P0300 on a 2016 Chevrolet Traverse

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 2016 Chevrolet Traverse

Ranked from 290 NHTSA owner complaints filed for this vehicle.

Sort by:

1
Running-lean condition with O2 sensor circuit fault feeding a misfire
Medium severity
One owner's independent diagnostic found misfire, rough idle, and multiple codes for running lean plus an O2 sensor fault together, showing a lean mixture on this vehicle can itself trigger the misfire code.
Reported in 1 NHTSA complaint
Parts:oxygen sensor
2
Clogged or failing fuel injector(s)
Medium severity
Restricted or dying injectors starve one or more cylinders of fuel; one owner had injectors replaced after persistent power-loss complaints on this model.
Reported in 1 NHTSA complaint
Parts:fuel injector
3
Worn spark plugs
Low severity
Eroded electrodes widen the spark gap and weaken ignition, especially under load; check gap and condition against spec.
Common cause
Parts:spark plugs
4
Failing ignition coil(s)
Medium severity
A weak or intermittently-failing coil causes cylinder-specific misfires that can appear as random misfire when they rotate; swap coils cylinder-to-cylinder to confirm.
Common cause
Parts:ignition coil
5
Vacuum or intake leak
Medium severity
Unmetered air leaning the mixture at idle causes rough running and misfire; smoke-test intake boots and PCV hoses.
Common cause
6
Carbon-fouled intake valves or low compression
Medium severity
Direct-injection-era carbon buildup or worn rings/valves reduce cylinder sealing and combustion efficiency; run a compression/leakdown test.
Common cause
7
EGR valve fault
Low severity
A stuck-open EGR dilutes the intake charge at idle/light load and can cause a rough-running misfire condition; test EGR valve movement and passages for carbon blockage.
Common cause
Parts:EGR valve

Part links go to Amazon search results for this vehicle. As an Amazon Associate, WrenchConnect earns from qualifying purchases — always confirm fitment for your exact trim and engine before ordering.

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.

Rather have a pro handle it? Find a vetted local mechanic.

Matching symptoms

Car Runs Rough Flashing Check Engine Light