🔧 FixIt
🟡

P0016 on MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS

Severity
Medium
NHTSA Reports
12
Most Affected
2006, 2007, 2009

What P0016 Means on Your MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS

Real MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS Owner Reports (Source: NHTSA Complaints Database)

"Engine codes P0016 and P0017 reads cam shaft and crank shaft correlation it is everywhere on the internet and on the Mercedes Benz Forum.This is a know problem that Mercedes has ignored. its on all 2004 thru 2008 vehicles with the 3.5 engine. Calls for a balancer shaft replacement."

— 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS owner • ENGINE • Filed 10/17/2023

"We just purchased a 2006 Mercedes for our teenage sons and had a dealer look at it before we purchased it. They told us there were a couple of codes that were worth watching but that it wasn’t anything significant right now."

— 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS owner • ENGINE • Filed 11/23/2022

"While driving on us 50 my the sbc failed while driving 60mph i had no brakes the indicators told me to turn the vehicle off and to depress brakes fully. that's hard to do whn ur going 60mph... so i had to let the vehicle drift until it came to a stop on the side of the highway..."

— 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS owner • POWER TRAIN,ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),SERVICE BRAKES • Filed 08/03/2019

"Mercedes-benz v6 m272 engines have timing chain problems caused by balance shaft failures which mercedes has known about for year."

— 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS owner • ENGINE • Filed 06/07/2019

"I have check engine light on, nobody "mechanic" know to fix this problem."

— 2006 MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS owner • ENGINE • Filed 08/16/2017

Data from NHTSA Vehicle Complaints Database. All reports are filed by vehicle owners directly with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Common Causes of P0016 on MERCEDES-BENZ E-CLASS

66.7%
8.3%
8.3%
8.3%
8.3%

Percentages based on NHTSA complaint component analysis for this vehicle.

Complaint Trend by Year

2006
8
2007
3
2009
1

What To Do Next

  1. 1
    Check for recalls on YOUR VIN

    Go to nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your VIN. Free repairs if your vehicle is covered.

  2. 2
    Get a proper diagnosis

    A code alone doesn't tell you the exact failed part. A diagnostic at a shop ($50-$150) pinpoints the root cause before you spend money on parts.

  3. 3
    Compare repair quotes

    Get 2-3 quotes. Dealer vs independent shop prices often differ 30-50% for the same repair.

P0016 on Other Vehicles

Data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (U.S. Department of Transportation) and the SAE J2012 OBD-II standard. Code definitions follow the SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6 standard. Owner reports are filed directly with NHTSA by vehicle owners. This information is provided for educational purposes only and should not replace professional automotive diagnosis. Always consult a qualified mechanic for vehicle repair decisions.

Last updated: March 2026