P0345 on a 2017 Ford Escape
Camshaft Position Sensor Circuit (Bank 2)
P0345 on a 2017 Ford Escape indicates camshaft position sensor circuit (bank 2). It usually stays drivable short-term but should be diagnosed promptly. The most common cause is failed bank 2 camshaft position sensor (typically $100–$400). Confirm the root cause before replacing parts.
What does P0345 mean on a 2017 Ford Escape?
P0345 is the Bank 2 counterpart of P0340. The ECM cannot interpret the camshaft position sensor signal on the Bank 2 "A" camshaft — the signal is missing, out of phase with the crankshaft signal, or carrying electrical noise. Bank 2 is the cylinder bank that does NOT contain cylinder number 1, so P0345 only appears on engines with two banks: V6, V8, V10, V12, and flat / boxer layouts. An inline engine has a single bank and cannot set this code.
The symptoms, causes, and diagnostic steps below describe P0345 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 P0345?
In most cases a 2017 Ford Escape stays drivable for short trips with P0345 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 P0345 on a 2017 Ford Escape?
- Check Engine Light is illuminated
- Hard start with extended cranking
- Intermittent stalling, often when hot
- Possible complete no-start condition
- Rough running and reduced power
- Engine cuts out and restarts after a brief delay
- Reduced fuel economy
What causes P0345 on a 2017 Ford Escape?
| Cause | Likelihood | Estimated repair (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Failed Bank 2 camshaft position sensor | Most common | $100–$400 |
| Damaged or corroded Bank 2 sensor connector | Common | $50–$250 |
| Chafed or broken Bank 2 sensor wiring | Common | $80–$350 |
| Oil leaking into the cam sensor port through a failed o-ring | Common | $80–$350 |
| Loose, slipped, or damaged Bank 2 camshaft reluctor wheel | Occasional | $300–$1,200 |
| Timing chain stretch on the Bank 2 side causing cam-crank correlation drift | Occasional | $800–$3,000 |
| Failed PCM input for the Bank 2 cam sensor circuit | Rare | $400–$1,500 |
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
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Identify which bank is Bank 2 on this engine
Bank 2 is the bank without cylinder number 1. On a transverse V6 that is usually the bank nearest the firewall, but "usually" is not good enough — manufacturers vary, and getting this backwards means replacing a healthy sensor on the wrong side of the engine. Confirm the cylinder numbering in the service information for this specific engine before you buy anything.
Tools: Vehicle-specific service information
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Inspect the connector and wiring
Unplug the Bank 2 sensor and check for corrosion, bent or pushed back pins, oil in the connector body, and chafing where the harness routes past brackets. On transverse engines the rear-bank harness is the one that gets pinched during other repairs, so look carefully if the engine has had recent work.
Tools: Connector unlock tool, Flashlight, Inspection mirror
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Confirm power and ground at the connector
Key on with the sensor unplugged, verify the supply voltage the wiring diagram specifies and a clean low-resistance ground path. Missing power or a poor ground produces P0345 with a perfectly good sensor installed, and no amount of parts swapping will fix it.
Tools: Multimeter, Wiring diagram
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Scope or graph the Bank 2 sensor signal
Capture the signal while cranking or running. The Bank 2 sensor should produce the same clean pattern as Bank 1 — which gives you a free reference waveform on the same engine. Comparing the two banks side by side is the fastest way to confirm one is bad.
Tools: Oscilloscope, or scan tool with raw sensor PIDs, Back-probe pins
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Check cam-crank correlation on the Bank 2 side
Watch the Bank 2 cam signal against the crank signal in live data. They should hold a fixed relationship. An offset that drifts as RPM rises suggests chain stretch on that bank rather than a sensor fault — and replacing the sensor will not resolve it.
Tools: Scan tool with dual-PID graphing
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.
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER Feb 23, 2026
Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool or from the label printed on the body control module (BCM). The Factory Keyless Entry Code application within the diagnostic scan tool will not provide an applicable master code for the accessory wireless keypad. If the wallet card for an accessory keypad is not available, the "Wireless RF Keypad Diagnosis Guide" can be referenced and provides direction on how to retrieve the master code. This guide is located under the Workshop Manual tab > Accessories > Installation > Wireless RF Keypad Diagnosis Guide > PPT C > Step C2.<br /><br /> Note: The only available keypad for some vehicles from the assembly plant is the accessory wireless keyless entry keypad. The integrated wired keypad cannot be installed on vehicles not equipped from the factory with a wired keyless entry k
NHTSA #11029052 - STRUCTURE Feb 23, 2026
Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool or from the label printed on the body control module (BCM). The Factory Keyless Entry Code application within the diagnostic scan tool will not provide an applicable master code for the accessory wireless keypad. If the wallet card for an accessory keypad is not available, the "Wireless RF Keypad Diagnosis Guide" can be referenced and provides direction on how to retrieve the master code. This guide is located under the Workshop Manual tab > Accessories > Installation > Wireless RF Keypad Diagnosis Guide > PPT C > Step C2.<br /><br /> Note: The only available keypad for some vehicles from the assembly plant is the accessory wireless keyless entry keypad. The integrated wired keypad cannot be installed on vehicles not equipped from the factory with a wired keyless entry k
NHTSA #11029052 - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Feb 23, 2026
Ford and Lincoln vehicles equipped with wired keyless entry keypad systems and accessory wireless keyless entry keypad systems may or may not come with a wallet card containing the master code. Unlike the integrated wired keypad, the accessory wireless keypad master code cannot be retrieved from the vehicle using a diagnostic scan tool or from the label printed on the body control module (BCM). The Factory Keyless Entry Code application within the diagnostic scan tool will not provide an applicable master code for the accessory wireless keypad. If the wallet card for an accessory keypad is not available, the "Wireless RF Keypad Diagnosis Guide" can be referenced and provides direction on how to retrieve the master code. This guide is located under the Workshop Manual tab > Accessories > Installation > Wireless RF Keypad Diagnosis Guide > PPT C > Step C2.<br /><br /> Note: The only available keypad for some vehicles from the assembly plant is the accessory wireless keyless entry keypad. The integrated wired keypad cannot be installed on vehicles not equipped from the factory with a wired keyless entry k
NHTSA #11029052 - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Nov 26, 2025
This article supersedes TSB 24-2165 to update the TSB Service Procedure. Some vehicles listed in the Model statement above may exhibit various SYNC performance related concerns including but not limited to: Display operation concerns Navigation inoperative Voice recognition concerns Phone connection issues Dropped phone connections Applink related performance Travel Link not present or showing incorrect traffic Slow system response NOTE: Ford has found some of the APIMs replaced and returned for inspection contained an outdated software level and the APIM did not require replacement. The customer concern may have been resolved by updating the APIM with latest level of software. The SYNC 3 universal thumb drive will be able to update the APIM software without the use of a scan tool and does not require the process to be monitored. Ford will be monitoring APIM replacements to confirm TSB directed software updates have been performed.
NHTSA #11025837 - POWER TRAIN Nov 11, 2025
Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. Pinpoint test HK in the Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) or in Section 303-14 of the Workshop Manual (WSM) has been updated to address this concern.
NHTSA #11025611 - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Nov 11, 2025
Some 2015-2021 Ford and Lincoln vehicles may exhibit an illuminated MIL with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P0011, P0012, P0014, P0015, P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0021, P0022, P0024 and/or P0025. Pinpoint test HK in the Powertrain Control and Emissions Diagnosis (PC/ED) or in Section 303-14 of the Workshop Manual (WSM) has been updated to address this concern.
NHTSA #11025611
+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.
- 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 P0345 on a 2017 Ford Escape?
- Replace the Bank 2 camshaft position sensor with an OEM part
- Repair the Bank 2 sensor connector or harness
- Replace the cam sensor o-ring to stop oil intrusion
- Replace a slipped or damaged Bank 2 reluctor wheel
- Replace stretched timing chains and guides if correlation drift is confirmed
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 P0345 is most likely to originate, so confirm your engine before ordering parts.
Engine data: EPA fueleconomy.gov.
If your engine is an inline-4, this code is not yours
P0345 refers to Bank 2 — the cylinder bank that does not contain cylinder number 1. Engines with a single bank (inline-3, inline-4, inline-5, inline-6) have no Bank 2 and cannot legitimately set this code. If a scan tool reports P0345 on a four-cylinder, the most likely explanations are a generic code lookup table in the tool showing you the wrong description, or a manufacturer-specific code that shares the P0345 number. Check the code against the manufacturer’s own definition before you go looking for a sensor that does not exist.
The free reference waveform
A two-bank engine gives you something a single-bank engine cannot: an identical known-good sensor sitting on the other side of the same engine, running in the same conditions, at the same age. Scope both cam sensors together. If Bank 1’s trace is clean and Bank 2’s is noisy, missing pulses, or flat, you have your answer without needing a service manual waveform to compare against.
Bank 2 access is often the real cost
The part itself is the same price on either bank. The labour frequently is not. On transverse V6s the rear bank sits against the firewall, and reaching its cam sensor can mean removing the intake manifold or lifting the engine on its mounts. Before assuming this is the same job as the Bank 1 sensor you replaced two years ago, look up the labour time for your specific engine — it is a fair question to ask a shop for a quote on even if you would normally do the work yourself.
When P0345 is really a timing chain
On engines with documented chain-stretch histories, a cam sensor code can be the first visible symptom of a chain that has worn past spec. The sensor reports the cam’s position accurately; the cam is simply not where the ECM expects it to be. The tell is cam-crank correlation that drifts as RPM climbs, usually paired with a rattle from the timing cover on cold start. If you see both, replacing the sensor buys you nothing — and a chain that skips a tooth on an interference engine turns a timing job into an engine rebuild.
P0345 on a 2017 Ford Escape: frequently asked questions
What does diagnostic trouble code P0345 mean on a 2017 Ford Escape?
P0345 is the Bank 2 counterpart of P0340. The ECM cannot interpret the camshaft position sensor signal on the Bank 2 "A" camshaft — the signal is missing, out of phase with the crankshaft signal, or carrying electrical noise. Bank 2 is the cylinder bank that does NOT contain cylinder number 1, so P0345 only appears on engines with two banks: V6, V8, V10, V12, and flat / boxer layouts. An inline engine has a single bank and cannot set this code.
What are the symptoms of P0345 on a 2017 Ford Escape?
Check Engine Light is illuminated. Hard start with extended cranking. Intermittent stalling, often when hot. Possible complete no-start condition. Rough running and reduced power. Engine cuts out and restarts after a brief delay. Reduced fuel economy
What causes P0345 on a 2017 Ford Escape?
Failed Bank 2 camshaft position sensor (most-common). Damaged or corroded Bank 2 sensor connector (common). Chafed or broken Bank 2 sensor wiring (common). Oil leaking into the cam sensor port through a failed o-ring (common). Loose, slipped, or damaged Bank 2 camshaft reluctor wheel (occasional). Timing chain stretch on the Bank 2 side causing cam-crank correlation drift (occasional). Failed PCM input for the Bank 2 cam sensor circuit (rare)
Is it safe to drive a 2017 Ford Escape with P0345?
In most cases a 2017 Ford Escape stays drivable for short trips with P0345 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.