P0300 on a 2017 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 2017 Chevrolet Traverse
Ranked from 358 NHTSA owner complaints filed for this vehicle.
- 1
Worn spark plugs or failing ignition coil
Medium severityOne owner's misfire symptoms (hesitation/jerk on acceleration) were treated by replacing spark plugs and coil boots at the dealer, the classic first fix for a P0300.
Reported in 1 NHTSA complaint - 2
EGR valve stuck or fouled
Medium severityOne owner reported a rumbling/jerking condition at idle and low speed that the dealer attributed to "a small valve," consistent with an EGR valve sticking open and disrupting combustion.
Reported in 1 NHTSA complaintParts:EGR valve - 3
Vacuum or intake manifold gasket leak
Medium severityUnmetered air entering after the MAF causes a lean misfire, most common at idle and light throttle; confirm with a smoke test.
Common cause - 4
Clogged or leaking fuel injector(s)
Medium severityA partially clogged or dribbling injector under- or over-fuels a cylinder, producing an intermittent misfire.
Common causeParts:fuel injector - 5
Carbon-fouled intake valves
Low severityCarbon buildup on the valves disrupts airflow and combustion, producing a rough idle and random misfire over time.
Common cause - 6
Low compression from worn piston rings or valves
High severityAge/mileage-related bore or valve wear reduces cylinder sealing, causing a chronic misfire that isn't fixed by ignition parts alone.
Common cause - 7
Clogged or stuck PCV valve
Low severityA stuck PCV valve upsets crankcase/intake pressure balance and can cause a rough or misfiring idle.
Common causeParts:PCV valve
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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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