P0355: Ignition Coil E Primary Control Circuit/Open
A generic powertrain (engine and transmission) trouble code, same meaning on every brand.
Short trips only - one cylinder is out.
Symptoms
- Rough idle and vibration
- Flashing check engine light
- Poor economy
Likely causes, most common first
- Ignition coil E failed
- Control circuit open or shorted
- Connector or harness damage
- Computer driver failure
Read P0355 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
P0355 concerns ignition coil E, which exists only on engines with five or more cylinders. On V6 and V8 engines that puts it on the bank furthest from the accessible side more often than not.
If several coil circuit codes appear together, stop replacing coils. Multiple simultaneous faults point at a shared feed: the power supply wire that all coils share, its fuse or relay, or the ground the coil pack depends on. One connector or one corroded ground strap explains what would otherwise look like several parts failing at once.
Repair options and cost
Typical US independent-shop ranges, parts and labor. Dealers run higher; regional labor rates vary.
Owner reports mentioning P0355
“Code P0351, P0352, P0353, P0354, P0355, P0356. Vehicle shut down on the interstate on the way home for work, 2½ hours from home. And will not restart. Pcm most likely the problem.”2006 Ford Escape · Aug 2021
“Driving and started to shake, has nasty rattle (death rattle) threw code p0355. Fixed the code by installing new wires $500.00. Fixed for 2 weeks then started doing it again and code p0355 came up again. Has lack of power and shakes bad. Very much a hazard to drive.”2007 Ford F-150 · Sep 2018 · 168,000 mi
“While going onto a freeway onramp at approximately 45 miles per hour, the vehicle suddenly lost all power, all lights came on, the ability to steer and brake was affected by total power loss. The vehicle did not display any issues leading up to this but nearly resulted in an accident by the inability to control the vehicle and get it off to the side of the road. After being towed, the auto shop diagnosed a p0354, p0351, p0355, p0352 ignition coils, and pcm failure. My research shows there are multiple claims of this occurring and it is definitely a safety issue.”2005 Ford Escape · Aug 2018
Show 1 more owner reports
“Vehicle misfire and stall while driving caused by damaged power control module (pcu) and faulty/damaged ignition coil. Service bullitn issued: tsb 14-0059 mil on with dtcs - p0351, p0352, p0353, p0354, p0355, and/or p0356 - built on or before 3/1/2008 publication date: march 20, 2014”2007 Lincoln MKX · Dec 2015 · 72,000 mi
Cars that report P0355 most often
Based on mentions of this code in NHTSA owner complaints.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with P0355?
Short trips only - one cylinder is out.
How much does it cost to fix P0355?
Typical US repair costs range from $80 for the simplest fix (ignition coil) to $350 in the worst case. The right number depends on which cause your car has - see the causes list.
Related codes
The codes closest to P0355. 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.