The Lemon IndexThe crankshaft and the bank 1 camshaft aren't lined up the way the computer expects. Full P0016 page
22 owner complaints · the #3 code Chevrolet Silverado owners name · 7% of Chevrolet Silverado complaints that name a code (every car: 1.2%)
2018–2023 Chevrolet Silverado · most: 2021 (11), 2020 (5), 2023 (2)
Chevrolet Silverado owners named P0016 in 22 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2021, 2020 and 2023 model years. The part they name most is the engine (replaced or rebuilt) (6 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Chevrolet Silverado model years that report P0016
Owner complaints naming P0016, by model year. Raw counts: years that sold more get more complaints, so this is each model year's record, not a failure rate.
What owners say caused it or fixed it
The most-named part is the engine (replaced or rebuilt), in 6 of the 22 complaints (27%). 6 of those mention it being replaced or repaired. Next: timing chain, tensioner or cam phaser (3).
- Engine replaced or rebuilt6 complaints6 mention a repair or replacement · what Chevrolet Silverado owners paid
- Timing chain, tensioner or cam phaser3 complaints1 mentions a repair or replacement · what owners paid
18 complaints mention a recall.
Counted from the owners' own words: a part counts when a sentence names it with a cause or repair word. What owners wrote, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause before replacing parts.
Symptoms owners describe with P0016
59% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Rattles or knocks14%3 of 22 complaints
- Loses power or goes into limp mode14%3 of 22 complaints
- Stalls or shuts off14%3 of 22 complaints
- Shakes, runs rough or misfires9%2 of 22 complaints
- Uses or leaks oil9%2 of 22 complaints
Share of the complaints naming P0016 whose text also describes each problem. A complaint can describe more than one.
Codes owners report with it
P0011 2
Other codes named in the same Chevrolet Silverado complaints, and in how many.
Repair costs
Chevrolet Silverado engine replacement cost
Recalls on these Chevrolet Silverado years
- Engine · 2021, 2022, 2023 · issued 2025
The connecting rod and/or crankshaft engine components may have manufacturing defects that can lead to engine damage and engine failure. NHTSA 25V274000
1 recall for the same systems (engine) on the Chevrolet Silverado model years above. A recall for the same system isn't proof it's behind P0016. Recall work is free at any dealer: check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with our VIN check.
Keep going
- P0016: meaning, causes and every car that reports it
- Chevrolet Silverado reliability by year
- 2021 Chevrolet Silverado problems and recalls
Other codes Chevrolet Silverado owners report
P0700 P0747 P0300 P25A2 P1098 P129F
P0016 on other cars
GMC Sierra (26) · Ford F-Series (21) · Mercedes-Benz E-Class (11)
The details
How we count
We read every owner complaint in the NHTSA file whose text names this trouble code, and count the ones filed about this model (matched by the make, model and model year on the complaint). Mileage is what the owner entered on the form.
Parts: a complaint counts for a part when one of the owner's own sentences names that part together with a cause word (failed, bad, diagnosed, caused by, leaking ...) or a repair word (replaced, repaired, new, reprogrammed ...). "Came back" means the same complaint also says the problem returned or the repair didn't fix it. These are counts of what owners wrote, not a diagnosis, and one complaint can name several parts.
Complaints are reports, not proof of a defect, and most owners never file one. Popular models get more complaints, so the counts are not a failure rate. The code meaning is the standard SAE J2012 definition in our own words, or the carmaker's meaning where we verified it for that make.
What P0016 means
The crankshaft and the bank 1 camshaft aren't lined up the way the computer expects. That usually points to timing chain or belt problems, so it's worth checking early before it gets worse.
Fix soon. Book a shop visit this week. Stop driving if the car slips, shakes, overheats or warns you.
- Stretched timing chain or jumped belt
- Worn chain guides or tensioner
- Faulty cam or crank sensor
- Oil control (VVT) problem
Check the complaints yourself
NHTSA complaint numbers (search them at nhtsa.gov): 11773066, 11771523, 11771512, 11769970, 11768822, 11759806, 11757522, 11749609, 11747640, 11742826, 11741800, 11728797 and 10 more.
Quick answers
What does P0016 mean on a Chevrolet Silverado?
Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation (Bank 1 Sensor A). The crankshaft and the bank 1 camshaft aren't lined up the way the computer expects. That usually points to timing chain or belt problems, so it's worth checking early before it gets worse.
Which Chevrolet Silverado years have the most P0016 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2021 (11), 2020 (5), 2023 (2) Chevrolet Silverado named P0016 most (22 complaints in all, 2018–2023). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes P0016 on a Chevrolet Silverado?
Owners most often name the engine (replaced or rebuilt) (6 of 22 complaints), then timing chain, tensioner or cam phaser. That's what owners wrote, not a diagnosis: have a shop confirm the cause with a scan and tests before replacing parts.
Can I drive my Chevrolet Silverado with P0016?
Fix soon. Book a shop visit this week. Stop driving if the car slips, shakes, overheats or warns you.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints that name P0016 on the Chevrolet Silverado, counted by The Lemon Index; NHTSA recalls; repair bills owners named. Meanings: SAE J2012 in our own words. Owner reports, not a diagnosis or repair advice for your car.