P0218: Transmission Fluid Temperature Sensor A Over Temperature Condition
A generic powertrain (engine and transmission) trouble code, same meaning on every brand.
Pull over and let it cool - transmissions do not forgive sustained overheating.
Symptoms
- Transmission temperature warning
- Harsh or slipping shifts when hot
- Burnt smell from the fluid
Likely causes, most common first
- Towing or load beyond cooling capacity
- Transmission cooler blocked
- Fluid old, low or wrong type
- Torque converter slipping and making heat
- Cooler lines kinked
Read P0218 yourself before paying for diagnosis
A basic Bluetooth OBD-II scanner ($20-40) plugs into the port under the dashboard and shows this code with live sensor data on your phone - useful both for confirming the fix and for talking to a shop from an informed position.
What is going on and how it gets diagnosed
P0218 means the transmission fluid has genuinely overheated. Fluid life halves with roughly every 20 degrees above its design temperature, so an afternoon of overheated towing can age fluid by tens of thousands of miles.
Context decides the diagnosis. If it happened towing a trailer up a grade in summer, the transmission may be healthy and simply asked to do more than its cooler can shed - an auxiliary cooler is the real fix for anyone who tows regularly. If it happens in ordinary driving, something is wrong inside: a slipping converter or clutch making heat, or a cooler no longer doing its job. Either way the fluid that overheated is now suspect; inspect and likely replace it rather than trusting it.
Repair options and cost
Typical US independent-shop ranges, parts and labor. Dealers run higher; regional labor rates vary.
Owner reports mentioning P0218
“The vehicle while operating under normal driving conditions had a check engine light appear. A certified mechanic found the tcm was faulty. Findings: p0218 high temp operation activated. P0714 transmission temp sensor intermittent. P0613 internal tcm problem. Instrument cluster: 1 tcm/single board engine control message not received data list for tcm is reading 1023 degrees fahrenheit or 1.10 volts having code p0613 tcm is faulty.”2006 Jeep Wrangler · Aug 2020 · 125,000 mi
“I was driving home from work when the check engine light, engine temperature warning light, and electronic throttle control light came on. In reviewing the potential issues, a number of people have had the same issue, potentially due to a faulty thermostat. When I had the vehicle scanned at autozone, it provided codes p0218 twice and p2181 once. *tr”2015 Chrysler 200 · Dec 2016 · 39,400 mi
Cars that report P0218 most often
Based on mentions of this code in NHTSA owner complaints.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with P0218?
Pull over and let it cool - transmissions do not forgive sustained overheating.
How much does it cost to fix P0218?
Typical US repair costs range from $150 for the simplest fix (fluid and filter service) to $4,000 in the worst case. The right number depends on which cause your car has - see the causes list.
Related codes
The codes closest to P0218. They often appear together, and telling them apart is usually what narrows the diagnosis.
Definition per SAE J2012 standard nomenclature. Symptoms, causes and costs are editorial guidance - always confirm with a diagnosis of your specific vehicle.