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P0024 on a 2017 Ford Escape

Exhaust Cam Over-Advanced (Bank 2, VVT)

P0024 on a 2017 Ford Escape 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.

Severity: high Safe to drive (short term) Compact SUV

Reviewed by MECH AI Editorial · Last verified · Includes 20 active NHTSA TSBs

What does P0024 mean on a 2017 Ford Escape?

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 Ford Escape 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 2017 Ford Escape with P0024?

In most cases a 2017 Ford Escape 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 2017 Ford Escape?

What causes P0024 on a 2017 Ford Escape?

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 2017 Ford Escape

  1. 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

  2. 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

  3. 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

  4. 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

  5. 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

Known Technical Service Bulletins for the 2015-2019 Ford Escape

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

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

NHTSA complaints & recalls for the 2017 Ford Escape

Owner-reported safety complaints and official recalls filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the 2017 Ford Escape. Use these to gauge how common a problem is on your specific vehicle before you start chasing Ford Escape diagnostics.

2,560 owner complaints
38 involved a crash
15 involved a fire
56 reported injuries
  • ENGINE 1476
  • ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING 498
  • POWER TRAIN 374
  • ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 149
  • UNKNOWN OR OTHER 146

3 active recalls

  • VISIBILITY:POWER WINDOW DEVICES AND CONTROLS Aug 2016

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2017 Ford Escape Titanium and SE vehicles manufactured October 5, 2015, to May 12, 2016. The settings for the closing-force of the power-operated windows may allow the windows to close on an object such as a body part and…

    NHTSA campaign 16V617000
  • POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:GEAR POSITION INDICATION (PRNDL) Jun 2022

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach.…

    NHTSA campaign 22V413000
  • EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL:ENGINE BLOCK HEATER Jan 2026

    Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2018 Focus, 2013-2019 Escape, and 2015-2016 MKC vehicles equipped with a 2.0L engine. The engine block heater may crack and develop a coolant leak, causing it to short circuit when the block heater is plugged in.…

    NHTSA campaign 26V011000

How do I fix P0024 on a 2017 Ford Escape?

Engines in the 2017 Ford Escape

The 2017 Ford Escape was offered with the 1.5L 4-cylinder, 2.0L 4-cylinder and 2.5L 4-cylinder engines. 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:

CodeBankCamshaftDirection
P0011Bank 1Intake (“A”)Over-advanced
P0014Bank 1Exhaust (“B”)Over-advanced
P0021Bank 2Intake (“A”)Over-advanced
P0024Bank 2Exhaust (“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 2017 Ford Escape: frequently asked questions

What does diagnostic trouble code P0024 mean on a 2017 Ford Escape?

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 2017 Ford Escape?

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 2017 Ford Escape?

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 2017 Ford Escape with P0024?

In most cases a 2017 Ford Escape 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.

Related diagnostic codes

P0024 on other Ford Escape model years