P0016 on Toyota: How to Diagnose & Fix
Crankshaft/Camshaft Position Correlation - Bank 1 Sensor A
6 Toyota models · 10 documented issues · 3 critical · $80-$2,500 repair
P0016 on Toyota by model: symptoms, diagnosis and fix
The 1998-1999 100-series (UZJ100) switched to the 4.7L 2UZ-FE V8, which uses a rubber timing belt on a ~90,000-mile replacement interval. The timing-belt-driven water pump, the hydraulic tensioner, and the idler pulleys are the common failure points and are typically leaking or worn by that interval (water-pump failure often precedes belt wear). There is a long-running interference vs. non-interference debate: Toyota officially lists it as interference, but the community consensus (and documented belt breaks on the early non-VVT-i 2UZ-FE) is that it generally does not bend valves when a belt snaps at low RPM. Regardless, a broken belt strands the vehicle, and careless belt jobs can nick the crank sensor reluctor wheel or pinch/route wiring wrong, causing no-start or timing DTCs.
Common Symptoms
- Coolant leak from front of engine (water pump)
- Squeal or rattle from timing cover area
- Belt due/overdue by mileage or age
- No-start or rough running after a prior belt job (sensor/wiring damage)
How to Fix
Replace the timing belt as a complete kit at ~90k-mile intervals: belt, hydraulic tensioner, idler/tensioner pulleys, and the timing-belt-driven water pump (Aisin/OEM), plus front crank/cam seals while apart. Take care not to damage the crankshaft position sensor reluctor wheel and route the crank-sensor/oil-sender harness to avoid belt chafe. This is a 6-8 hour labor job, so doing all wear items at once is standard practice.
What you need to fix it
Only diagnosis- and fitment-reviewed repair parts are linked here.
- AISIN TKT-021 2UZ-FE timing-belt and water-pump kit
matched timing belt, water pump, tensioner and idler service kit Fitment/availability: 1998-1999 Toyota Land Cruiser 4.7L 2UZ-FE within this issue; seller lists 1998-2007 Land Cruiser coverage Fitment/availability: Live US direct product…
- AISIN SKT-001 timing-cover seal kit
condition-based front seal set while timing components are removed Fitment/availability: Vehicle-fitment-confirmed 1998-1999 Land Cruiser 2UZ-FE; kit contains front crank and two cam seals plus timing-cover seal components Fitment/availa…
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Sources for this issue (3)
The 2UZ-FE 4.7L V8 uses a timing belt that must be replaced at 90,000-mile intervals. The hydraulic timing belt tensioner and idler pulleys are critical failure points — if the tensioner fails, the timing belt can slip or break, potentially causing valve-to-piston contact on this interference engine. The water pump is driven by the timing belt and commonly leaks at the same mileage interval. Since the labor to access the timing belt is 6-8 hours, all components (belt, tensioner, idler pulleys, water pump) should be replaced together as a comprehensive timing belt service.
Common Symptoms
- Squealing or chirping noise from timing belt area
- Coolant leak from water pump weep hole
- Engine approaching or past 90,000 miles without timing belt service
- Timing belt showing cracks or wear on inspection
- Rough idle or engine timing issues
How to Fix
Perform a comprehensive timing belt service every 90,000 miles, replacing the timing belt, hydraulic tensioner, both idler pulleys, and water pump together. A complete timing belt kit with water pump costs $250-$500 for parts. Labor is 6-8 hours ($600-$1,200) due to the tight engine bay and need to remove accessories for access. Use OEM Toyota or Aisin (OEM supplier) components only — aftermarket timing belts and tensioners have higher failure rates on this engine. Always replace the thermostat and coolant while the system is apart. Total cost: $1,000-$1,800 at an independent shop, $1,500-$2,500 at the dealer.
What you need to fix it
Only diagnosis- and fitment-reviewed repair parts are linked here.
- AISIN TKT-021 complete 2UZ-FE timing-belt and water-pump kit
matched belt, water pump, hydraulic tensioner, tensioner bearing and idler bearing service kit Fitment/availability: 1998-2007 Toyota Land Cruiser 4.7L 2UZ-FE; confirm VIN and that the complete kit contents match the existing production …
- AISIN SKT-001 timing-cover/front seal kit
condition-based front seal/gasket branch when inspection shows leakage during timing service Fitment/availability: Vehicle-selector-confirmed 2UZ-FE Land Cruiser timing-cover application; confirm VIN before purchase Fitment/availability:…
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases; other part links may also earn au7o a commission. Confirm fitment by VIN before buying.
Owner tips & cautions
- WarningDo NOT skip or delay the 90,000-mile timing belt service. The 2UZ-FE is an interference engine — if the belt breaks, valves hit pistons and you are looking at a $5,000-$8,000 engine rebuild. This is the single most important maintenance item on the 100-series.
- TipAlways replace the water pump with the timing belt. The pump costs $60-$100 extra and the labor is already done. A water pump failure between timing belt services means paying for the full labor again.
Sources for this issue (1)
P0011 on the Tacoma (4.0L 1GR-FE and 3.5L 2GR-FKS) means the Bank 1 intake camshaft is timed more advanced than the ECM commanded. On Toyota's VVT-i system this is overwhelmingly an oil-control-valve (camshaft timing OCV / VVT solenoid) problem, not a mechanical one: the solenoid sticks — usually from sludge, debris, or degraded oil clogging its filter screen — and fails to bleed off oil pressure, holding the cam advanced. Neglected oil-change intervals or low oil level are the classic trigger. It is distinct from P0016 (which is a mechanical crank/cam correlation mismatch) because P0011 is specifically a stuck/over-advanced VVT actuation caused by the control valve or oil.
Common Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Rough or unstable idle
- Engine hesitation or occasional stall
- Reduced fuel economy
- Slight power loss
How to Fix
First check engine oil level and condition and change oil/filter with the correct viscosity — the cheapest fix and a frequent cure. If the code persists, remove the Bank 1 intake camshaft timing oil control valve (VVT solenoid), clean or replace it, and clean its filter screen; test the solenoid's resistance/operation. Clear codes and confirm the cam can return to the commanded position.
What you need to fix it
Only diagnosis- and fitment-reviewed repair parts are linked here.
- Toyota 15330-0P010 genuine Bank 1/RH cam-timing oil-control valve
replace the Bank 1 intake OCV only after circuit, command and response testing confirms it sticks or fails Fitment/availability: 2005-2015 Tacoma 4.0L 1GR-FE passenger-side/Bank 1 intake VVT branch; supersedes 15330-31010 and requires VI…
- Toyota 15678-31010 genuine oil-control-valve filter
replace a damaged or restricted Bank 1 VVT oil feed screen during confirmed 1GR-FE OCV service Fitment/availability: 2005-2015 Tacoma 4.0L 1GR-FE oil-control-valve filter; catalog requires two engine-wide, but service only the diagnosed …
- Toyota 15370-0P020 genuine cam-timing oil-control solenoid
replace only the 2GR-FKS Bank 1 intake solenoid that fails an active-command, wiring and response test Fitment/availability: 2016-2023 Tacoma 3.5L 2GR-FKS; identical service part is cataloged in multiple cam positions, so confirm Bank 1 …
As an Amazon Associate, we earn from qualifying purchases; other part links may also earn au7o a commission. Confirm fitment by VIN before buying.
Sources for this issue (3)
On the 3rd-gen Tacoma's 3.5L 2GR-FKS (2016+), P0016 means the ECM sees the Bank 1 intake camshaft position out of correlation with the crankshaft. Unlike the OCV-driven P0011, P0016 more often reflects a mechanical timing error — a slightly stretched timing chain or a worn/sticking VVT-iW cam timing gear (actuator) in the cam hub — or the system's well-known sensitivity to oil condition. The 2GR-FKS VVT-iW (wide-authority) system uses high oil pressure through cam-hub actuators, so low, aged, or wrong-viscosity oil, or a clogged oil-control-valve filter screen, can starve the actuator and throw a correlation code. It commonly appears alongside cold-start rattle and sometimes P0011/P0012/P0021/P0022.
Common Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- Cold-start rattle/knock from the front of the engine
- Rough or unstable idle
- Occasional hard start
- Reduced power / hesitation
How to Fix
Start with oil: confirm level and condition and do a full oil/filter change with the correct 0W-20; a neglected engine frequently clears the code here. Inspect/clean or replace the Bank 1 camshaft timing oil control valve and its filter screen. If timing is truly off (rattle, repeat code after oil service), inspect the timing chain for stretch and the VVT-iW cam actuator/sprocket, and replace as needed. Verify the crankshaft and camshaft position sensors and wiring are clean and connected.
Sources for this issue (3)
Toyota T-SB-0041-13 Rev1 covers certain 2010-2012 Camry vehicles equipped with the 2AR-FE and within its WMI, VDS and production-VIN gates. The condition is a brief knock or rattle, approximately one second, immediately after a cold-soak startup. Toyota's repair is replacement of the intake camshaft timing gear assembly after confirming applicability. The bulletin does not identify P0016 or P0012, stalling, broken internal lobes, debris contamination or a nine-year 2009-2017 scope.
Common Symptoms
- Brief knock or rattle for approximately one second immediately after a cold-soak startup
How to Fix
Reproduce and record the brief noise after a true cold soak, then verify the engine, WMI, VDS and production VIN against the current Toyota bulletin. Rule out oil level/grade, extended cranking and other engine or accessory noises. Apply T-SB-0041-13 Rev1 only when every vehicle and symptom gate matches; the timing-system repair is a technician procedure. Diagnose any stored P0016/P0012 separately under the repair manual rather than using this bulletin as proof of a broken phaser.
Owner tips & cautions
- TipCapture the first cold-soak start on video and note duration; the Toyota bulletin describes an approximately one-second knock/rattle immediately after startup.
- WarningDo not use P0016 or P0012 alone to invoke this bulletin. Confirm 2AR-FE, WMI, VDS, production VIN and the exact cold-start symptom first.
Sources for this issue (1)
Toyota T-SB-0269-10 applies to certain 2005-2007 Camry vehicles equipped with the 2AZ-FE and produced before bulletin-specific VIN gates. The covered condition is MIL illumination with P0011, P0012 or P0016; Toyota says the VVT-i actuator may be the cause in some cases and supplies a test to verify actuator operation. The bulletin does not establish a clogged oil-control valve as the near-universal cause, does not apply to 2AR-FE or A25A-FKS Camrys, and does not make any one DTC a parts diagnosis.
Common Symptoms
- Malfunction indicator lamp illuminated with P0011, P0012 or P0016
How to Fix
Confirm model year, 2AZ-FE application and the production/VIN gate in the current Toyota bulletin. Preserve freeze-frame data, verify oil level/condition and follow the repair-manual circuit and mechanical checks. Use T-SB-0269-10's Techstream VVT Control active test to determine whether the bulletin repair applies; replace the camshaft timing gear assembly only when the actuator fails Toyota's gate. Do not clean or replace an oil-control valve, open the timing system or order parts from the code alone.
Owner tips & cautions
- TipRecord all stored/pending codes and freeze-frame data before clearing them; T-SB-0269-10 uses exact vehicle and actuator-test gates rather than treating P0011 as a part number.
- WarningThe bulletin is limited to certain pre-production-change 2005-2007 2AZ-FE Camrys. Do not apply its camshaft timing gear repair to 2AR-FE or A25A-FKS engines.
Sources for this issue (1)
P0016 code reference
General diagnostic-code context. The code alone does not confirm a cause for your vehicle; use the applicable issue card and its sources.
Frequently asked questions
What does P0016 mean on a Toyota?
P0016 stands for "Crankshaft/Camshaft Position Correlation - Bank 1 Sensor A." P0016 means the engine computer found that the crankshaft and camshaft position sensors on Bank 1 (Sensor A) are not lining up the way they should — the timing 'correlation' between them is out of range. These two sensors tell the computer where the pistons and valves are so it can time fuel injection and spark precisely. When their signals don't agree within tolerance, the computer sets this code. It generally indicates an engine timing issue, which may be a worn timing chain, a sticking variable valve timing component, or a sensor problem, and can cause rough running, hard starting, or potential engine damage if ignored. On Toyota it is documented across 6 models: Land Cruiser, Tacoma, Camry, 4Runner, Corolla, Tundra.
What are the most common causes of P0016?
The most common causes of P0016 are: Stretched timing chain or worn timing components (guides/tensioner), Faulty camshaft position sensor or crankshaft position sensor, Stuck or faulty variable valve timing (VVT/VCT) actuator or solenoid, Low or dirty engine oil affecting the VVT actuator, Clogged oil control valve or restricted oil passages, Timing chain/belt installed one tooth off after service, Damaged reluctor/tone ring on the crankshaft or camshaft, Wiring or connector faults at the position sensors. The specific cause varies by vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix P0016 on a Toyota?
Published repair estimates on Toyota range from $80 to $2,500 depending on the model and root cause. If an issue mentions a recall or campaign, check your VIN with the manufacturer or NHTSA and confirm eligibility and coverage with a dealer.
Looking for P0016 on a different make?
View P0016 across all makes →Content compiled with AI assistance using NHTSA complaints, TSBs, and owner reports. May contain errors. Always verify with your vehicle's service manual.