Ford P0301

Cylinder 1 misfire on Ford petrol — coil pack and plug first, then the well-known wet-plug issue on 1.6 EcoBoost.

Ford P0301 — Cylinder 1 misfire on Ford petrol — coil pack and plug first, then the well-known wet-plug issue on 1.6 EcoBoost. Typical UK independent garage cost: £60–£1800.

What actually causes P0301 on a Ford

Cylinder 1 sits at the front of the block — coil and plug here see the most thermal cycling. On 1.6 EcoBoost specifically, head gasket failures (a known issue subject to recall in the US) can cause coolant to enter cylinder 1 and wash the plug. On 1.0 EcoBoost, water pump failures dump coolant into the belt-in-oil setup and cause similar wet-plug misfires.

Ford engines that log P0301

• 1.0 EcoBoost
• 1.6 EcoBoost
• 1.6 Ti-VCT
• 2.0 EcoBoost

How we diagnose P0301 on a Ford

1. Swap coil from cyl 1 to cyl 2 — if misfire follows the coil, replace the coil
2. Inspect the plug from cyl 1 — wet/oily/sooty tells you the next test
3. Compression test and cooling system pressure test if plug shows coolant or oil
4. Check water pump on 1.0 EcoBoost — known belt-in-oil cascade failure

The common misdiagnosis to avoid

Replacing coils and plugs four times in a year on a 1.6 EcoBoost means head gasket — not 'another bad plug'. Pressure-test the cooling system.

Ford P0301 repair cost in the UK

Expect £60–£1800 including parts and labour at an independent garage. Main-dealer quotes on Ford are usually higher for the same job, and the spread exists because the cheap cause and the expensive cause throw the same code — pay for the diagnosis before you pay for parts.

Bob's workshop tip

Always replace plugs as a full set on EcoBoost engines, with the correct Ford-spec part and torque (very low, around 15–18 Nm — overtorquing damages the threads in the alloy head).

Codes usually seen alongside P0301 on Ford

• P0300
• P0302
• P0303
• P0304
• P0316

Symptoms drivers report with P0301

• Engine 'juddering' like a wet dog when you try to overtake on the A9.
• The car 'kangaroos' at low speeds, especially when the engine is stone cold.
• The EML (Engine Management Light) is flashing at you—that's a 'stop now' warning for your catalytic converter.
• A distinct 'put-put-put' sound from the exhaust pipe at idle.
• Massive loss of power, feels like you're towing a caravan that isn't there.

Repairs that clear P0301

• Replace spark plug
• Swap coil pack
• Injector test
• Compression test

For the generic, all-makes explanation of this code — meaning, every known cause and UK cost bands — see our P0301 guide.