P0335 on a 2017 Toyota Highlander
Crankshaft Position Sensor Circuit Fault
P0335 on a 2017 Toyota Highlander indicates crankshaft position sensor circuit fault. Stop driving and diagnose it before continuing — it can signal an unsafe condition. The most common cause is failed crankshaft position sensor (heat-related failure) (typically $100–$400). Confirm the root cause before replacing parts.
What does P0335 mean on a 2017 Toyota Highlander?
P0335 is set when the engine control module does not receive a valid signal from the crankshaft position sensor. The crank sensor is the primary timing reference for the entire engine — fuel injection, ignition timing, and cam position correlation all depend on a clean crank signal. Without it, the engine will not start, or it will stall as soon as the signal drops out.
This guide covers P0335 across the 2015-2019 Toyota Highlander 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 Highlander with P0335?
No. P0335 is a critical-severity code on the 2017 Toyota Highlander — avoid driving until it is diagnosed and repaired, as it can indicate an unsafe condition or risk further damage.
What are the symptoms of P0335 on a 2017 Toyota Highlander?
- Check Engine Light is illuminated
- Engine cranks but will not start
- Intermittent stalling that worsens with engine heat
- Hard starting after a long drive (heat-soak failure)
- Sudden stalling at highway speed with restart difficulty
- Tachometer reads zero or fluctuates while running
- Hard cold start with extended crank time
What causes P0335 on a 2017 Toyota Highlander?
| Cause | Likelihood | Estimated repair (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Failed crankshaft position sensor (heat-related failure) Heat-soak failure pattern is the textbook P0335 — fails when hot, recovers when cold. | Most common | $100–$400 |
| Damaged or melted sensor wiring near the exhaust | Common | $80–$350 |
| Corroded crank sensor connector | Common | $30–$200 |
| Damaged crank reluctor / tone ring (rare, requires teardown) | Rare | $1,500–$4,000 |
| Loose or improperly torqued sensor (cannot read gap correctly) | Occasional | $20–$100 |
| Failed PCM input (rare) | Rare | $400–$1,500 |
How to diagnose this on a 2017 Toyota Highlander
-
Confirm the engine cranks but doesn't fire
P0335 typically presents as a crank-no-start. Confirm by cranking — the engine should rotate normally but never fire. If the engine fires intermittently, the sensor may be marginal; if it never fires, the sensor or wiring is fully out.
Tools: Common observation
-
Locate the sensor on the engine
Crank sensors are typically mounted on the timing cover (front of engine), the bell housing (rear of engine), or on the side of the block. Consult the service manual. Most are accessible from underneath with a basic socket set.
Tools: Vehicle-specific service information
-
Inspect wiring and connector
The sensor wiring routes close to the exhaust on many engines. Look for heat-damaged insulation, broken wires, or melted connectors. Sensor connectors near the firewall accumulate water and corrode — clean thoroughly.
Tools: Flashlight, Electrical contact cleaner
-
Test sensor resistance and reference voltage
Most crank sensors are inductive (variable reluctance) with approximately 200–2,000 Ω resistance, or Hall-effect with a 5 V reference. Compare to the service manual. With the connector unplugged and key on, verify the 5 V reference reaches the connector (Hall-effect sensors).
Tools: Multimeter, Wiring diagram
-
Heat-soak test for intermittent failures
P0335 that comes and goes with temperature is the textbook heat-soak failure pattern. Drive until the engine is hot, then attempt a restart immediately. If the engine cranks-no- starts hot and starts fine after cooling, the sensor is the cause even if cold-bench tests pass.
Tools: Patience
NHTSA complaints & recalls for the 2017 Toyota Highlander
Owner-reported safety complaints and official recalls filed with the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration for the 2017 Toyota Highlander. Use these to gauge how common a problem is on your specific vehicle before you start chasing Toyota Highlander diagnostics.
- POWER TRAIN 68
- ENGINE 43
- UNKNOWN OR OTHER 49
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 46
- SERVICE BRAKES 29
4 active recalls
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM Nov 2018
Fujian Wanda Automobile Glass Industry (Wanda) is recalling certain aftermarket Replacement Windshields sold for use in 2014-2018 Toyota Highlander vehicles. The windshields have an attached wire harness that water may leak into, possibly causing damage to the vehicle's Engine C…
NHTSA campaign 18E107000 - EQUIPMENT Aug 2017
Gulf States Toyota, Inc. (GST) is recalling certain 2017 Toyota Highlander and Highlander Hybrid vehicles equipped with accessory roof rail cross bars. The fasteners for the roof rails may not be torqued properly.…
NHTSA campaign 17V520000 - 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 - FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP Nov 2020
Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2018-2019 4Runner, 2019-2020 Avalon, 2019 Corolla Hatchback, 2017-2019 Highlander, 2018-2020 Camry, 2020 Corolla, 2018-2019 Land Cruiser, 2017-2020 Tacoma, 2019-2020 RAV4, 2019-2020 Sequoia, 2017-2020 Sienna,…
NHTSA campaign 20V682000
How do I fix P0335 on a 2017 Toyota Highlander?
- Replace the crankshaft position sensor with an OEM part
- Repair damaged sensor wiring or connector
- Re-torque sensor to specification
- Replace damaged reluctor wheel (rare, major job)
About the 2015-2019 Toyota Highlander
The 2015-2019 Toyota Highlander was commonly sold with the following powertrains: 3.5L V6, 2.4L Turbo I4, 2.5L Hybrid I4. Common trims include L, LE, XLE, XSE, Limited, Platinum.
The “crank-no-start” pattern that distinguishes P0335 from no fuel / no spark
Three different no-start patterns:
- No spark, no fuel pulse — crank sensor (P0335). The engine cranks normally but the ECM never commands injectors or coils because it has no timing reference.
- Fuel but no spark — ignition system. Coils or coil drivers.
- Spark but no fuel — fuel system. Pump, relay, or wiring.
A scan tool can confirm P0335 by reading the crank RPM PID during cranking — it should report the cranking RPM (typically 150–300 RPM). If it reports zero or doesn’t update, the crank signal is the problem.
Heat-soak failure: the most frustrating intermittent
A failing crank sensor often works perfectly cold and fails after the engine reaches operating temperature. The pattern owners describe: drive for 30+ minutes, stop somewhere (gas station, errand), and the car will not restart for 15-30 minutes — then starts fine. This is the crank sensor failing under heat. A new sensor is the only fix.
Replace the sensor preemptively if you see this pattern; the failure mode worsens until the vehicle will not start at all.
Why P0335 is more serious than P0340 (cam sensor)
The cam sensor is supplementary on most engines — the ECM can run on the crank signal alone in a “limp” mode. The crank sensor is not supplementary; without it the ECM has no idea where any piston is, when to fire, or even whether the engine is running. P0335 = engine off until fixed. P0340 = engine runs poorly but runs.
P0335 on a 2017 Toyota Highlander: frequently asked questions
What does diagnostic trouble code P0335 mean on a 2017 Toyota Highlander?
P0335 is set when the engine control module does not receive a valid signal from the crankshaft position sensor. The crank sensor is the primary timing reference for the entire engine — fuel injection, ignition timing, and cam position correlation all depend on a clean crank signal. Without it, the engine will not start, or it will stall as soon as the signal drops out.
What are the symptoms of P0335 on a 2017 Toyota Highlander?
Check Engine Light is illuminated. Engine cranks but will not start. Intermittent stalling that worsens with engine heat. Hard starting after a long drive (heat-soak failure). Sudden stalling at highway speed with restart difficulty. Tachometer reads zero or fluctuates while running. Hard cold start with extended crank time
What causes P0335 on a 2017 Toyota Highlander?
Failed crankshaft position sensor (heat-related failure) (most-common). Damaged or melted sensor wiring near the exhaust (common). Corroded crank sensor connector (common). Damaged crank reluctor / tone ring (rare, requires teardown) (rare). Loose or improperly torqued sensor (cannot read gap correctly) (occasional). Failed PCM input (rare) (rare)
Is it safe to drive a 2017 Toyota Highlander with P0335?
No. P0335 is a critical-severity code on the 2017 Toyota Highlander — avoid driving until it is diagnosed and repaired, as it can indicate an unsafe condition or risk further damage.