P0340 on a Subaru Outback
P0340 means camshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Malfunction (Bank 1). On the Outback, a few causes come up far more than others.
What P0340 usually means on a Outback
P0340 on the Outback means the PCM lost or could not correlate the camshaft position signal. On these engines the usual cause is the camshaft position sensor itself or its wiring and connector, and because the boxer has sensors on both sides, confirming which one is worth a moment. A failing sensor can cause hard starting, stalling, or a no-start, and the fault is sometimes intermittent as the sensor heats up. Oil contamination at the sensor or connector is also worth checking on a higher-mileage engine.
Most common causes on the Outback
- Failing camshaft position sensor
The most common cause; the sensor drops out intermittently or fails outright, especially when hot.
- Wiring or connector fault
A corroded or oil-soaked connector interrupts the signal and mimics a bad sensor.
- Oil contamination at the sensor
A leak letting oil reach the sensor or its plug can disrupt the reading on higher-mileage engines.
- Timing or reluctor issue
Less commonly, a timing-component or tone-ring problem skews the cam signal.
What P0340 costs to fix on a Outback
The camshaft position sensor is a modest part, and labor is reasonable once the correct side is identified, typically a couple hundred dollars all in. Wiring repairs cost little more than time. This is usually a straightforward fix, but confirm the sensor and its connector before replacing anything, since an oil leak at the connector can masquerade as a failed sensor.
Year, engine and mileage change the answer. Start a case and Redline weighs these causes against what your car shows, then names the check that would settle it.
Other codes on the Subaru Outback
Related symptoms
Subaru Outback problems & recalls by year
Based on widely reported patterns for this model; individual causes vary by year, engine and history. Generic P0340 behavior is covered on the main P0340 page. Confirm with a scan tool before buying parts.
P0340 on your Outback?
Every problem becomes a Case. Tell Redline what your Outback is doing: it shows what the evidence supports, what’s still missing, and what to check next, before you approve a repair.
“Inner pad ~1 mm. Outer pad 3 mm.”
Next: check the slide pins move freely before buying parts.