P0016 on GMC vehicles
42 owner complaints filed with NHTSA about GMC vehicles mention P0016 (Crankshaft Position - Camshaft Position Correlation Bank 1 Sensor A) - across 5 models. Below is where it shows up, by model and year.
Can you drive with it? Minimize driving until diagnosed - if the timing chain has jumped, continued running can escalate to valve damage on interference engines.
Symptoms, likely causes in order and realistic repair costs are on the main P0016 page - they do not differ much by brand. This page shows what is specific to GMC: which models and years actually report it.
GMC models reporting P0016
The number next to each year is how many NHTSA complaints for that car mention P0016. Owners rarely quote trouble codes when complaining, so real occurrence is many times higher - use these numbers to compare years, not as totals.
What GMC owners report
“Our Yukon was taken in for the recall. Dealer did the test and said it passed and used different oil. My wife and kids were driving to [XXX] from [XXX] yesterday. As they exited the highway, the car began acting weird. Then the car completely died. It was towed due to error code P0016. Dealer said they are going to put a new engine in. I saw online that cars with replacement engines were failing too? INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”2024 GMC Yukon · Sep 2026
“The contact owns a 2019 GMC Sierra 1500. The contact stated that while driving 35 MPH, the vehicle lost automotive power. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact attempted to restart the vehicle, and the check engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle was towed to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and DTC: P0016 was retrieved. The contact was informed that the engine needed to be replaced due to catastrophic engine failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 113,000.”2019 GMC Sierra 1500 · Aug 2026 · 113,000 mi
“13 unresolved problem codes relating to hard engine starting,rough engine running,vehicle initiating safe mode operation, upon a highway trip. P0016 engine code detected and Onstar messaged for immediate service. No resolution at dealership , after resetting codes an additional 9 are active / pending at 2nd dealership visit. Abnormal engine operation since , dealership advises a hard failure has to occur before a resolution can be instituted. Similar advice from GMC direct phone call in help line.”2023 GMC Sierra 1500 · Aug 2026
“I was driving and my check engine light came on a mile from my house. I drove home and the next morning, I started my truck. It was loud and pulsating like it wanted to stall out. I had it towed to a repair shop. They plugged into the truck and said it was giving code P0016. I had it towed to another place and that it is where it is sitting now. I also received a email from onstar saying "A critical issue with the engine and transmission system in your 2021 GMC sierra Crew Cab has been detected. P0016 was detected. I searched my VIN # and it says that there are no recalls on my truck. I do see that there was a silent recall on the engine that is in my truck.”2021 GMC Sierra 1500 · Jul 2026
P0016 on other makes
Makes with enough NHTSA reports of P0016 for their own page.
Counts are NHTSA owner complaints whose text mentions P0016 - owner-reported and unverified. Always confirm with a diagnosis of your specific vehicle.