Engine cranking control systems and methods using electronic transmission range selection

A crank permission system of a vehicle, comprising:

• a first permission module that, when an ignition system of the vehicle transitions to crank, selectively generates a first permission signal based on a first gear range engaged within a transmission;
• a second permission module that, when the ignition system of the vehicle transitions to crank, selectively generates a second permission signal based on:
• (i) the first gear range stored when the ignition system last transitioned to off;
• (ii) a second gear range of the transmission requested by a driver using a transmission range selector;
• (iii) whether the first gear range is invalid when the ignition system of the vehicle transitions to crank;
• and (iv) the first gear range before an engine last transitioned to off;
• and
• a crank module that, when the ignition system of the vehicle transitions to crank, begins cranking the engine via a starter in response to the generation of the first permission signal and the generation of the second permission signal.