P0296
Cylinder 12 Contribution/Balance
Fuel injectors / cylinder balance
Generic OBD-II
High
What it means
P0296 means the ECM has determined that cylinder 12 isn't contributing its expected share of power relative to the other cylinders. Seen on large twelve-cylinder engines, this balance fault usually points to a fueling problem — a worn, clogged, or leaking injector — or a mechanical weakness such as low compression on that cylinder. The engine runs unevenly and may misfire.
High
Can I keep driving? Drivable short-term, but cylinder 12 is underperforming — expect rough running and possible misfire, and get it checked before it worsens.
Common symptoms
What you'll notice
- Check-engine light on
- Rough idle or vibration
- Misfire or hesitation
- Reduced power
- Uneven running, possible smoke on a diesel
Common causes
Most likely first
- Worn, clogged, or leaking cylinder 12 injectorLikely
- Low compression or a mechanical issue on cylinder 12Common
- Fuel-delivery problem (pressure or filter) affecting that cylinderCommon
- Wiring or connector fault at the injectorLess often
- Intake or vacuum leak near cylinder 12Less often
How to diagnose & fix
Work through it in order
- Read freeze-frame data and check for a cylinder-12 misfire (P0312) or injector codes.
- Compare per-cylinder injector data and fuel trims with a scan tool.
- Test, clean, or replace the cylinder 12 injector.
- Run a compression test if the fueling checks out.
- Repair any wiring faults, then clear the code and re-test.
FAQ
Quick answers
Is it safe to drive with P0296?+
For short trips, yes, but cylinder 12 isn't pulling its weight, so the engine runs rough and may misfire. Prolonged misfire can harm the catalytic converter, so address it soon.
Can I just clear P0296?+
It returns until the weak cylinder is fixed. Diagnose the injector or mechanical cause instead of clearing it.
Related codes
Often seen with P0296
Read & clear P0296 yourself
Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.
✓ Verified name — SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6Guidance reviewed by OBD DashX