Your check engine light is on, the scan shows P0011, P0014 or P0010, and the engine idles rough or stumbles when it is cold. The shop says the VVT solenoid has failed, and you want to know what that will cost.
So how much does a VVT solenoid replacement cost? On most engines, about $66 to $300 at the average US shop rate. The solenoid is $31.69 to $118.16 from the carmaker, and the carmakers’ own job times run from 0.2 hours to 2 hours.
Owners paid $125 to $713.28 for the job at shops and dealers, by their complaints to NHTSA, the US road safety agency, and a Toyota owners forum.
In this guide I will show you what the part costs, how long the carmakers say the job takes, why a few engines cost far more, how to tell a solenoid from a cam phaser, and what owners paid.
What the Solenoid Costs
The VVT solenoid, also called an oil control valve or VCT solenoid, is a small valve that sends oil to the cam gears. Here is what the carmakers’ own parts cost on dealer parts websites, checked October 9, 2026:
Some engines have one solenoid, and V6 and V8 engines often have two or four. Ask the shop which one failed, and whether it wants to replace one or all of them.
How Long the Job Takes
The carmakers publish the time they pay their dealers for this job. Here is that time in dollars at $132 an hour, the average US shop rate Tekmetric found in June 2026:
So on a 2013 Malibu 2.5 with one bad solenoid, the bill at the average rate is $39.64 + (0.2 × $132) = $66.04.
On a 2016 Grand Cherokee that needs both intake solenoids, it is (2 × $31.69) + (0.6 × $132) = $142.58. On a 2018 F-150 5.0 it is $35.50 + (1.3 × $132) = $207.10, and on a Mustang 5.0 it is $35.50 + (2 × $132) = $299.50.
Why a Few Engines Cost Far More
On the GM four cylinder and the Jeep V6 above, the solenoid bolts into the outside of the engine, so the job takes minutes. Ford’s job on the 5.0 V8 includes a new valve cover gasket, because the cover has to come off.
GM’s 4.3, 5.3 and 6.2 V8 engines are the hard case. The solenoid sits behind the engine’s front cover, and GM’s procedure starts by removing that cover. GM pays its dealers 5.3 hours for it, plus 0.3 hour to refill the cooling system.
So on a Silverado, Sierra, Tahoe or Yukon with one of those V8 engines, the labor alone is 5.6 × $132 = $739.20 before the part.
Dealers also charge to find the fault. Luxury Auto Works, a repair shop in Austin, Texas, asks $149 to $199 for a check engine light diagnosis, often credited toward the repair.
Solenoid or Cam Phaser?
The solenoid only steers the oil. The cam phaser, also called the VVT gear or, on a Honda, the VTC actuator, is the gear on the end of the camshaft that the oil turns.
A phaser job means opening the timing cover, and it costs far more. Owners reported these phaser bills:
- Honda charged the owner of a 2014 CR-V $662 to replace the VTC actuator in July 2018, filed in January 2024.
- The owner of a 2013 CR-V that rattled at every cold start was told the VTC actuator would cost $1,200 to replace, filed in March 2024.
- A Toyota Nation member paid $900 in labor and $400 in parts for VVT gear replacement in June 2024.
- A Ford dealer in Virginia quoted $5,414.11 to replace the cam phasers and timing parts on a 2018 F-150 3.5 EcoBoost in September 2026.
A rattle for a few seconds at a cold start is the sign those owners describe. A check engine light with no rattle points more often to the solenoid, so ask the shop which part it tested.
What Owners Paid for the Solenoid
Here are solenoid bills owners told NHTSA about, with a link to each complaint, and one Toyota dealer invoice from a forum:
- Tires Plus replaced the cam phaser timing solenoid on a 2017 Chrysler Pacifica for $125, filed in March 2022. The check engine light came back a few days later.
- A GMC dealer quoted more than $500 for code P0013, the exhaust camshaft solenoid circuit, on a 2012 Terrain, filed in April 2024.
- The owner of a 2020 Chevrolet Blazer paid $665 to replace the exhaust VVT solenoid, filed in May 2026.
- A Chevrolet dealer replaced the intake cam solenoid on a 2015 Equinox that shut off at red lights, and cleaned the intake system, for $828.51 in all, filed in December 2021.
- A Toyota dealer replaced the rear oil control valve and gaskets on a Highlander V6 for $713.28, of which $517 was labor and $180 parts, in August 2018.
So owners paid $125 to $713.28 for the solenoid job, and more when other work was added. An independent shop at the average rate comes in lower on most engines.
Check the Oil First
A VVT solenoid works with engine oil, so dirty or low oil can set the same codes. A Hyundai dealer charged $289.33 to diagnose engine oil sludge causing VVT codes P0010 and P0011 on a 2016 Sonata, filed in February 2022.
I advise you to check the oil level and the date of the last oil change before you pay for a solenoid. If the oil is low or old, an oil change is the cheap first step.
Can You Drive With a Bad VVT Solenoid?
For a short while, usually, but carefully. Chrysler’s bulletin describes a check engine light and an engine that runs rough, and the Equinox above shut off at red lights.
GM’s V8 bulletin describes engines that crank but will not start. If your car stalls or will not start, have it towed rather than driven.
VVT Solenoid Questions You Might Have
How much does it cost to replace a VVT solenoid?
About $66 to $300 on most engines at $132 an hour, the US average shop rate. The part is $31.69 to $118.16 from the carmaker, and owners paid $125 to $713.28 at shops and dealers.
How much is a VVT solenoid itself?
$31.69 for a Mopar solenoid for the 3.6 V6, $35.50 for Ford’s F-150 and Mustang solenoid, about $40 for GM’s 2.0 turbo and 2.5, and $110.91 to $118.16 for Toyota’s oil control valve on dealer parts websites.
How long does it take to replace a VVT solenoid?
The carmakers pay their dealers 0.2 to 0.6 hour on most four and six cylinder engines, 1.3 to 2 hours on Ford’s 5.0 V8, and 5.6 hours on GM’s 4.3, 5.3 and 6.2 V8.
Is a VVT solenoid the same as a cam phaser?
No. The solenoid steers the oil, and the cam phaser is the gear the oil turns. Owners paid $662 to $5,414.11 for cam phaser jobs, far more than for a solenoid.
What codes does a bad VVT solenoid set?
Often P0010, P0011, P0013 or P0014 on the bulletins and owner reports above. Low or dirty oil can set the same codes, so check the oil first.
Where These Prices Come From
- Part prices on dealer parts websites, checked October 9, 2026: MoparPartsGiant 5047788AD, FordPartsGiant HL3Z-6M280-A, GMPartsGiant 12662737 and 12662736, ToyotaPartsDeal 15330-0T020 and 15330-0T010.
- Job times: GM special coverage 15824 (June 2016) and bulletin PIE0295A (May 2014); Chrysler bulletin 09-009-16 (June 2016); Ford bulletin 18-2360 (December 2018), all on NHTSA’s website.
- Tekmetric, Average Auto Repair Labor Rates by State, June 30, 2026; Luxury Auto Works, Check Engine Light Diagnosis, Austin, Texas.
- The owner complaints to NHTSA and the Toyota Nation posts linked above, read October 9, 2026.
I hope this helps you read the quote before you say yes to it. If you have any questions, you can email me at costcheckr@gmail.com.
