P0706: Transmission Range Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance
A generic powertrain (engine and transmission) trouble code, same meaning on every brand.
Not recommended - the car may not start in park, or may start in gear.
Symptoms
- No crank in park but starts in neutral
- Reverse lights not working
- Gear indicator showing the wrong gear
Likely causes, most common first
- Transmission range sensor worn or out of adjustment
- Shift linkage misadjusted
- Wiring or connector fault
- Internal manual valve position error
Read P0706 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
P0706 means the transmission range sensor - the switch that tells the car which position the shifter is in - is reporting something implausible. That single input controls whether the starter is allowed to turn, whether reverse lights come on, and which shift strategy the transmission uses.
A sensor that is merely out of adjustment produces the same code as one that has failed, and adjustment costs a fraction of replacement. On many vehicles the sensor is bolted to the transmission with slotted holes precisely so it can be aligned, and that alignment drifts after linkage work or a mount replacement.
Repair options and cost
Typical US independent-shop ranges, parts and labor. Dealers run higher; regional labor rates vary.
Owner reports mentioning P0706
“Sudden and severe downshifts occurred at roadway and highway speeds resulting in sudden speed decrease. Also revving and loss of power occurred. Problem codes P0706 & P0707 were logged which point directly to the Transmission Range Sensor (TRS), which is integrated into the molded lead frame. This sudden and uncontrolled loss of speed caused significant danger to vehicles, ocupants, and other vehicles.”2017 Ford Expedition · Apr 2026
“I was driving and came to a stop at a light, let off the brake and then my truck came up with a wrench light and wouldn't read the transmission gear, cab tool pulled these codes u0402, p0706, p0707, p1702, p1921 all pointing at towards the 6R80 transmission for this lead frame/sensor failure. It will work after the truck sits off for a little while but once you start driving for a few miles it goes back into limp mode. I've seen you are looking into this as a recall an would love to see others get help with this issue before it's to late like me now unfortunately”2015 Ford F-150 · Apr 2026
“There was a sudden downshift at 50mph and a wrench icon showed up on my truck. I used on OBDII scanner and the codes p0706 and p0707 showed up. My safety was put at risk because I could have been hit in the rear and my rear tire locked up. I got the repairs done for a leadframe install. Is there any way I can get reimbursed for the repairs made, because this was once a recalled issue.”2014 Ford F-150 · Oct 2025
Show 7 more owner reports
“Transmission on my F150 suddenly dropped to a lower gear as I was pulling out on a highway which significantly lowered my acceleration. Luckily the oncoming traffic slowed until I could safely get across to my lane. Eventually it jumped back into the proper gear. From what I have found on the internet this seems to be a common defect. Only a matter of time before someone is seriously injured or killed. This is not the first time the transmission has done this. I took my F150 to the dealership to be checked and they didn't find anything wrong. P0706 and P0707 codes.”2015 Ford F-150 · Sep 2025
“Having issues with lead frame. Truck is a 2015 F150 3.5 Ecoboost with the 6R80 transmission. Every so often the orange wrench appears and dash looses what gear and where it is in the column. Have taken pictures as well as pulled the codes that appear P0707, P0706, P1702. It will randomly happen from time to time. Currently buying all the parts to replace the issue part and seeing if there's a recall for said part”2015 Ford F-150 · Aug 2025
“Transmission error codes P0706 and P0707. Causes vehicle to be non operational. Cause is due to a bad sensor the lead frame in the valve body of the 6R80 transmission. On the 2011-2014 model years there was a recall issued, but the problem still exists I. The 2015-2017 model years. In my case, the module is failing at 8yrs/92750 miles.”2017 Ford F-150 · Apr 2025
“Driving at 65mph in 5th gear, unexpected downshift into 3rd gear causing vehicle to loose power, immediate decline in speed by 20 mph and no acceleration. Vehicles behind me were forced to slam on brakes to avoid collision. Vehicle had check engine as well as wrench pop up on dashboard when downshift occurred. Took vehicle to Ford Dealership for diagnosis and repair. Error code p0706, p0707,p1702,p1921. Recommend to replace, Molded lead frame with main control, gaskets, transmission filter, fluid. Total cost for repair $2979.54.”2016 Ford F-150 · Mar 2025
“Drive mode lights on dash (P,R,N,D,M,2,1) start alternating while driving then vehicle will not stay engaged in any drive mode, vehicle appears to go into limp mode with no drive mode lit on dashboard. This is extremely dangerous. Vehicle codes found are P0706 and P0707. Ford case number is [XXX]. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”2015 Ford F-150 · Feb 2025
“I was driving at 65mph on the freeway when suddenly the gear selection starts to blink and the truck went from 65mph on 6th gear to 2nd gear. The truck would not shift to 3rd gear, the service light came up and the wrench light. The codes that came up at P0706 and P0707. I noticed via forums and YouTube that this is a problem multiple drivers have been experiencing. To fix this issue is from $800 to 3,500 due to the Frame lead going out.”2017 Ford F-150 · Jul 2024
“The truck went into limp mode while driving in the highway and did a hard shift down. The truck almost crashed due to the sudden problem. The code that came up was P0706 and P0707. From what I understand, Ford has had problems with this in previous years. The problem still occurs with my truck model as well.”2016 Ford F-150 · May 2024
Cars that report P0706 most often
Based on mentions of this code in NHTSA owner complaints.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with P0706?
Not recommended - the car may not start in park, or may start in gear.
How much does it cost to fix P0706?
Typical US repair costs range from $80 for the simplest fix (range sensor adjustment) to $600 in the worst case. The right number depends on which cause your car has - see the causes list.
Related codes
The codes closest to P0706. 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.