The Lemon IndexThe crankshaft and the bank 1 camshaft aren't lined up the way the computer expects. Full P0016 page
11 owner complaints · the #1 code Mercedes-Benz E-Class owners name
Middle of 91,000 miles · most between 58,000 and 112,000 (7 owners gave it)
Mercedes-Benz E-Class owners named P0016 in 11 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2006, 2007 and 2009 model years, at a middle of 91,000 miles. The part they name most is the timing chain, tensioner or cam phaser (2 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Mercedes-Benz E-Class 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
91,000 miles is the middle of what 7 owners entered. Half were between 58,000 and 112,000 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 2 of the 11 complaints (18%). 1 of those mention it being replaced or repaired.
- Timing chain, tensioner or cam phaser2 complaints1 mentions a repair or replacement · what owners paid
4 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
73% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Shakes, runs rough or misfires18%2 of 11 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
P0017 10
Other codes named in the same Mercedes-Benz E-Class complaints, and in how many.
Keep going
- P0016: meaning, causes and every car that reports it
- Mercedes-Benz E-Class reliability by year
- 2006 Mercedes-Benz E-Class problems and recalls
Other codes Mercedes-Benz E-Class owners report
P0016 on other cars
GMC Sierra (26) · Chevrolet Silverado (22) · Ford F-Series (21)
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): 11552776, 11496136, 11457699, 11291831, 11220256, 11055077, 10919190, 10648574, 10607626, 10453116, 10423134.
Quick answers
What does P0016 mean on a Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
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 Mercedes-Benz E-Class years have the most P0016 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2006 (8), 2007 (2), 2009 (1) Mercedes-Benz E-Class named P0016 most (11 complaints in all, 2006–2009). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes P0016 on a Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
Owners most often name the timing chain, tensioner or cam phaser (2 of 11 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 Mercedes-Benz E-Class?
Owners who gave their mileage reported a middle of 91,000 miles; half were between 58,000 and 112,000 (7 owners).
Can I drive my Mercedes-Benz E-Class 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 Mercedes-Benz E-Class, 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.