The Lemon IndexThe crankshaft and the bank 1 camshaft aren't lined up the way the computer expects. Full P0016 page
21 owner complaints · the #7 code Ford F-Series owners name · 3% of Ford F-Series complaints that name a code (every car: 1.2%)
Middle of 77,000 miles · most between 65,000 and 95,000 (19 owners gave it)
Ford F-Series owners named P0016 in 21 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2011, 2013 and 2012 model years, at a middle of 77,000 miles. The part they name most is the timing chain, tensioner or cam phaser (12 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Ford F-Series 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.
Mileage when it happened
77,000 miles is the middle of what 19 owners entered. Half were between 65,000 and 95,000 miles.
The mileage on the complaint form, when the owner gave one.
What owners say caused it or fixed it
The most-named part is the timing chain, tensioner or cam phaser, in 12 of the 21 complaints (57%). 5 of those mention it being replaced or repaired.
- Timing chain, tensioner or cam phaser12 complaints5 mention a repair or replacement · what Ford F-Series owners paid
8 complaints mention a recall and 5 mention a warranty.
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
43% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Rattles or knocks29%6 of 21 complaints
- Loses power or goes into limp mode29%6 of 21 complaints
- Shakes, runs rough or misfires10%2 of 21 complaints
- Transmission slips or shifts hard10%2 of 21 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
Other codes named in the same Ford F-Series complaints, and in how many.
Repair costs
- Timing chain replacement$3,0004 bills · middle bill
- Engine replacement$7,6501 bill
Repair bills owners named in these 21 complaints (5 in all). Owner reports, not a quote: costs vary by shop and region.
Keep going
- P0016: meaning, causes and every car that reports it
- Ford F-Series reliability by year
- 2011 Ford F-Series problems and recalls
Other codes Ford F-Series owners report
P0720 P0722 P2112 P0707 P0706 P1702 P0721 P0705 P07F7 P0430
P0016 on other cars
GMC Sierra (26) · Chevrolet Silverado (22) · 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): 11514383, 11433992, 11341275, 11319545, 11290398, 11251948, 11204517, 11203984, 11185472, 11183895, 11162359, 11142566 and 9 more.
Quick answers
What does P0016 mean on a Ford F-Series?
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 Ford F-Series years have the most P0016 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2011 (7), 2013 (5), 2012 (5) Ford F-Series named P0016 most (21 complaints in all, 2011–2014). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes P0016 on a Ford F-Series?
Owners most often name the timing chain, tensioner or cam phaser (12 of 21 complaints). That's what owners wrote, not a diagnosis: have a shop confirm the cause with a scan and tests before replacing parts.
At what mileage does P0016 show up on a Ford F-Series?
Owners who gave their mileage reported a middle of 77,000 miles; half were between 65,000 and 95,000 (19 owners).
Can I drive my Ford F-Series 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 Ford F-Series, 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.