The starter control system prevents the starter from accidentally activating when the shift lever is not in the P or N position (A/T) or the clutch pedal is released (M/T), or when the engine is running. If the engine start/stop button is pressed mistakenly while shift lever is not in P or N (A/T) or the clutch pedal is released (M/T) or while the engine is running, the powertrain control module (PCM) will stop power to the starter cut relays. In this system, two starter cut relays are connected in series (starter cut relay 1 circuit, starter cut relay 2 circuit) to prevent the starter from running continuously to a starter cut relay malfunction. To activate the starter, the starter control latch circuit and the drive cut circuit which are in the PCM are switched ON to apply power to the starter cut relays. When the starter control latch circuit ON malfunction is detected, the drive cut circuit shuts down output to the starter control latch circuit to prevent the starter from continuing to run. If the drive cut circuit return signal is HIGH when the starter is OFF, the PCM detects an ON malfunction of the drive cut circuit and stores a DTC.