Fault Code Lookup › Powertrain codes › P0731

P0731 Powertrain · generic OBD-II

Gear 1 Incorrect Ratio

P0731 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 24 complaints filed with NHTSA. Updated November 3, 2026.

  • 24owner reports
  • 7car models
  • 0mention a crash
  • 0mention a fire
  • 2012–2022model years

Which cars get code P0731?

Every model whose owners mentioned P0731 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 P0731 show up?

By brand

  • Ford16
  • Ram6
  • Chrysler2

Component the owner filed it under

  1. Power Train20 (83.3%)
  2. Vehicle Speed Control3 (12.5%)
  3. Engine1 (4.2%)
  4. Fuel/Propulsion System1 (4.2%)

Is there a recall for P0731?

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 FCA US, LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain 2020-2023 Ram 2500 and 2020-2022 Ram 3500 vehicles. A build-up of pressure and heat inside the transmission may result in a transmission fluid leak from the dipstick tube. NHTSA campaign 22V835000 · November 10, 2022 · Affected cars

2022 Ram 3500. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Gear Position Indication (PRNDL) Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2019 Escape, 2013-2018 C-Max, 2013-2016 Fusion, 2013-2021 Transit Connect, and 2015-2018 Edge vehicles. The bushing that attaches the shifter cable to the transmission may degrade or detach. NHTSA campaign 22V413000 · June 10, 2022 · Affected cars

2017 Ford Escape, 2016 Ford Escape, 2014 Ford Escape. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

Power Train: Driveline: Driveshaft Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2015-2017 Transit vehicles. This recall includes all full-size Transit vehicles previously recalled under 17V-408 except ones that received mechanical universal joint (u-joint) as a remedy and any 156" or 178" wheelbase Chassis Cab and Cut-Away bodies… NHTSA campaign 19V767000 · October 25, 2019 · Affected cars

2015 Ford Transit. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

Power Train: Driveline: Driveshaft XL Hybrids, Inc (XL) is recalling certain 2015-2018 Ford Transit vehicles modified to be equipped with XL's electric hybrid system. The cardan (universal) joint on the front driveshaft may fail, possibly causing the front driveshaft to detach. NHTSA campaign 19V103000 · February 21, 2019 · Affected cars

2015 Ford Transit. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

Power Train: Automatic Transmission: Lever And Linkage: Floor Shift Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2014 Ford Escape, and 2013-2016 Ford Fusion vehicles, equipped with six-speed automatic transmissions. The bushing that attaches the transmission shifter cable to the transmission may degrade over time and cause the bushing to detach from the… NHTSA campaign 18V471000 · July 16, 2018 · Affected cars

2014 Ford Escape. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

Power Train: Driveline: Driveshaft Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling all 2015-2017 Transit vehicles except 156" and 178" wheelbase Chassis Cab and Cut-Away bodies. In the affected vehicles, the flexible coupling connecting the transmission to the driveshaft may prematurely fail. NHTSA campaign 17V408000 · June 26, 2017 · Affected cars

2015 Ford Transit. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

Power Train: Automatic Transmission Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Chrysler Town & Country, Dodge Grand Caravan vehicles manufactured July 31, 2015, to April 18, 2016, 2016 Dodge Journey vehicles manufactured August 17, 2015, to January 29, 2016, and 2016 RAM ProMaster vehicles manufactured August 15… NHTSA campaign 16V461000 · June 24, 2016 · Affected cars

2015 Chrysler Town and Country. 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. NHTSA campaign 16V248000 · April 27, 2016 · Affected cars

2012 Ford Mustang. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

What happened when owners saw P0731?

10 of the 24 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.

I am the second owner of the vehicle and there were no disclosed repairs or issues provided at the time of purchased. The 2012 Ford F-150, is shifting sporadically and harsh. Throwing out code P0722. Which directly relates to the below previous recall. Recall Reference Number: 24S37. Issue: An intermittent failure of the output shaft speed (OSS) sensor in the transmission can lead to an unintended downshift to first gear. Affected Vehicles: Some 2014 Ford F-150 models. Reason for Recall: The abrupt downshift can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash. Potential Codes: P0720, P0722, P0731 and/or P1500
2012 Ford F-150Power Train, Vehicle Speed ControlNHTSA complaint 11647962 · Mar 12, 2025
While driving on interstate leaving a construction zone started to accelerate to maybe 40mph and heard/felt a hard clang and lost all forward motion costed to side of interstate. Looked underneath truck, nothing visible broken or leaking. Restarted truck tried to move forward with no luck. Reverse worked, put back in drive loud noise again stomped on the accelerator and started moving forward very slow and difficult. Made it to an exit to look at things in a safer location than the busy interstate. Figured out that I had reverse and 5th gear so it was very hard/ slow to get moving. Check engine light on, gear ration incorrect, code P0731, Tran sensor failure, no 4x4 Transmission failure 1-4…
2022 Ram 3500Power TrainNHTSA complaint 11687508 · Sep 16, 2025
Vehicle warning indicated to restart car. Pulled over and car did not restart. Dealership indicated that the power steering belt broke the crank sensor on the motor and if the sensor was broke it would not start. They stated that they wouldn’t look for any other issues if it was the sensor that was out and that was the reason for the car not starting so they would not look further. Diagnostics was run but they only pinpointed the initial Pcode failure and worked on that specific issue. There was an open recall on the vehicle at the time the vehicle was in the shop but that was overlooked. The vehicle failed to operate properly the day AFTER I picked up the vehicle. The vehicle was driven for…
2017 Ford EscapeUnknown Or OtherNHTSA complaint 11482898 · Sep 5, 2022
DRIVING VEHICLE ON SUBURBAN STREETS I NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD HESITATE AT TAKE OFF AND THEN SLAM INTO GEAR. THIS HAPPENED AT EVERY STOP. THEN WHILE DRIVING THE ENGINE WOULD REBOUND BUT THE TRANSMISSION WOULDN'T ENGAGE. PULLED OVER AND TURNED OFF ENGINE, RESTARTED AND DROVE BUT AGAIN SLAMMED INTO GEAR. MANAGED TO MAKE IT TO A PARKING LOT AND PULLED IN. HAD VEHICLE TOWED HOME. LATER HAD VEHICLE TOWED TO DEALER"CHECKED AND FOUND VEHICLE WON'T MOVE AND TRANSMISS ION PUMP IS WHINNING, FLUID IS BURNT, CHECKED DTC' S P0944 LOSS OF PRIME, P0731 GEAR RATIO ERROR IN 1 ST, P0846 2-4 OR 2C PRESSURE SWITCH RATIONALITY, R TRANSMISSION HAS HARD INTERNAL FAILURE, RECOMMEND REPLACING TRANSMISSION"…
2013 Chrysler Town and CountryPower TrainNHTSA complaint 11205333 · May 2, 2019
Recently started having erratic shifting issues. Will downshift randomly out of nowhere while driving. Sometimes will just be stuck in 1st gear and won’t go anywhere until I pull over and shut off/start up again. Dangerous because I never know when it will do it. Might seem like everything is fine and then all of a sudden, it downshifts and loses power. Rpm’s rise but car has no power. Have to figure out how to get out of the way. As stated in ford’s “ Customer Satisfaction Program 16N02,” my 2012 has all the symptoms and I have DTC code P0731 but dealer refused to service my vehicle because it doesn’t show up with my VIN, even though it’s a 2012 and I clearly need my Molded Leadframe…
2012 Ford MustangPower Train, Vehicle Speed ControlNHTSA complaint 11573018 · Feb 20, 2024
Transmission is giving out has turned off while driving and sometimes it won't go reverse and Or won't go into gears Machine shows code p0731
2017 Ford ExplorerEngineNHTSA complaint 11473808 · Jul 14, 2022
On Jan.17th, 2022,the Driveshaft Flexible Coupling separated at Highway speed, taking out my Fuel Lines and severely damaging the Transmission and other under-body components. (Safety Recall Notice 19S38 / NHTSA Recall 19V-767) On May 19th, 2022, I received my 1st phone call from Todd-Judy Ford, Marmet, SC. w/Service Estimate for $5,725.75 of repairs he claimed necessary that would NOT BE COVERED BY FORD. , I know the guy was trying to pad the bill. I told him to talk to Ford Pro. On July,25th, 2022 Todd-Judy Ford called to inform me that my Van was “ready to go,” “completely fixed” I left Sept. 9th, 2022 driving over 500 miles, to Todd-Judy Ford. Once there they started telling me about all…
2015 Ford TransitPower Train, Fuel/Propulsion SystemNHTSA complaint 11510273 · Mar 5, 2023
On several occasions while driving at 50+ mph my truck suddenly downshifts from 6th gear to 1st gear causing the rear wheels to lock up and skid. i have taken the vehicle to the dealership and they refuse to do anything because they can not duplicate the issue. this has happened several times the last time was on the freeway causing me to shoot over 2 lanes of traffic almost causing an accident. the ford dealership and the extended warranty company ameriplus both refuse to help because they both say that they can not duplicate the problem but the vehicle comes up with dtc codes p0731 and p0722This is extremely concerning that this will happen when driving at highway speeds and the fact this…
2014 Ford F-150Power TrainNHTSA complaint 11439665 · Nov 8, 2021
Sudden loss of forward gears. Failure happened on highway at highway speeds. Had to carefully maneuver the truck off the road. Failure in both towing and unloaded operation. Truck will not shift in or out of drive (1-4) but reverse is still functional. Diagnostic trouble code P0731-00 and P0734 "Gear 1 and 4 Shift Incorrect Ratio". Both the dealer and RAM confirm this transmission failure. RAM has realeased a TSB which covers this failure but hasn’t released a recall.
2022 Ram 3500Power Train, Vehicle Speed ControlNHTSA complaint 11581178 · Apr 4, 2024
VEHICLE WAS DRIVING ON INTERSTATE WHEN IT STARTED HESITATING AND RPMS REVVING UP AND DOWN CHAOTICALLY. NO CHECK ENGINE OR SERVICE LIGHTS WERE ON. VEHICLE TOWED HOME, AND DRIVEN TO DEALERSHIP NEXT DAY. SAME PROBLEM STARTED HAPPENING WHEN THE CHECK TRANSMISSION LIGHT CAME ON AND VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE. DEALERSHIP HAD IT FOR A WEEK AND SAID THE TORQUE CONVERTER IS COMING APART INSIDE THE 6F35 TRANSMISSION AND NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AT A COST OF 5400 FOR A REMAN OR 3400 OVERHAUL. VEHICLE AT 75K MILES. CODES P0219/P0735/P0731. CONTACTED FORD MOTOR CO AND THEY DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE WHEN NOTIFIED OF THIS FAULT. THE CSR SAID THERE IS NO ONE AT FORD MOTOR COMPANY THAT COULD LET ME KNOW HOW MANY…
2016 Ford EscapePower TrainNHTSA complaint 11365306 · Oct 20, 2020

P0731: questions drivers ask

What does code P0731 mean?

P0731 is a generic OBD-II powertrain code. Its standard definition is "Gear 1 Incorrect Ratio". 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 7 car models.

Which cars get code P0731 most often?

In NHTSA owner complaints, P0731 is mentioned most for the Ford F-150 (9), Ram 3500 (6), Ford Escape (3), across 7 models and model years 2012 to 2022. Popular models collect more reports because more of them are on the road.

Is there a recall for code P0731?

No NHTSA recall text names P0731 directly. 8 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 P0731?

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 P0731. 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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