P0016 on Chevrolet vehicles The crankshaft and camshaft are not where they should be relative to each other — timing, chain or phaser

A model year is listed because the code is named in its own record — a bulletin filed against it, or an owner’s complaint about it — not because every one of these vehicles sets it. Counts are documents in NHTSA’s files, not failure rates.

Owners’ own words, scrubbed of anything identifying. Unverified reports filed with NHTSA — what was said, not a finding that it was true.

Bulletins and campaigns Chevrolet filed with NHTSA whose summary names P0016. Quote the document number at the service desk — it is a diagnosis the maker has already written down.

• PIP5855 Service bulletin
  2022-05-18 · Electrical System
• This Preliminary information communicates to the dealers information related to a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) Illuminated with Any Combination of DTCs P0011 P0014 P0016 P0017 Setting. Advises to perform Strategy Based Diagnosis and to replace the affected Camshaft Position Actuator Magnet as necessary.
• N252510321 Service campaign
  2025-08-14 · Unknown Or Other
• Certain vehicles will receive a software update to add to the existing Check Engine Light a Driver Information Center (DIC) warning message if DTC P0016 sets. Dealers will reprogram the Engine Control Module (ECM). Owners who have accepted applicable terms and conditions will have the opportunity to accept these software changes using wireless over-the-air (OTA) technology without having to bring
• N252510321-01 Service campaign
  2025-08-28 · Unknown Or Other
• Certain vehicles will receive a software update to add to the existing Check Engine Light a Driver Information Center (DIC) warning message if DTC P0016 sets. Dealers will reprogram the Engine Control Module (ECM). Owners who have accepted applicable terms and conditions will have the opportunity to accept these software changes using wireless over-the-air (OTA) technology without having to bring
• N252510321-02 Service campaign
  2025-09-05 · Unknown Or Other
• Certain vehicles will receive a software update to add to the existing Check Engine Light a Driver Information Center (DIC) warning message if DTC P0016 sets. Dealers will reprogram the Engine Control Module (ECM). Owners who have accepted applicable terms and conditions will have the opportunity to accept these software changes using wireless over-the-air (OTA) technology without having to bring
• PIP4548F Service bulletin
  2016-06-29 · Engine
• THIS PRELIMINARY INFORMATION COMMUNICATION ADVISES THE TECHNICIAN WHAT TO INSPECT IF CODES P0016 AND/OR P0017 ARE SETTING ON A PROPERLY TIMED ENGINE OR A CONDITION OF THE VEHICLE CRANKS BUT WILL NOT START. TECHNICIAN SHOULD INSPECT THE RESPECTIVE INTAKE OR EXHAUST CAMSHAFT RELUCTOR TO SEE IF IT HAS SPUN ON THE CAMSHAFT. THE RELUCTOR CANNOT BE REPOSITIONED SO THE CAMSHAFT MUST BE REPLACED. THE NEW
• PIP3423L Service bulletin
  2015-10-01 · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
• This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician that Diagnostic Trouble Codes P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0008 or P0009 may be set. Technician will need to inspect for loose timing chains or tensioners. If after following Service Information diagnostics the root cause is not found inspect the reluctor for the crankshaft sensor. If the reluctor has moved then repl
• PIP3423M Service bulletin
  2015-10-19 · Equipment Adaptive/Mobility
• This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician that Diagnostic Trouble Codes P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0008 or P0009 may be set. Technician will need to inspect for loose timing chains or tensioners. If after following Service Information diagnostics the root cause is not found inspect the reluctor for the crankshaft sensor. If the reluctor has moved then repl
• PIP5571 Service bulletin
  2018-06-07 · Electrical System — Wiring
• This Preliminary information communicates a possible concern of two connectors being swapped during a repair causing a P0016 code to set.
• PIP5571A Service bulletin
  2019-07-10 · Electrical System
• This Preliminary information communicates a possible concern of two connectors being swapped during a repair causing a P0016 code to set.
• PIP5730 Service bulletin
  2020-05-26 · Engine
• This Preliminary information communicates additional diagnostic information for DTC's P0016 and P0018.
• PIP5554A Service bulletin
  2019-02-07 · Engine And Engine Cooling
• This Preliminary information communicates P0016 setting after internal engire repair. The engine Base timing is not being set correctly. The information in this PI will be helpful in setting the timing in the vehicle.
• PIP5730A Service bulletin
  2020-12-29 · Equipment
• This Preliminary information communicates additional diagnostic information for DTC's P0016 and P0018.

A stored code names the test that failed, never the part that caused it. The record above is what Chevrolet and its owners have filed about it; the code’s page across every make has the whole file.