P0300 on a 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
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 2017 Chevrolet Silverado 1500
Ranked from 832 NHTSA owner complaints filed for this vehicle.
- 1
Lifter failure / Active Fuel Management (AFM) system failure
High severityThe AFM/DOD system causes lifters to collapse, which can bend pushrods and damage the camshaft, leading to engine misfires and ticking noises.
Reported in 14 NHTSA complaints - 2
Damaged camshaft
High severityCollapsed lifters scrape and scar the camshaft lobes, creating flat spots that cause misfires.
Reported in 5 NHTSA complaints - 3
Bent pushrods
High severityOften a direct result of collapsed lifters in the AFM system, causing severe misfires and engine damage.
Reported in 4 NHTSA complaints - 4
Worn or faulty spark plugs
Low severityStandard maintenance item; worn plugs fail to ignite the air/fuel mixture properly, causing random misfires.
Common cause - 5
Faulty ignition coils
Medium severityA weak or failing ignition coil will not provide enough voltage to the spark plug, resulting in a misfire.
Common cause - 6
Vacuum leaks
Medium severityUnmetered air entering the intake manifold leans out the air/fuel mixture, leading to random or multiple cylinder misfires.
Common cause - 7
Clogged or faulty fuel injectors
Medium severityRestricted fuel flow prevents the proper air/fuel mixture, causing the engine to misfire.
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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