P0336: Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance
A generic powertrain (engine and transmission) trouble code, same meaning on every brand.
Not recommended - crank sensor faults cause stalling without warning.
Symptoms
- Intermittent stalling
- Hard starting or extended cranking
- Tachometer dropping to zero while driving
Likely causes, most common first
- Crankshaft position sensor failing when hot
- Reluctor ring damaged or with debris on its teeth
- Wiring or shield fault
- Sensor gap wrong after a repair
Read P0336 yourself before paying for diagnosis
A basic Bluetooth OBD-II scanner ($20-40) plugs into the port under the dashboard and shows this code with live sensor data on your phone - useful both for confirming the fix and for talking to a shop from an informed position.
What is going on and how it gets diagnosed
P0336 means the crankshaft position signal is present but irregular - pulses missing, extra, or spaced wrongly. The crank sensor is what tells the computer when to fire each cylinder, so a signal it cannot trust is a genuine roadside risk rather than an inconvenience.
Heat is the classic trigger. A sensor that works cold and drops out once the engine bay is hot produces exactly this pattern, and a car that stalls after twenty minutes and restarts once it cools is describing the fault out loud. Metal debris stuck to the reluctor ring produces the same irregular pattern and is worth a look before the sensor is blamed.
Repair options and cost
Typical US independent-shop ranges, parts and labor. Dealers run higher; regional labor rates vary.
Owner reports mentioning P0336
“The magnetic material on the tone wheel detached causing a crank position sensor error code (P0336) and subsequent misfire while accelerating into traffic. The software had been updated per recall W58 (NHSTA 20V-475). Vehicle could be restarted but lacked full power. The vehicle is out of warranty, however, Stellantis directed that a dealer make repairs, customer pays out of pocket ($3200), and claim be submitted for reimbursement. Stellantis promptly denied the claim, despite correspondence in writing and recorded customer service phone call. A BBB complaint has been filed against Stellantis.”2014 Ram 1500 · Dec 2025
“On XXX the truck stopped while driving on the highway XXX going south. And I got two diagnostic codes: P0336 and P01401. I towed it to the dealer, and they refused to fix it. I would like to know why they would not fix the crankshaft position sensor and the tone wheel. My truck was purchased new at this dealer Central Avenue Dodge . The VIN# [XXX]. 2015 RAM 1500 ECODIESEL 3.0 Please advise. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”2015 Ram 1500 · Dec 2025
“DTC P0336 crankcase position sensor A circuit range/performance code truck lost power for several seconds at 50mph in traffic almost causing a collision, then power returned causing fast acceleration almost lost control of vehicle. truck is now in limp mode. there is a recall for DTC P0336 is a known defective reluctor wheel problem on Ran eco-diesel trucks made between 2014-2018. I have a 2017 model which was purchased june 2018. Ram dealership says my vin is not included in recall though my model and year is.”2017 Ram 1500 · Dec 2025
Show 6 more owner reports
“Lost acceleration, check engine light and warning light came on 'Service Electronic Throttle Control' Diagnostic code P0336 Crankshaft Position Sensor A Circuit Truck has issues starting, once running, it idles rough and is in limp mode Appears to correspond with Safety Recall W68 / NHTSA 20V-475”2016 Ram 1500 · Nov 2024
“Lost power while driving for 30 seconds. While on the interstate. Now truck battery has to be jumped to start. Dashboard giving out random codes. Check 4x4, check DEF( def is still at half full), check trailer( no trailer is connected) Took to dealership, 4 active codes P0336, P12A6, U029D, U029E. Test failed since code cleared U18D7, U18FE Current codes C1596, C15AC”2022 Chevrolet Silverado 2500 · Jul 2024
“pulling out into traffic and my truck stalled and the truck threw the code p0336 crankshaft position sensor a circuit range/performance. luckily i was able to pull into the median out of the way of traffic. took it to the dealer and they have done the new recall for the reprogram to sense off the cam instead of the crankshaft. this did not fix the problem dealer says its the tone wheel and the manufacture wont fix the tone wheel under the one of the recalls that was previously issued that was to replace the tone wheel. truck was running just fine untill this happened.”2015 Ram 1500 · May 2024
“driving about 60 mph in rainy eavnivg when saddenly car start shaking beadly and almost lost control lost power and slowly got home and connect scaner witch shows code for crankshaft position sensor A circuit range/performance P0336”2015 Ram 1500 · Dec 2023
“I just got this car and it haseven been 30days I read the NHTSA Action Number: DP21003 and it is exactly same problem. It started with spark plugs weak and changed them out then AWD check engine light oil and the battery light came on. And the car wouldn't move as fast and had a code of P0336 which was the Cranckshaft sensor got that changed and I'm still having issues with accelerating and rpm's going up without pressing the gas pedal hard and suddenly speeding”2011 Kia Sorento · Feb 2023
“My vehicle's malfunction light came on and it began to lose power off and on going down the turnpike. Since then, it sometimes won't start even though it sounds like it is going to. It continues to have these problems intermittently. When a diagnostic tool was hooked up to it, it brought up the following codes: p0420 (catalyst system efficiency below threshold), p0336 (crankshaft position sensor "a" circuit range/performance. I believe this may be related to recall #19v120000.”2012 Kia Soul · Mar 2021 · 147,750 mi
Cars that report P0336 most often
Based on mentions of this code in NHTSA owner complaints.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with P0336?
Not recommended - crank sensor faults cause stalling without warning.
How much does it cost to fix P0336?
Typical US repair costs range from $80 for the simplest fix (crankshaft position sensor) to $1,800 in the worst case. The right number depends on which cause your car has - see the causes list.
Related codes
The codes closest to P0336. They often appear together, and telling them apart is usually what narrows the diagnosis.
Definition per SAE J2012 standard nomenclature. Symptoms, causes and costs are editorial guidance - always confirm with a diagnosis of your specific vehicle.