P0335: Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit
Key takeaways
- P0335 means the engine computer saw no signal, or an unusable one, from the crankshaft position sensor.
- If the car has stalled or won't start with P0335, don't drive it: it can die again at any speed.
- Most fixes are a damaged connector or wiring ($100–$250) or a new crank sensor ($150–$400).
- 101 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0335, and 27 of them are 2003–2006 Nissan Altimas.
- A Lexus bulletin notes that a weak battery can set P0335, so test the battery before buying a sensor.
What P0335 means
The engine computer can’t read the crankshaft position sensor, the part that tells it where the pistons are and how fast the engine is turning. Scanners call it Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit. The sensor reads a toothed ring (the reluctor or tone wheel) on the crankshaft; the computer uses that signal to time spark and fuel injection. P0335 sets when the signal is missing, or when the engine should be turning, for example while the camshaft sensor shows rotation, and no usable crank pulses arrive.
Without that signal, many engines can’t run at all, which is why this code matters more than most.
Is it safe to drive?
No, if the car has stalled or won’t start; short trips otherwise. A crankshaft sensor signal that drops out while you drive can kill the engine at any speed. When the engine dies, steering and braking can suddenly take much more effort. If P0335 set along with a stall, a no-start or cutting out, have the car towed. If it set once and the car runs normally, drive gently and only as far as a shop.
Causes, ranked
| Cause | How you confirm it | Typical cost (US independent shop, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Damaged connector or wiring | Oil, corrosion or chafing at the sensor plug; wiggle test drops the signal | $100–$250 |
| Failed crank sensor | Signal missing or erratic on a scope; stalls hot, restarts cold | $150–$400 |
| Weak battery or poor ground | Low cranking voltage; code sets on slow cranks | $150–$350 for a battery; less for a ground repair |
| Software fault | Shop finds a matching engine-computer update | $100–$200, often $0 under warranty |
| Wrong or poorly seated sensor | Code appeared right after a sensor replacement or engine work | $0–$150 to reseat or swap |
| Damaged reluctor or tone wheel | Scope shows missing or bent teeth; sensor and wiring test good | $800–$2,500 |
What to check first
- Note what happened. A stall or no-start with P0335 is urgent; a code with no symptoms usually points to a wiring or intermittent fault.
- Test the battery and cranking voltage. A Lexus bulletin says low battery voltage can set P0335, and it costs nothing to check.
- Inspect the connector and harness for oil, corrosion, rubbing on brackets, or heat damage.
- Check the signal with a scan tool (RPM while cranking) or a scope. No RPM while cranking points to the sensor or its circuit.
- Replace the sensor only when the circuit is good and the signal is bad. Use the correct part; an off-spec sensor can reset the code.
Most manufacturer bulletins for P0335 are engine-computer software updates, mainly on Stellantis vehicles (Chrysler Pacifica, Ram 1500, Jeep Wrangler, Compass and Durango). GM has one for crank no-start or stall on 2020 Escalade, Camaro and Sierra 1500, and Jeep has a warranty extension for the crankshaft tone wheel on the 2014–2017 Grand Cherokee 3.0L diesel.
The NHTSA complaints cluster on one car: 31 mention P0335 on the Nissan Altima, 27 of them from 2003 to 2006 models. Another 13 are Nissan Sentras, and 10 are Dodge Journeys. Those are owner reports, not a confirmed cause.
What it costs
The cheap outcome is a connector or wiring repair, $100–$250, or a battery. The common outcome is a new crank sensor, $150–$400, more where it sits behind the transmission or under the intake. The expensive outcome is a damaged tone wheel, $800–$2,500, because the engine or transmission has to come partly apart. Paying for about an hour of diagnosis, usually $100–$180, keeps you from buying a sensor for a wiring fault. If you’re unsure whether to tow, ask our AI mechanic.
Related codes
P0335 often comes with P0336 (crank signal out of range) or the camshaft code P0340, and sometimes with misfire codes like P0300. If your car cranks but won’t fire, see car cranks but won’t start; if it dies while driving, see car stalls while driving.
What owners report to NHTSA
101 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0335, 56 of them since 2015, across 33 different models. The component owners most often filed it under: engine.
Most-reported models
| Vehicle | Complaints | Model years reported |
|---|---|---|
| NISSAN ALTIMA | 31 | 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 |
| NISSAN SENTRA | 13 | 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006 |
| DODGE JOURNEY | 10 | 2009, 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| JEEP PATRIOT | 8 | 2011, 2012, 2015, 2016 |
| JEEP COMPASS | 5 | 2012, 2015, 2016, 2018 |
| CHEVROLET SILVERADO 2500 | 3 | 2002, 2013 |
Manufacturer service bulletins that name P0335
316 technical service bulletins and manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA mention P0335, from 15 makes. A bulletin means the manufacturer has documented a known cause or a fix procedure for that model. Examples:
- LEXUS LEXUS, bulletin 10205123: 1994 and Later Models (non- hybrid & hybrid) - Low battery voltage can contribute to a MIL'ON' condition for P0335 (Crabjsgaft Oisutuib Sebsir Curcyut) and/or P 340 (Camshaft Position Sensor Circuit) due to inconsistent …
- CHRYSLER PACIFICA (2021), bulletin 10198455: Flash: Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates This bulletin involves reprogramming the PCM with the latest available software. Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination. Upon further inves…
- RAM 1500 (2021), bulletin 10234469: Flash: Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates This bulletin involves reprogramming the PCM with the latest available software. Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination. Upon further inves…
- CADILLAC ESCALADE (2020), bulletin 10174855: This Preliminary information communicatesThe vehicle may have an SES lamp with any of the following DTCP06DA, P06DB, P06DC, P250A, P0300, P0340, P0341, P0335, P0336, P0641, P0011, P0010, P2088, P2089, and/or P2230. Possi…
- CHEVROLET CAMARO (2020), bulletin 10174855: This Preliminary information communicatesThe vehicle may have an SES lamp with any of the following DTCP06DA, P06DB, P06DC, P250A, P0300, P0340, P0341, P0335, P0336, P0641, P0011, P0010, P2088, P2089, and/or P2230. Possi…
- GMC SIERRA 1500 (2020), bulletin 10174855: This Preliminary information communicatesThe vehicle may have an SES lamp with any of the following DTCP06DA, P06DB, P06DC, P250A, P0300, P0340, P0341, P0335, P0336, P0641, P0011, P0010, P2088, P2089, and/or P2230. Possi…
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database and manufacturer communications file, snapshots September 2026. A complaint or bulletin that mentions a code is a report about that vehicle, not a statement that the code has one cause.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with a P0335 code?
If the car has stalled, won't start, or cuts out, no; have it towed. If it runs normally and the code set once, short, local trips to a shop are usually fine, but expect it could stall without warning.
What are the symptoms of a bad crankshaft position sensor?
Stalling, often when hot, a crank-but-no-start, a tachometer that drops to zero while cranking, and hesitation or misfire codes. Many cars restart after cooling down, which is a classic sign of a failing sensor.
Will a car start with a bad crankshaft position sensor?
Often not. Most engines need the crank signal to time spark and fuel. Some can start off the camshaft sensor alone after a long crank, but many will simply crank and not fire.
Does P0335 always mean a new crank sensor?
No. A chafed or oil-soaked connector, a weak battery, a software issue, or a damaged reluctor ring on the crankshaft can all set it. Test the circuit before replacing the sensor.