P0351 on Ford
Ignition Coil A Primary/Secondary Circuit Malfunction
P0351 on Ford vehicles indicates ignition coil a primary/secondary circuit malfunction. Au7o has documented this code across 1 Ford model — most commonly on Explorer. P0351 indicates the engine computer found a fault in the primary or secondary circuit of ignition coil 'A' (typically the coil for cylinder 1 or the first coil in the firing system). The PCM monitors the coil's control circuit, and when the electrical feedback doesn't match what it expects during firing, it sets this code. Because the coil creates the high-voltage spark, this often causes a misfire, rough idle, hesitation, or loss of power. It is a circuit/component fault for one specific coil rather than a general engine problem. Typical repair costs on Ford range from $120 to $900, depending on the specific model and root cause.
Common Causes of P0351
- •Failed or weak ignition coil
- •Damaged or corroded coil connector or pigtail
- •Broken or shorted wiring in the coil control circuit
- •Loss of power feed or ground to the coil
- •Worn or fouled spark plug overloading the coil
- •Failed coil driver inside the PCM/ECM
P0351 on Ford by Model
Ford Explorer(1 issue)
- 3.5L EcoBoost Ignition Coil and Spark Plug Misfire (Often Caused by Broken Exhaust Manifold Studs)2013-2020
Explorers (especially the Sport and Platinum) with the twin-turbocharged 3.5L EcoBoost are widely reported to develop cylinder misfires, a flashing check-engine light, rough idle and a loss of power that owners frequently chase by replacing ignition coils and spark plugs. The turbocharged, high-heat environment is hard on plugs; the factory Motorcraft SP-534 plug wears its ground strap prematurely and pre-2018 engines (which lacked port injection) suffered intake-valve carbon buildup that aggravates misfires. A recurring root cause traced on the forums is broken/seized exhaust manifold studs that create a vacuum-style exhaust leak right at the cylinder head, which repeatedly destroys coils and triggers misfire codes until the bolts are addressed. Ford never issued a recall for the manifold studs.
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View P0351 across all makes →Frequently Asked Questions
What does P0351 mean on Ford?▼
P0351 stands for "Ignition Coil A Primary/Secondary Circuit Malfunction." P0351 indicates the engine computer found a fault in the primary or secondary circuit of ignition coil 'A' (typically the coil for cylinder 1 or the first coil in the firing system). The PCM monitors the coil's control circuit, and when the electrical feedback doesn't match what it expects during firing, it sets this code. Because the coil creates the high-voltage spark, this often causes a misfire, rough idle, hesitation, or loss of power. It is a circuit/component fault for one specific coil rather than a general engine problem. On Ford specifically, this code is documented across 1 model.
What causes P0351 on Ford vehicles?▼
Common causes on Ford: Failed or weak ignition coil, Damaged or corroded coil connector or pigtail, Broken or shorted wiring in the coil control circuit, Loss of power feed or ground to the coil, Worn or fouled spark plug overloading the coil. Specific causes vary by model and year — see the per-model sections below.
How much does it cost to fix P0351 on a Ford?▼
Repair costs on Ford range from $120 to $900, depending on the specific model and root cause.
Which Ford models have P0351 documented?▼
Au7o has documented P0351 on 1 Ford model: Explorer.