P0340 on a 2017 Toyota Camry
Camshaft Position Sensor Circuit Fault
P0340 on a 2017 Toyota Camry indicates camshaft position sensor circuit fault. It usually stays drivable short-term but should be diagnosed promptly. The most common cause is failed camshaft position sensor (most common after 100k miles) (typically $100–$400). Confirm the root cause before replacing parts.
What does P0340 mean on a 2017 Toyota Camry?
P0340 is set when the engine control module cannot interpret the camshaft position sensor signal on the primary cam (or the single cam on engines with one sensor). The signal might be missing entirely, out of phase with the crankshaft signal, or showing electrical noise. Because the ECM uses cam position to time fuel injection and ignition, a P0340 will typically cause a hard start, a no-start, or a stall.
This guide covers P0340 across the 2015-2019 Toyota Camry generation — the symptoms, causes, and diagnostic steps below apply to every model year from 2015 through 2019.
Is it safe to drive a 2017 Toyota Camry with P0340?
In most cases a 2017 Toyota Camry stays drivable for short trips with P0340 active, but diagnose and repair it promptly. This is a high-severity code — ignoring it can lead to further damage or a failed emissions test.
What are the symptoms of P0340 on a 2017 Toyota Camry?
- Check Engine Light is illuminated
- Hard cranking or extended crank time before the engine starts
- Intermittent stalling, especially when the engine is hot
- Engine cuts out and restarts after a short delay
- Possible complete no-start condition
- Rough running and reduced power if the engine does run
What causes P0340 on a 2017 Toyota Camry?
| Cause | Likelihood | Estimated repair (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Failed camshaft position sensor (most common after 100k miles) | Most common | $100–$400 |
| Damaged or corroded sensor connector | Common | $50–$250 |
| Chafed or broken sensor wiring | Common | $80–$350 |
| Loose, slipped, or worn camshaft sensor reluctor wheel | Occasional | $300–$1,200 |
| Timing chain stretch causing cam-crank correlation drift | Occasional | $800–$3,000 |
| Failed PCM driver for the cam sensor input (rare) | Rare | $400–$1,500 |
How to diagnose this on a 2017 Toyota Camry
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Inspect the connector and wiring at the cam sensor
Locate the cam sensor (usually near the front of the cylinder head, threaded into the head or timing cover). Disconnect the sensor and inspect the connector for corrosion, bent pins, or water intrusion. Inspect the harness for chafing against engine mounts or accessory brackets.
Tools: Connector unlock tool, Flashlight, Electrical contact cleaner
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Test the sensor signal with a scope or scan tool
With the engine cranking or running, the cam sensor should produce a square-wave or sine-wave signal that the scan tool can graph. No signal or a noisy signal indicates the sensor or its wiring is bad. A clean signal that the ECM does not respond to suggests an ECM input fault.
Tools: Scan tool with cam sensor PID, or oscilloscope, Multimeter
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Verify cam-crank correlation in live data
Watch the cam and crank position signals together while cranking. They should maintain a fixed timing relationship. If the cam signal drifts relative to the crank signal over time, suspect timing chain stretch or a slipped reluctor wheel.
Tools: Scan tool with dual-PID graphing
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Check sensor power and ground at the connector
With the connector unplugged and the key on, verify battery voltage on the power wire and continuity from the ground wire to a known good chassis ground. Missing power or poor ground will produce P0340 with a perfectly good sensor.
Tools: Multimeter, Wiring diagram
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Inspect the reluctor / target wheel on the camshaft
If the wiring tests good and the sensor is new but P0340 persists, remove the sensor and shine a light at the reluctor wheel through the sensor port. Damaged or oil-fouled teeth will not generate a clean signal. On some engines the reluctor is a separate pressed-on piece that can slip.
Tools: Inspection mirror, Bright flashlight
Known Technical Service Bulletins for the 2015-2019 Toyota Camry
Manufacturers publish Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) when a known issue affects a specific vehicle. These bulletins come from the NHTSA database for your Toyota Camry.
- ENGINE Feb 13, 2026
This bulletin includes basic procedures for performing a rescue charge on Ni-MH high voltage (HV) batteries. This bulletin should be used in conjunction with the applicable model and model year Repair Manual while performing a rescue charge. The GRX-5100 should be used wherever the Repair Manual references the Toyota Hybrid System (THS) charger.
NHTSA #11029893 - ENGINE Feb 13, 2026
OBSOLETE NOTICE February 13, 2026: This bulletin is now obsolete. Please see T-SB-0009-26.
NHTSA #11029892 - UNKNOWN OR OTHER Jan 7, 2026
Some 2005 – 2026 Toyota vehicles that have undergone water intrusion may exhibit a condition in which a musty odor is present. Follow the procedures in this bulletin to remediate the odor and address this condition. The purpose of this Service Bulletin is to provide general guidelines and procedures for odor remediation. This Service Bulletin provides a guide on how to prepare and treat the interior of the vehicle for odor remediation. Refer to the applicable model and model year Repair Manual and the EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) website for the most up-to-date safety and precautionary guidelines.
NHTSA #11028712 - ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Jun 13, 2025
The air conditioning dye injection tool kit has been developed to aid in identifying the location of air conditioning refrigerant leaks. The procedures outlined in this Service Bulletin aid in locating, inspecting, and repairing refrigerant leaks.
NHTSA #11020657 - STRUCTURE Dec 6, 2024
To prevent brake rotor rust from forming during transportation and storage, wheel film will be used instead of a cardboard type of anti-rust cover. The purpose of the wheel film is to shield the disc brake rotor from weather elements and initial rust before the vehicle is delivered to the customer. Consequently, the film should remain on the wheel for as long as possible.
NHTSA #11012743 - STRUCTURE Dec 6, 2024
The condition known as acid rain is caused by airborne chemicals or particles in the atmosphere, which mix with rainwater, nighttime dew, or high humidity to form acidic compounds. If these contaminants settle and remain on a painted vehicle surface, especially the horizonal areas of the hood, roof, and decklid, significant damage can occur. This damage is the result of actual etching of the paint and appears as pitting or water spots. As acid rain droplets on the vehicle surface evaporate, the concentration strength of the acid increases, causing deeper and more rapid damage. This evaporation and corrosive action also occur more rapidly on dark colored cars as direct sun heat increases. It is the dealer’s responsibility to protect and maintain the quality of the vehicle’s paint finish after receipt at the dealership prior to the first sale. In areas known for high frequency and/or concentration of acid rain, frequent vehicle washing during high heat or humidity periods will minimize the potential for paint damage caused by acid rain. It is further recommended that either reverse osmosis or deionized water be used to prevent water spotting.
NHTSA #11012744
+14 more TSBs available in MECH AI's TSB explorer for this vehicle.
NHTSA complaints & recalls for the 2017 Toyota Camry
Owner-reported safety complaints and official recalls filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the 2017 Toyota Camry. Use these to gauge how common a problem is on your specific vehicle before you start chasing Toyota Camry diagnostics.
- VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 19
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 31
- AIR BAGS 24
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 22
- SERVICE BRAKES 21
3 active recalls
- EQUIPMENT:OTHER:LABELS Jun 2019
Southeast Toyota Distributors, LLC (SET) is recalling certain 2017-2019 Toyota Camry, Corolla, Rav4, Sienna, and Yaris iA vehicles equipped with factory-installed floor mats. The load carrying capacity modification label may be incorrect. As such, these vehicles fail to comply…
NHTSA campaign 19V503000 - AIR BAGS:KNEE BOLSTER Dec 2016
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain model year 2016 Avalon, and 2017 Camry vehicles manufactured August 3, 2016, to September 12, 2016. The front passenger knee air bag module may have been attached to the lower instrument panel with incorrect…
NHTSA campaign 16V906000 - TIRES:TEMPORARY/EMERGENCY SPARE TIRE May 2017
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (Gulf States) is recalling certain 2017 4Runner , 86, Avalon, Camry, Camry Hybrid, Corolla, Corolla iM, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, Prius, Prius C, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Sienna and Yaris vehicles. The spare tire air pressure was not adjusted to the prop…
NHTSA campaign 17V295000
How do I fix P0340 on a 2017 Toyota Camry?
- Replace the camshaft position sensor with an OEM part
- Repair the sensor connector or harness
- Replace the slipped or damaged reluctor wheel
- Replace stretched timing chains and guides (if cam-crank correlation drifts)
About the 2015-2019 Toyota Camry
The 2015-2019 Toyota Camry was commonly sold with the following powertrains: 2.5L I4, 3.5L V6, 2.5L Hybrid I4. Common trims include LE, SE, XLE, XSE.
Why P0340 sometimes causes a no-start
The ECM uses the cam sensor to decide which cylinder is approaching top-dead-center on the compression stroke vs. the exhaust stroke. With no cam signal, the ECM cannot synchronize the injectors to the right cylinder, and on many engines it defaults to a fail-safe mode that disables fuel injection. The engine will crank but not fire.
Some engines (notably modern Ford and GM) have a “limp” mode that uses the crank signal alone and runs the engine in batch fire (all injectors firing together) — these vehicles will run, but poorly, without a cam signal.
Cam sensor vs. timing chain
A new cam sensor is $30–$150 and a 15-minute install on most engines. Timing chain replacement is $800–$3,000. Before condemning the chain, always test the new sensor first. The exception: on engines with documented timing chain stretch issues (BMW N20, VW EA888 1st gen, GM 3.6 LFX/LLT, Nissan VQ35 with stretched chain) and high mileage, cam-crank correlation drift in the live data should be inspected before installing a new cam sensor.
Heat-soak intermittent stalling
A failing cam sensor often works correctly when cold and fails after extended driving. The pattern is: drive 30 minutes, stop for gas, restart and the engine stalls or cranks for 10+ seconds before catching. If P0340 is intermittent and correlates with engine heat, replace the sensor preemptively — the failure mode worsens until eventually the vehicle will not start at all.
P0340 on a 2017 Toyota Camry: frequently asked questions
What does diagnostic trouble code P0340 mean on a 2017 Toyota Camry?
P0340 is set when the engine control module cannot interpret the camshaft position sensor signal on the primary cam (or the single cam on engines with one sensor). The signal might be missing entirely, out of phase with the crankshaft signal, or showing electrical noise. Because the ECM uses cam position to time fuel injection and ignition, a P0340 will typically cause a hard start, a no-start, or a stall.
What are the symptoms of P0340 on a 2017 Toyota Camry?
Check Engine Light is illuminated. Hard cranking or extended crank time before the engine starts. Intermittent stalling, especially when the engine is hot. Engine cuts out and restarts after a short delay. Possible complete no-start condition. Rough running and reduced power if the engine does run
What causes P0340 on a 2017 Toyota Camry?
Failed camshaft position sensor (most common after 100k miles) (most-common). Damaged or corroded sensor connector (common). Chafed or broken sensor wiring (common). Loose, slipped, or worn camshaft sensor reluctor wheel (occasional). Timing chain stretch causing cam-crank correlation drift (occasional). Failed PCM driver for the cam sensor input (rare) (rare)
Is it safe to drive a 2017 Toyota Camry with P0340?
In most cases a 2017 Toyota Camry stays drivable for short trips with P0340 active, but it should be diagnosed and repaired promptly — this is a high-severity code. Ignoring it can lead to further damage or a failed emissions test.