylinder numbering. Confirm it in service information. On transverse V6s the Bank 2 oil control valve is frequently the one against the firewall, so it is worth knowing what you are committing to before the first bolt comes out.
Tools: Vehicle-specific service information
-
Read commanded versus actual Bank 2 exhaust cam position
Watch both values while commanding cam movement with a bidirectional scan tool. A healthy system tracks the command within a degree or two. Lag, overshoot, or oscillation points at the oil control valve or the phaser. Comparing against the Bank 1 exhaust cam on the same graph gives you a free known-good reference.
Tools: Bidirectional scan tool with cam position PIDs
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Remove and bench-test the Bank 2 exhaust oil control valve
Inspect the inlet screen for sludge and metal debris. Clean the valve and confirm it moves freely. With 12 V applied it should click and pass air; with no voltage it should seal. A valve stuck in the advance position holds the cam advanced regardless of what the ECM asks for, which is the classic P0024.
Tools: Socket set, Brake cleaner, 12 V test source, Compressed air
-
Listen for phaser rattle at cold start
A failing phaser commonly rattles for one to three seconds on a cold start and quiets as oil pressure builds. Use a stethoscope on the front of the Bank 2 cylinder head. A rattle that persists at idle indicates advanced wear in the phaser or the chain, and that is no longer a solenoid-cleaning job.
Tools: Mechanic's stethoscope
NHTSA complaints & recalls for the 2012 Toyota Highlander
Owner-reported safety complaints and official recalls filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the 2012 Toyota Highlander. Use these to gauge how common a problem is on your specific vehicle before you start chasing Toyota Highlander diagnostics.
- ENGINE 17
- STEERING 47
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 30
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 24
- STRUCTURE 22
2 active recalls
- AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:SENSOR/CONTROL MODULE-INACTIVE Jan 2013
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain models interspersed through model years 2009 through 2013 as follows: model year 2009-2012 Tacoma, 4Runner, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Prius, and RAV4; model year 2009-2010 Avalon, FJ Cruiser, and Highlander Hybrid; model ye…
NHTSA campaign 13V014000 - EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS Apr 2013
Southeast Toyota is recalling certain model year 2008 and 2010-2013 Toyota Tundra, 2010-2012 Rav4, 2012 Toyota Sequoia, 2010-2011 Toyota Corolla, 2010-2011 Toyota Camry and Camry Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid, 2010-2013 Toyota FJ Cruiser, 2011 Toyota L…
NHTSA campaign 13V123000
How do I fix P0024 on a 2012 Toyota Highlander?
- Change engine oil and filter with the correct OEM viscosity
- Clean or replace the Bank 2 exhaust-side VVT oil control valve
- Replace the Bank 2 exhaust cam phaser / actuator assembly
- Replace stretched timing chain and components as a kit
- Repair damaged Bank 2 cam sensor wiring
Engines in the 2012 Toyota Highlander
The 2012 Toyota Highlander was offered with the 2.7L 4-cylinder and 3.5L 6-cylinder engines, including a hybrid version. Which one you have changes where P0024 is most likely to originate, so confirm your engine before ordering parts.
Engine data: EPA fueleconomy.gov.
P0024 is P0014, one bank over
If you have read about P0014, you already understand P0024. Same failure, same parts, different cylinder bank:
| Code | Bank | Camshaft | Direction |
|---|---|---|---|
| P0011 | Bank 1 | Intake (“A”) | Over-advanced |
| P0014 | Bank 1 | Exhaust (“B”) | Over-advanced |
| P0021 | Bank 2 | Intake (“A”) | Over-advanced |
| P0024 | Bank 2 | Exhaust (“B”) | Over-advanced |
When P0014 and P0024 set together — both exhaust phasers, both banks — the shared cause is far more likely than two phasers failing simultaneously. Look at oil pressure, oil condition, and the timing chain that drives both.
The oil change that fixes the code
Variable valve timing is hydraulic. The phaser is rotated by engine oil pushed through a solenoid valve and along passages narrower than a drinking straw. Sludge from extended oil change intervals, oil that is too thick because someone used the wrong grade, or a level that has quietly dropped between services will all stop a phaser tracking its command — with no mechanical fault anywhere in the system.
On engines under 100,000 miles this is the leading explanation. An oil and filter change with the correct OEM specification, plus cleaning the oil control valve, is the right first move and costs a fraction of the alternatives.
Bank 2 is usually the harder bank
The part prices are identical on either side. The labour often is not. On transverse V6s the Bank 2 bank sits against the firewall, and reaching its oil control valve or phaser can mean removing the intake manifold or lifting the engine on its mounts. If a quote for P0024 looks steep next to what the same repair cost on Bank 1, the difference is access hours, not parts — and it is a fair thing to ask a shop to itemise.
Driving with P0024
The car runs. It will idle roughly, feel soft off the line, and drink a little more fuel. Short trips are acceptable while you arrange the repair. The reason not to leave it for months is that if the root cause is low oil pressure, the same shortage is affecting bearings and the timing chain tensioner — components whose failure is not measured in hundreds of dollars. Confirm oil pressure early, and if it is low, treat the whole thing as urgent.
P0024 on a 2012 Toyota Highlander: frequently asked questions
What does diagnostic trouble code P0024 mean on a 2012 Toyota Highlander?
P0024 is set when the engine control module commands the Bank 2 exhaust camshaft ("B" camshaft) to a position and the actual cam position reads too far advanced, or the phaser fails to track the command within tolerance. It is the Bank 2 counterpart of P0014. Bank 2 is the cylinder bank that does NOT contain cylinder number 1, so this code only appears on V6, V8, V10, V12, and flat / boxer engines. The causes are the familiar variable valve timing set: a stuck oil control valve, oil that cannot do its job, or a failing phaser.
What are the symptoms of P0024 on a 2012 Toyota Highlander?
Check Engine Light is illuminated. Rough idle, often worse when the engine is hot. Reduced low-end torque and slow throttle response. Possible stalling at low RPM. Increased emissions at idle. Slight reduction in fuel economy. Cold-start rattle from the cam area
What causes P0024 on a 2012 Toyota Highlander?
Stuck or sludged Bank 2 exhaust-side VVT oil control valve (most-common). Low engine oil level or pressure starving the Bank 2 exhaust phaser (most-common). Sludged oil passages from skipped oil changes (common). Failed Bank 2 exhaust cam phaser / VVT actuator (common). Stretched timing chain affecting Bank 2 exhaust cam position (occasional). Damaged Bank 2 exhaust cam sensor wiring or connector (occasional). Failed Bank 2 exhaust cam position sensor (occasional)
Is it safe to drive a 2012 Toyota Highlander with P0024?
In most cases a 2012 Toyota Highlander stays drivable for short trips with P0024 active, but it should be diagnosed and repaired promptly — this is a high-severity code. Ignoring it can lead to further damage or a failed emissions test.