The Lemon IndexThe crankshaft and the bank 1 camshaft aren't lined up the way the computer expects. Full P0016 page
26 owner complaints · the #1 code GMC Sierra owners name · 13% of GMC Sierra complaints that name a code (every car: 1.2%)
2019–2024 GMC Sierra · most: 2019 (6), 2024 (5), 2021 (5)
GMC Sierra owners named P0016 in 26 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2019, 2024 and 2021 model years. The part they name most is the engine (replaced or rebuilt) (4 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
GMC Sierra 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 4 of the 26 complaints (15%). 4 of those mention it being replaced or repaired, and 2 say the problem came back afterwards. Next: timing chain, tensioner or cam phaser (3).
- Engine replaced or rebuilt4 complaints4 mention a repair or replacement, 2 of them say the problem came back · what GMC Sierra owners paid
- Timing chain, tensioner or cam phaser3 complaints2 mention a repair or replacement · what owners paid
12 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
50% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Stalls or shuts off27%7 of 26 complaints
- Warning lights and electrical faults23%6 of 26 complaints
- Loses power or goes into limp mode19%5 of 26 complaints
- Uses or leaks oil15%4 of 26 complaints
- Shakes, runs rough or misfires12%3 of 26 complaints
- Rattles or knocks12%3 of 26 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 GMC Sierra complaints, and in how many.
Repair costs
GMC Sierra engine replacement cost
Recalls on these GMC Sierra years
- Engine · 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024 · 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 GMC Sierra 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
- GMC Sierra reliability by year
- 2019 GMC Sierra problems and recalls
Other codes GMC Sierra owners report
P0016 on other cars
Chevrolet Silverado (22) · 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): 11773952, 11770706, 11766062, 11765840, 11765460, 11761294, 11760415, 11756357, 11755885, 11753262, 11750221, 11748270 and 14 more.
Quick answers
What does P0016 mean on a GMC Sierra?
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 GMC Sierra years have the most P0016 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2019 (6), 2024 (5), 2021 (5) GMC Sierra named P0016 most (26 complaints in all, 2019–2024). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes P0016 on a GMC Sierra?
Owners most often name the engine (replaced or rebuilt) (4 of 26 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 GMC Sierra 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 GMC Sierra, 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.