P0016 on Subaru vehicles The crankshaft and camshaft are not where they should be relative to each other — timing, chain or phaser
P0016 is named on 27 Subaru model years (2017–2024): 47 manufacturer filings and 1 owner report in NHTSA’s files, across BRZ, Crosstrek, Forester, Impreza, Legacy and 3 more.
Which Subaru model years name P0016
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints| Model year | Filed under | Bulletins | Owner reports |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 Subaru BRZ | Engine | 2 | — |
| 2023 Subaru BRZ | Electrical System | 2 | — |
| 2023 Subaru Forester | Electrical System | 2 | — |
| 2022 Subaru BRZ | Engine | 2 | — |
| 2022 Subaru Crosstrek | Engine | 2 | — |
| 2022 Subaru Impreza | Engine | 2 | — |
| 2022 Subaru Legacy | Electrical System | 2 | — |
| 2022 Subaru Outback | Engine | 2 | — |
| 2021 Subaru Crosstrek | Electrical System | 2 | — |
| 2021 Subaru Impreza | Electrical System | 2 | — |
| 2021 Subaru Legacy | Electrical System | 2 | — |
| 2021 Subaru Outback | Electrical System | 2 | — |
| 2020 Subaru Crosstrek | Engine | 2 | — |
| 2020 Subaru Impreza | Electrical System | 2 | — |
| 2020 Subaru Legacy | Engine | 2 | — |
| 2020 Subaru Outback | Engine | 2 | — |
| 2019 Subaru Crosstrek | Engine | 2 | — |
| 2019 Subaru Impreza | Electrical System | 2 | — |
| 2018 Subaru Crosstrek | Engine | 2 | — |
| 2018 Subaru Impreza | Engine | 2 | — |
| 2017 Subaru Impreza | Engine | 2 | — |
| 2024 Subaru Forester | Engine | 1 | — |
| 2022 Subaru Ascent | Electrical System | 1 | — |
| 2021 Subaru Ascent | Electrical System | 1 | — |
| 2020 Subaru Ascent | Engine | 1 | — |
| 2019 Subaru Ascent | Engine | 1 | — |
| 2018 Subaru WRX | Engine | — | 1 |
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.
Subaru filings that name P0016
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communicationsBulletins and campaigns Subaru 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.
- 09-128-24 Service bulletin2024-10-08 · Engine
- "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: Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation Bank 1 Sensor B • P0018: Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation Bank 2 Sensor A • P0019: Crankshaft Position
- 09-128-24R Service bulletin2024-11-14 · Engine
- "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: Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation Bank 1 Sensor B • P0018: Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation Bank 2 Sensor A • P0019: Crankshaft Position
- 09-120-24 Service bulletin2024-07-08 · Engine
- "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."
- 09-120-24R Service bulletin2025-03-04 · Electrical System
- "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: Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation Bank 1 Sensor B • P0018: Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation Bank 2 Sensor A • P0019: Crankshaft Position
- 09-98-22R Service bulletin2026-08-31 · Electrical System
- This bulletin announces the availability of new reprograming files for the Engine Control Module (ECM) developed to remedy the following DTCs: P0016, P0017, P0018, P0019, P0014, P0024, P0128, P2109. If any of the DTCs listed above are found to be stored in the ECM, follow the procedures outlined in the bulletin. This is an revised version of the original bulletin.
What P0016 means
Source: SAE J2012 / OBD-IIThe crankshaft and camshaft are not where they should be relative to each other — timing, chain or phaser.
A stored code names the test that failed, never the part that caused it. The record above is what Subaru and its owners have filed about it; the code’s page across every make has the whole file.
Common questions
Source: NHTSA files and the OBD-II standardIs P0016 a known problem on Subaru vehicles?
It is a documented one: NHTSA's files hold 47 manufacturer filings and 1 owner report naming P0016 on 27 Subaru model years (2017–2024). Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count — but a bulletin that names the code on your model year is the place to start.
Which Subaru models does P0016 appear on most?
2024 BRZ (2 documents), 2023 BRZ (2 documents), 2022 BRZ (2 documents).
Does P0016 on a Subaru mean it is recalled?
No. Recalls are filed by campaign and matched by VIN; no recall is triggered by a scan tool. Check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls, or open the model year's page here for the campaigns filed against it.