P0300 on a 2013 Nissan Rogue
P0300 is a generic OBD2 powertrain code for random or multiple cylinder misfire. Unlike P0301 through P0308, it does not point to one specific cylinder, so the cause can be ignition, fuel, air, sensor, or mechanical.
Not your vehicle? See general P0300 info.
Most common causes on the 2013 Nissan Rogue
Ranked from 606 NHTSA owner complaints filed for this vehicle.
- 1
Faulty Mass Air Flow (MAF) Sensor
Medium severityA dirty or failing MAF sensor incorrectly measures incoming air, causing improper fueling and misfires. Confirm by checking MAF data on a scan tool or cleaning the sensor.
Reported in 1 NHTSA complaint - 2
Engine Valve Cover / Gasket Oil Leak
Medium severityOil leaking from the valve cover gasket can seep into the spark plug tubes, shorting out the ignition coils and causing misfires. Confirm by inspecting the spark plug wells for oil.
Reported in 1 NHTSA complaint - 3
Faulty Engine Control Unit (ECU)
High severityA failing ECU can send incorrect signals to the ignition or fuel systems, resulting in random misfires. Confirm by checking for internal ECU faults or poor connections.
Reported in 1 NHTSA complaint - 4
Faulty Spark Plugs
Medium severityWorn or fouled spark plugs are the most common cause of random misfires. Look for worn electrodes, carbon buildup, or incorrect gap.
Common cause - 5
Faulty Ignition Coils
Medium severityWeak or failing ignition coils can cause intermittent or random misfires across multiple cylinders. Confirm by testing coil resistance or swapping coils to see if the misfire moves.
Common cause - 6
Vacuum Leaks
Medium severityUnmetered air entering the intake manifold leans out the air/fuel mixture, causing random misfires. Look for cracked hoses, a leaking intake manifold gasket, or a hissing sound.
Common cause - 7
Low Fuel Pressure / Failing Fuel Pump
Medium severityInsufficient fuel delivery can cause a lean condition and random misfires. Confirm by checking fuel pressure with a mechanical gauge.
Common cause - 8
Clogged or Faulty Fuel Injectors
Medium severityRestricted fuel injectors prevent proper fuel atomization, leading to misfires. Confirm by performing an injector balance test or checking for clogged screens.
Common cause
These causes are aggregated from NHTSA owner complaints and general repair knowledge — this is not a diagnosis. P0300 on your car still needs shop confirmation before any repair.
Common symptoms
- Flashing or steady check engine light
- Rough idle
- Shaking under acceleration
- Loss of power
- Fuel smell from exhaust
What to check before replacing parts
Scan for cylinder-specific misfire codes
Look for: A companion P0301–P0308 pins the misfire to one cylinder — start there. P0300 with no cylinder code points at something hitting several at once: fuel pressure, a large vacuum leak, or timing.
Inspect the spark plugs and coils
Look for: Pull the plugs: black/sooty = rich, oily = oil intrusion, white/blistered = lean or overheating, cracked porcelain or an out-of-spec gap = replace. Then swap a coil to another cylinder — if a cylinder-specific code follows the coil, the coil is bad.
Check fuel trims for a vacuum leak
Look for: High positive short- and long-term trims (worst at idle, improving as RPM rises) mean unmetered air is getting in. Smoke-test the intake and listen for hissing.
Verify fuel pressure
Look for: Compare running/cranking pressure to the vehicle spec. Low or dropping pressure starves multiple cylinders and reads as a random misfire — suspect the pump, filter, or regulator.
Compression / leak-down test if ignition and fuel check out
Look for: A cylinder 15%+ below the others, or leak-down hissing from the intake (intake valve), exhaust (exhaust valve), or oil filler (rings), means the misfire is mechanical — not a swap-in part.
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