P0361 moderate

Ignition Coil 'K' (Cylinder 11) Primary/Secondary Circuit

The P0361 code means the vehicle's onboard diagnostic system has detected: Ignition Coil 'K' (Cylinder 11) Primary/Secondary Circuit. This is a moderate severity code.

My Garage →

Keep driving?: Short distances only
DIY difficulty: moderate
Estimated cost: $60-$300 for a quality coil on most V12s; more if the cause is wiring or the PCM driver. Use OEM or Denso/NGK/Beru — cheap no-name coils fail fast in a hot V12 engine bay.

Recommended Tool

ANCEL AD310 OBD-II Scanner

Best-selling code reader on Amazon. Reads and clears check engine codes on any 1996+ vehicle. Under $30.

Check Price on Amazon

Affiliate link -- we earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Every Tech Needs This

AstroAI Digital Multimeter

Essential for diagnosing sensor codes, checking voltage, and testing circuits. Under $15 and pays for itself on the first job.

Check Price on Amazon

Affiliate link -- we earn a commission at no extra cost to you.

Common Symptoms

Check Engine Light on (may flash if the misfire is severe)
Misfire on cylinder 11
Rough idle and reduced power
Hesitation under acceleration

Probable Causes (Ranked by Likelihood)

Failed ignition coil (coil-on-plug) on cylinder 11 High
Damaged connector or wiring on the cylinder-11 coil-driver circuit Moderate
PCM coil-driver fault Low
Fouled spark plug on cylinder 11 Low

Step-by-Step Diagnostic Procedure

Note: P0361 is the coil for cylinder 11, so it only occurs on V12 engines (Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Jaguar, and exotic V12s). Most 4/6/8-cylinder vehicles can never set it.
It is a circuit code, not a confirmed bad coil — test the driver signal (AC Hz) at the coil connector before condemning the coil.
Swap the cylinder-11 coil with a known-good coil and see if the fault follows.
Inspect the connector and wiring for the cylinder-11 circuit for corrosion or damage.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does P0361 only show up on V12 engines?

Ignition coils are lettered A=cylinder 1 through K=cylinder 11. P0361 is the cylinder-11 coil, so only engines with 11 or more cylinders (V12s) can set it. A 4-cylinder or V8 tops out at coil D or H.

Will replacing the coil fix it?

Often, but it's a circuit code — test the wiring and the driver signal first. If the coil checks out, look at the connector or the PCM coil driver before spending more.

What brand coil should I use?

On these German and exotic V12s, stick with OEM or Denso/NGK/Beru. Budget coils tend to fail quickly in the heat of a V12 engine bay, and coils are sometimes replaced in matched banks.