P0020: A Camshaft Position Actuator A Control Circuit/Open Bank 2
A generic powertrain (engine and transmission) trouble code, same meaning on every brand.
Driveable - reduced smoothness and economy until repaired.
Symptoms
- Uneven idle
- Weaker acceleration
- Check engine light with no obvious symptom on some engines
Likely causes, most common first
- Bank 2 intake actuator solenoid failed
- Oil passage restricted by sludge
- Wiring fault on the bank 2 harness
- Low oil level
Read P0020 yourself before paying for diagnosis
A basic Bluetooth OBD-II scanner ($20-40) plugs into the port under the dashboard and shows this code with live sensor data on your phone - useful both for confirming the fix and for talking to a shop from an informed position.
What is going on and how it gets diagnosed
P0020 is P0010 on the other cylinder bank, so it appears only on V6, V8 and flat engines. Bank 2 is the bank that does not contain cylinder 1 - worth confirming against your own engine's numbering before ordering a part, because the two banks are not interchangeable on every design.
A useful shortcut: if the same fault appears on both banks at once, stop looking at solenoids. Simultaneous bank 1 and bank 2 actuator codes almost always mean oil pressure or oil condition, not two parts failing on the same morning.
Repair options and cost
Typical US independent-shop ranges, parts and labor. Dealers run higher; regional labor rates vary.
Owner reports mentioning P0020
“ABS light started flashing and cruse control quit working. Scanned for codes and found P0020-01 ABS control module. Searched online and found 1000's of cases of problems related to this.”2018 Ram 3500 · May 2024
“I've always had increased oil consumption since I've bought the car new. Pistons have been miss firing for over 2 years. I keep getting a P0020 code Kia had "replaced" catalytic converter, believing that was the issue and it wasn't. Now I have a motor that's not working properly.”2019 Kia Soul · Aug 2023
Cars that report P0020 most often
Based on mentions of this code in NHTSA owner complaints.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with P0020?
Driveable - reduced smoothness and economy until repaired.
How much does it cost to fix P0020?
Typical US repair costs range from $60 for the simplest fix (camshaft actuator solenoid) to $450 in the worst case. The right number depends on which cause your car has - see the causes list.
Related codes
The codes closest to P0020. They often appear together, and telling them apart is usually what narrows the diagnosis.
Definition per SAE J2012 standard nomenclature. Symptoms, causes and costs are editorial guidance - always confirm with a diagnosis of your specific vehicle.