This　paper　presents　a　novel　timing　synchronization　scheme　for　orthogonal　frequency-division　multiplexing　communication　systems　by　leveraging　the　phase　shift　caused　by　the　timing　error　and　the　power　difference　between　subcarriers.　The　proposed　scheme　is　applied　in　the　physical　layer　of　vehicular　ad　hoc　networks　using　the　IEEE　802.11p　standard.　The　proposed　work　joints　three　different　estimators　to　present　a　robust　synchronizer.　The　results　demonstrate　that　the　proposed　estimators　greatly　improve　the　performance　of　the　communication　system　and　outperform　other　approaches　in　terms　of　the　mean　square　error　and　the　bit　error　rate.　The　estimators　can　either　work　as　totally　blind　or　data-aided　using　the　preamble　field　of　the　IEEE　802.11p.　©　2007-2012　IEEE.