P0018 on Chevrolet: How to Diagnose & Fix
Crankshaft/Camshaft Position Correlation - Bank 2 Sensor A
5 Chevrolet models · 5 documented issues · 5 critical · $1,500-$3,500 repair
P0018 on Chevrolet by model: symptoms, diagnosis and fix
The 3.6L direct-injected V6 used in fifth-generation Camaro is known for timing chain wear/stretch that can trigger cam/crank correlation faults, rough running, and reduced performance. GM issued service information and special coverage on related 3.6L timing chain concerns across multiple applications, and Camaro owners have documented the same issue in forums and complaints. Poor oil maintenance tends to accelerate wear because chain life is sensitive to lubrication quality and oil change intervals.
Common Symptoms
- check engine light
- rough idle
- reduced power
- hard starting
- rattle on startup
- poor fuel economy
How to Fix
Scan for correlation codes and compare camshaft actual vs. desired timing data before teardown. If chain stretch is confirmed, the correct repair is replacement of the primary/secondary chains, guides, tensioners, and often phaser-related hardware per service procedure; an oil service and verification of proper oil level/condition are also important. Updating maintenance habits after repair is critical to avoid repeat wear.
Sources for this issue (1)
The 3.6L V6 (LLT and LFX variants) in the first-generation Traverse is notorious for premature timing chain stretch. The engine uses three timing chains — one primary and two secondary chains driving the variable valve timing actuators. The chains stretch beyond the tensioner capacity, causing the engine timing to slip. Symptoms progress from a rattle on cold start to a check engine light with camshaft correlation codes. If ignored, the stretched chains can skip teeth, causing catastrophic engine damage. The issue typically manifests between 80,000-120,000 miles.
Common Symptoms
- Rattling or clattering noise on cold start
- Check engine light with camshaft position codes
- Rough idle that improves as engine warms up
- Reduced engine power
- Engine misfires
- Metallic rattling from front of engine
How to Fix
Replace all three timing chains, tensioners, guides, and VVT actuator solenoids. This is a major repair requiring 10-15 hours of labor because the engine must be partially removed or the front cover fully disassembled. Parts cost $300-$600 for a complete timing kit; labor runs $1,200-$2,500. Total cost: $1,500-$3,500. GM extended warranty coverage to 10 years/120,000 miles on some model years (Special Coverage 14311). Always replace all three chains together — replacing just one is false economy as the others will fail soon after.
What you need to fix it
Only diagnosis- and fitment-reviewed repair parts are linked here.
- Timing chain kit WITH VVT cam phaser sprockets and VVT solenoids (full 'replace everything' kit)Cross-refCloyes 9-0753SVVT (3 chains, 3 tensioners, 4 guides, 2 tensi, Melling 3-753SVVT (same scope plus new tensioner bolts and g, Cloyes 9-0753SK3 / Melling 3-753SK3 (SVVT contents plus wate$560–$1350
Use this variant if you want to do the whole documented fix in one purchase: the SVVT kits add the four VVT cam phaser (actuator) sprockets and four VVT solenoids on top of the chains, tensioners and guides. This is the kit that matches …
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 (1)
GM's high-feature V6 in the Equinox suffers premature timing-chain stretch, distinct from the covered 2.4L chain issue. Worn chains/guides/tensioners throw off cam-to-crank timing, setting P0008/P0009 (engine position performance) and P0016-P0019 (crank/cam correlation). The classic symptom is a rattle or chain-slap on cold start from the front/passenger side of the engine. Long oil-change intervals and low oil accelerate the wear; left unfixed, a chain can jump time or break and bend valves.
Common Symptoms
- Rattle/chain-slap on cold start from front of engine
- Check engine light with timing-correlation codes
- Rough idle, hesitation, loss of power
- Reduced fuel economy
- Possible no-start if timing has jumped
How to Fix
Verify with the correlation codes and a cam-timing check; do not keep driving with active correlation codes. Replace the timing chains, guides, and tensioners as a complete updated kit (both banks on the V6), and change oil on time with the correct spec afterward. This is a labor-intensive repair, commonly $2,000-$3,500.
Sources for this issue (1)
The 3.6L high-feature V6 offered in the 2008-2012 Malibu — LY7 on the earliest cars, LFX later — uses three chains and plastic-faced tensioner shoes. The original chain and tensioner design wears prematurely, aggravated by GM's oil-life-monitor service intervals that let owners run 10,000+ miles on degraded oil. As the guides wear the chain goes slack, cam timing drifts out of the correlation window, and the ECM sets P0008 or P0016-P0019. Left alone the chain can skip a tooth on a cold start and the pistons will contact the valves. This is a completely different failure from the 2.4L four-cylinder chain issue and must not be merged with it: the V6 is a three-chain, rear-of-block-access design, the labor is far heavier, and the symptom onset is a rattle on cold start rather than the 2.4's oil-consumption-driven wear.
Common Symptoms
- Rattle from the engine for a few seconds on cold start
- Check engine light with cam/crank correlation codes
- Rough idle or reduced power
- Loss of power under acceleration
- Engine cranks but will not start after a jumped chain
How to Fix
Replace all three timing chains, both cam phasers if worn, all guides and the tensioners with the updated GM part numbers — a partial repair almost always comes back. Verify actual oil consumption and shorten the oil change interval to roughly 5,000 miles with the correct dexos-spec oil to protect the new parts. There is no recall and no GM special coverage for the Malibu 3.6L chain, so this is a customer-pay repair; expect $1,800-$3,000 at a shop. Do not keep driving a car that is setting correlation codes — a jumped chain on this engine is an interference event.
Sources for this issue (3)
The 3.6L V6 fitted to the 2015-2022 Colorado (LFX through 2016, LGZ from 2017) can suffer timing chain stretch and timing chain tensioner wear, showing up as a rattle on cold start that fades as oil pressure builds, a check engine light with cam/crank correlation or VVT position codes such as P0016, P0017 and P0018, rough running and lost power. Unlike the earlier high-feature V6s, the failures on the 2015-and-later engines are strongly correlated with oil neglect: extended intervals under the oil life monitor, running the engine low on oil, or using the wrong grade lets the hydraulically applied chain tensioners lose their bite. Forum consensus from Colorado owners is that trucks changed at around 5,000 miles rarely see it and neglected trucks see it well before 100,000. This is a V6 issue - do not attribute it to the 2.5L LCV, the 2.8L diesel, or the third-generation 2.7L turbo.
Common Symptoms
- Rattle from the front of the engine on cold start
- Check engine light with cam/crank correlation codes
- Rough running or misfire
- Loss of power
- Engine noise that worsens with mileage
How to Fix
Do not just clear the code. Confirm with live cam/crank correlation data and a physical inspection of chain slack and tensioner extension. A full timing chain service on this engine - chains, guides, tensioners, front cover reseal - is a 10-14 hour job and generally runs $2,000-$3,500. On a marginal case caught early, a full oil-system flush and shortened change interval with the correct grade can stop the progression. Prevention is the real fix: change oil at 5,000 miles rather than following the oil life monitor to its limit, and check the level between changes.
Sources for this issue (3)
P0018 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 P0018 mean on a Chevrolet?
P0018 stands for "Crankshaft/Camshaft Position Correlation - Bank 2 Sensor A." This code means the computer detected that the crankshaft and the Bank 2 'A' (typically intake) camshaft are out of their expected timing relationship. The computer compares the crankshaft and camshaft position sensor signals; they should stay in a fixed correlation as the engine turns. When the Bank 2 camshaft is too far off from the crankshaft, P0018 sets, indicating the valve timing on that bank is misaligned. This can cause rough running, reduced power, hard starting, or a no-start, and in some cases signals timing chain or phaser trouble that warrants prompt attention. On Chevrolet it is documented across 5 models: Camaro, Traverse, Equinox, Malibu, Colorado.
What are the most common causes of P0018?
The most common causes of P0018 are: Stretched, worn, or jumped timing chain (Bank 2), Worn or broken timing chain guides/tensioner, Stuck variable valve timing solenoid or phaser, Low or dirty engine oil affecting the phaser, Faulty crankshaft or camshaft position sensor, Damaged reluctor/tone ring, Incorrect timing from prior service, Wiring or connector fault at a cam/crank sensor. The specific cause varies by vehicle.
How much does it cost to fix P0018 on a Chevrolet?
Published repair estimates on Chevrolet range from $1,500 to $3,500 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 P0018 on a different make?
View P0018 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.