P0016 Crankshaft Position – Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor A)

Common causes

• Stretched timing chain or jumped belt
• Faulty cam phaser or variable valve timing (VVT) solenoid
• Low or dirty oil
• Faulty cam or crank sensor

Symptoms

• Rough running, rattling at startup, hard starting, stalling, loss of power

Can I drive with it?

Have it checked before driving much. Timing problems can get worse quickly and, on some engines, cause serious damage.

Tip: Check the oil level and condition first – low or sludgy oil can upset variable valve timing.

Which scanner reads it?

Any OBD2 scanner reads it. Live cam/crank correlation data on better tools helps confirm the cause.

Budget tools like the ANCEL AD310 read it; tools with live data and graphing – like the BlueDriver or OBDLink MX+ – help you find the cause. Not sure which fits you? Try the Find My Scanner quiz.

In the data

Of the vehicle complaints owners filed with NHTSA from 2015 to 2025, 121 quote P0016 – most often from Ford, Chevrolet, GMC owners. Complaints lean toward serious problems, so treat this as a sign of how often the code turns up in real reports, not how often cars get it.

Both sources are compared on the Trends page.

Related codes

• P0011 'A' Camshaft Position – Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 1)
• P0335 Crankshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit Malfunction
• P0017 Crankshaft Position – Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor B)
• P0008 Engine Position System Performance (Bank 1)
• P0010 'A' Camshaft Position Actuator Circuit (Bank 1)
• P0014 'B' Camshaft Position – Timing Over-Advanced or System Performance (Bank 1)
• P0325 Knock Sensor 1 Circuit (Bank 1 or Single Sensor)
• P0340 Camshaft Position Sensor 'A' Circuit (Bank 1 or Single Sensor)

General information to help you understand a code – not a diagnosis. Your car’s service information or a qualified mechanic has the final word. See how we research.