Fault Code Lookup › Powertrain codes › P0720
P0720 Powertrain · generic OBD-II
Output Speed Sensor Circuit
P0720 is a standard code covering engine, transmission, fuel and emissions. It names the system that logged the fault, not the part that failed. Below: which cars owners reported it on, what happened, and recalls on those cars, from 96 complaints filed with NHTSA. Updated November 3, 2026.
- 96owner reports
- 4car models
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention a fire
- 2012–2017model years
Which cars get code P0720?
Every model whose owners mentioned P0720 in a complaint, most reports first. Each year opens that car's full problem report. Popular models collect more reports because more of them are on the road.
Where does P0720 show up?
By brand
- Ford96
Component the owner filed it under
Is there a recall for P0720?
The others concern the component owners file this code under (Power Train) on the same cars; they may or may not relate to the code. Recall repairs are free; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Power Train: Automatic Transmission Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 F-150 vehicles. A loss of signal between the transmission range sensor and the powertrain control module can cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift into second gear.
2016 Ford F-150, 2017 Ford F-150. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Power Train: Automatic Transmission Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Ford F-150 and 2018 Ford Expedition and Mustang and Lincoln Navigator vehicles equipped with 10-speed automatic transmissions. A roll pin may not have been installed in the transmission, potentially causing a loss of the "Park" function.
2017 Ford F-150. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Lever And Linkage: Column Shift Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 F-150 vehicles equipped with ten-speed transmissions. The pin that attaches the transmission shift linkage to the transmission may come out, preventing the transmission from responding to movement of the shift lever.
2017 Ford F-150. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Gear Position Indication (PRNDL) Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 F-150 trucks equipped with an eight-inch productivity screen. In these vehicles, the instrument cluster may lose power after the initial vehicle start-up in cold ambient temperatures. Several gauges, including the transmission gear position…
2017 Ford F-150. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Power Train: Automatic Transmission Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2011-2012 Ford F-150 trucks, 2012 Ford Expedition, Lincoln Navigator, and Ford Mustang vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with an automatic transmission that may unexpectedly downshift to first gear, regardless of vehicle speed.
2012 Ford Mustang. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Control Module (Tcm/Pcm/Tecm) FORD IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2011-2012 FORD F-150, 2012 EXPEDITION AND LINCOLN NAVIGATOR, AND 2012-2013 MUSTANG VEHICLES, FOR FAILING TO COMPLY WITH THE REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NOS. 102, "TRANSMISSION SHIFT LEVER SEQUENCE, STARTER INTERLOCK, AND TRANSMISSION…
2013 Ford Mustang, 2012 Ford Mustang. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
What happened when owners saw P0720?
10 of the 96 reports, spread across the models above, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
Truck occasionally downshifts at high steady speed ~70mph, with a wrench. About 4weeks ongoing, now daily and check engine light is on. Codes are P0720 and P0722. Despite well documented issue, and lead frame assembly recall, Ford refuses to repair. 124k miles.
2013 Mustang V6, 6R80 Automatic Transmission. Lead frame is failing, I am getting code P0720. My vin falls outside of the recall, so I have to spend $850 to get lead frame fixed. Airbag light turns on, dashes through my odometer, and car stays stuck in 5th gear until I cycle key.
We were driving on the highway and suddenly lost all power. Vehicle downshifted so hard I thought someone had hit us. Then it was back to normal, driving fine. But now we had no speedometer and the check engine and wrench light were on. My wife said she had felt something like that before but it was minor and at a lower speed. It had never resulted in a check engine light or loss of speedometer. I told her to exit the highway. She was shaking like crazy because she thought we just got rear ended. I can see how this could cause someone to completely wreck it was so harsh. We towed it home and when we started it up at home all those error lights were off. So I drove it around the block and it…
The contact owns a 2017 Ford Expedition. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle jerked and then stalled. The transmission, check engine, and several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact turned off and restarted the vehicle to correct the failure. The contact's husband diagnosed the vehicle and retrieved DTC: P0720 (Output Speed Sensor). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure and was advised the contact to file a complaint with the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 190,000.
Erratic shifting, sudden down shifts while at highway speed, and transmission suddenly stuck in 3 or 5th gear, ford currently has customer satisfaction program 26n04 covering certain 2015-2017 ford f150 trucks but specifies only certain codes to flag the need to fix the problem by changing the molded lead frame which is the defective part. Unfortunately my truck is not tripping those codes but it is showing codes p0715,p0717,p0720 that all call for the molded lead frame to be changed. The problem is codes, p0720,0722, where covered in previous recall 24S37, for f150 tucks made in 2014 with the exact same transmission and molded lead frame. So my problem is why in the previous recall where…
Was driving my vehicle on the freeway traveling about 70 miles per hour when the vehicle suddenly shifted into first gear. I was able to maintain control and the vehicle shifted back to sixth gear. Issue occurred again within 5 minutes of the first incident and then the vehicle went into "Limp Mode". I was able to drive the vehicle home under this condition. Vehicle check engine light turned on and the code P0720, which is the Output Speed Sensor Circuit. This is the same issue that occurred on 2011-2013 F-150 and Mustang vehicles that currently have a recall for this (Safety Recall 19S07). The same transmissions (6R80) are used in both vehicles, as well as the Powertrain Control Modules…
While traveling at 40 mph the car suddenly shifted into first gear. At that time the speedometer, trip odometer, and gas mileage indicator all quit working and the service wrench appeared on the reader. The rear tires locked up sending the car into a skid that took the vehicle into the on coming lane luckily not resulting in an accident thanks to the quick reaction of the driver occupying that line. The car was pulled over and shutdown and the system went into limp mode on start up. After taking it to an independent mechanic I was informed that the code P0720 indicating a fault in the Output Speed Sensor, popped when hooked up to computer by the head mechanic. They directed me to Ford as…
My 2016 Ford F-150 experienced an unexpected downshift into second gear at approximately 45 mph. I also experienced warning lights and an occasion when the truck would not move in Drive until I shifted again. The dealership documented P0705 and P0706 before performing a PCM software update. I retained the repair order showing those codes. After the update, the truck registered P0720. The dealership diagnosed an output speed sensor circuit fault and recommended replacing the molded leadframe for approximately $2,000. I was told replacement would not be covered unless specified transmission range sensor codes returned after the update. I am concerned that a physical defect remains in the…
I have a 2013 Ford Mustang V6 coupe with Automatic transmission. I purchased the car Certified Pre Owned through Ken Grody Ford in Carlsbad, CA with Less then ~11,000 miles on it in 2/2014. I have been complaining of a jerk/ knock at ~ 1-1.6 RPM’s when idling & driving in stop and go traffic/ off ramps/ on ramps and parking lots - it appears to come from the transmission area. Fast forward to complaining over the years during service intervals ~ 2x a year for for the works service - oil/ lube/ etc , dealer did a Transmission Control Module computer reset & advised to monitor for symptoms in 11/2020. As covid was present, the car wasn’t driven much during. However the knock/ jerk between…
Since more than 18 months, we have the known intermittent problem described in TSB [XXX], where all of a sudden the wrench appears, speedometer drops to zero and car can't change gear anymore. Sometimes going to manual gears works, sometimes car needs to be stopped, locked and completely shut down several times for the problem to go away. Before turning off, error P0720 appears (as described in TSB [XXX]). Car taken to garage in January 2023 where it was for 3 weeks. Technicians drove it for 11 miles (!) and could not reproduce the problem so could not do the required work ie changing the molded leadframe. Now, in January 2024 the problem happened again and this time the Check Engine light…
P0720: questions drivers ask
What does code P0720 mean?
P0720 is a generic OBD-II powertrain code. Its standard definition is "Output Speed Sensor Circuit". The code tells you which system set the fault, not which part failed; the owner reports on this page show what it meant in practice for 4 car models.
Which cars get code P0720 most often?
In NHTSA owner complaints, P0720 is mentioned most for the Ford F-150 (84), Ford Mustang (6), Ford Expedition (5), across 4 models and model years 2012 to 2017. Popular models collect more reports because more of them are on the road.
Is there a recall for code P0720?
No NHTSA recall text names P0720 directly. 6 recalls on the cars that report this code concern the same component owners name most (Power Train); they may or may not relate to the code. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What should I do if my car shows P0720?
Write down when the code appeared and what the car did (warning lights, loss of power, noises, speed, weather). Check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls, ask a dealer or independent workshop to read the stored freeze-frame data before anyone clears the code, and keep the repair order. If the car loses power in traffic, stop driving it. CarHooq does not diagnose: these are owner reports and official recall notices, not repair advice.
How this page was made
CarHooq read the text of every owner complaint filed with NHTSA for 19 US and European brands (model years 2012 onwards) and picked out the diagnostic trouble codes owners wrote down. This page lists every mention of P0720. The definition is the generic SAE J2012 wording; a carmaker may use the code slightly differently. Nothing here is a diagnosis. Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain), retrieved November 3, 2026. How CarHooq reports are made.
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