P0016: Crankshaft/Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor A)
Key takeaways
- P0016 means the engine computer sees the bank 1 intake camshaft out of step with the crankshaft by more than it allows.
- Check the oil level first; low or worn-out oil can upset the cam phaser and set this code on its own.
- The usual mechanical causes are a stretched timing chain, a weak tensioner or a stuck phaser, and a chain job typically runs $1,200 to $3,000.
- Keep driving to a minimum: if the chain skips further, the valves can hit the pistons on most modern engines.
- 177 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0016; the GMC Sierra 1500 accounts for 27 of them.
What P0016 means
Your engine’s intake camshaft and crankshaft on bank 1 aren’t lined up the way they should be. Scanners call it Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor A). The computer compares the signal from the crankshaft position sensor with the signal from the bank 1 camshaft “A” sensor, which is the intake cam on most engines. When the angle between them drifts past a set limit, P0016 sets. Bank 1 is the side with cylinder 1; a four-cylinder has only bank 1.
Is it safe to drive?
Short trips only, and gently. P0016 is a high-severity code because one of its causes, a stretched or jumped timing chain, can get worse suddenly. On most modern engines the valves and pistons share space, so a chain that skips further can bend valves. What changes the answer: a rattle from the front of the engine, a rough idle, stalling or a hard start. With any of those, stop and tow it.
Causes, ranked
| Cause | How you confirm it | Typical cost (US independent shop, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Low, old or wrong-grade oil | Dipstick, oil change history, sludge under the oil cap | $0–$120 (top up or oil change) |
| Sticking intake oil control (VVT) solenoid | Command it with a scan tool and watch cam position respond | $150–$450 |
| Cam or crank sensor, wiring or tone ring | Scope both signals; look for a crank sensor code or oil in connectors | $150–$350 |
| Stretched timing chain or worn guides | Cam-to-crank correlation values out of spec on a scan tool; rattle at start-up; often with P0017 | $1,200–$3,000 |
| Weak timing chain tensioner | Rattle for a few seconds on a cold start; slack visible with the cover off | Usually done with the chain, $1,200–$3,000 |
| Stuck or worn intake cam phaser | Cam won’t follow commands with good oil and a good solenoid | $800–$2,000; often done with the chain |
| Engine computer software | A bulletin for your car calls for a reprogram | $100–$200 |
What to check first
- Oil level and condition. Fill or change it with the specified grade. The phasers run on oil, and a quart low is enough to upset them on some engines.
- Every stored code. P0016 with P0017 or P0018 points to the chain, which drives all the cams. P0016 with P0335 points to the crank sensor.
- Listen at cold start. A two-to-five-second rattle from the front of the engine points to the tensioner or chain.
- Read correlation values. Many scan tools show cam-to-crank angle; a shop compares it with spec before opening anything.
- Solenoid, sensors and wiring, then the chain, tensioner and phaser.
- Don’t just clear it and drive. If the chain has stretched, the code will come back, and driving in the meantime is the risky part.
Bulletins show a pattern: Subaru (Forester and BRZ) and Mitsubishi released engine computer reprograms for this code family; GM bulletins cover P0016 after engine repairs on Colorado, Canyon and XT6 and a combined P0011/P0014/P0016/P0017 condition on 2021–2022 Silverado, Sierra and CT4; Kia covers a camshaft reluctor wheel issue on the Soul. Ask for a bulletin check before a chain quote.
What it costs
The cheap outcome is an oil change, $50 to $120. The common outcomes are a solenoid or sensor at $150 to $450. The expensive outcome is a timing chain, guides, tensioner and often phasers at $1,200 to $3,000, more on some V6 and V8 engines. An hour of diagnosis that reads the correlation values is money well spent before any of that. If the engine rattles, the rattling noise guide helps you describe it; if it won’t restart, see cranks but won’t start.
Related codes
P0016 often comes with P0017, P0014 or P0011. 177 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0016. The GMC Sierra 1500 accounts for 27 (mostly 2019 to 2024 model years), the Ford F-150 for 21 (2011 to 2014) and the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 for 18 (mostly 2020 and 2021). These are owner reports, not confirmed causes.
What owners report to NHTSA
177 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0016, 163 of them since 2015, across 53 different models. The component owners most often filed it under: engine.
Most-reported models
| Vehicle | Complaints | Model years reported |
|---|---|---|
| GMC SIERRA 1500 | 27 | 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2024 |
| FORD F-150 | 21 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014 |
| CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 | 18 | 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 |
| MERCEDES-BENZ E350 | 12 | 2006, 2007, 2009 |
| CHEVROLET EQUINOX | 7 | 2010, 2014, 2016, 2017 |
| CHEVROLET MALIBU | 5 | 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2017 |
| MAZDA CX-9 | 5 | 2008, 2009, 2013, 2015 |
| GMC TERRAIN | 5 | 2010, 2011, 2015, 2017, 2023 |
| CADILLAC ESCALADE | 4 | 2022, 2024 |
| MERCEDES-BENZ R350 | 3 | 2006, 2007 |
Manufacturer service bulletins that name P0016
173 technical service bulletins and manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA mention P0016, from 22 makes. A bulletin means the manufacturer has documented a known cause or a fix procedure for that model. Examples:
- MACK MACK, bulletin 10186422: "Diagnostic Trouble Codes ( DTC ) P0016-76 - Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation - Turbo Compound ( TC ) - Model Year 2018 and Newer "
- VOLVO VOLVO TRUCK, bulletin 10213312: Diagnostic Trouble Codes ( DTC ) P0016-76 - Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation - Turbo Compound ( TC ) - Model Year 2018 and Newer
- SUBARU FORESTER (2023, 2024, 2017, 2018), bulletin 11005592: "This bulletin announces availability of new reprograming files for the Engine Control Module (ECM) developed to remedy the following DTCs: P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0087."
- SUBARU BRZ (2022, 2023, 2024), bulletin 11009691: "This bulletin announces availability of new reprograming files for the Engine Control Module (ECM) developed to remedy the following DTCs: P0016: Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation Bank 1 Sensor A P0017…
- CADILLAC XT6 (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023), bulletin 10236106: This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Rough Idle, Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated After Engine Repairs with DTCs P0016 and/or P0018 Set.
- CHEVROLET COLORADO (2017, 2018, 2019, 2016), bulletin 10236106: This service bulletin provides information for dealers/technicians on Rough Idle, Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated After Engine Repairs with DTCs P0016 and/or P0018 Set.
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database and manufacturer communications file, snapshots September 2026. A complaint or bulletin that mentions a code is a report about that vehicle, not a statement that the code has one cause.
Frequently asked questions
Is P0016 always a timing chain?
No. Low or old oil, a sticking oil control solenoid, a cam or crank sensor, or a sensor tone ring can all set it. A stretched chain is the most expensive cause and the one to rule out, which is why shops check oil and read the cam-to-crank correlation values before quoting a chain job.
Can I drive with P0016?
Only as far as you need to, and gently. If the engine rattles, runs rough, stalls or struggles to start, stop and tow it. On most modern engines a chain that skips further lets the valves hit the pistons, and that turns a chain job into an engine.
What is the difference between P0016 and P0017?
Both mean the cam and crank are out of step on bank 1. P0016 is camshaft sensor A, the intake cam on most engines; P0017 is sensor B, usually the exhaust cam. Both together point strongly to the chain, because it drives both cams.
Can a bad crankshaft sensor cause P0016?
It can, especially if the sensor or its tone ring gives a weak or shifted signal. It is usually accompanied by a crank sensor code such as P0335 or by stalling and hard starts. A scope check of both signals settles it.