P0720: Output Shaft Speed Sensor Circuit
A generic powertrain (engine and transmission) trouble code, same meaning on every brand.
Same as P0715 - short careful trips only.
Symptoms
- Erratic speedometer
- Harsh shifts, late shifts
- ABS/traction lights on some cars
Likely causes, most common first
- Output speed sensor failed
- Connector or wiring
- Tone ring damage
Read P0720 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
P0720 is the output shaft speed signal - the transmission's measure of how fast the car is actually moving, and often the speedometer's source too. Its loss degrades shift quality and can ripple into ABS behavior.
Usually an accessible external sensor; the ten-minute resistance test at its connector separates sensor from harness before anything is bought.
Repair options and cost
Typical US independent-shop ranges, parts and labor. Dealers run higher; regional labor rates vary.
Owner reports mentioning P0720
“It shifts down randomly and throws code P0720.Stays in 6th gear and will not allow normal acceleration could potentially be dangerous. Ford stated this isn't covered under the lead frame replacement recall. The speed sensor is part of that lead frame.”2017 Ford F-150 · Sep 2026
“"Ford Recall 19S07 was previously completed on my vehicle via a software patch, but the physical output speed sensor has now completely failed, throwing code P0720. The corporate software remedy failed to protect the mechanical hardware "”2013 Ford F-150 · Jul 2026
“Internal Speed Sensor Failure for 2013 Ford F150 6R80 transmission. Vehicle stopped in traffic would not move forward in drive. Could be expansion of recent recall of this transmission from Ford with similar issues. Vehicle shows code for Output Speed Sensor circuit P0720”2013 Ford F-150 · May 2026
Show 7 more owner reports
“My Transmission will townshift suddenly on the Highway. The error code I get is the (P0720) output-speed-sensor. I have noticed it has been recalled before. It is very scary when I am driving, and I know it has to be hurting my engine and transmission. I got a recall notice and thought it was for this, but it was for other error codes similar to this. According to my research they all seem to very closely associated. I took it to the dealership, and they said ford won't cover my issue.”2017 Ford F-150 · May 2026
“Transmission upshifts randomly when driving into 1st or 2nd gear. A Wrench icon comes on the dash indicating there is an issue that made it go into " limp mode". When using a diagnostic tool it throws a P0720 code for the output shaft speed sensor. Was checking to see if there has been any recall on these models too for the same issue?”2013 Ford F-150 · Apr 2026
“Truck unexpectedly downshifts into first gear and refuses to leave first. Wrench icon appears, speedometer and odometer stop working, truck enters "limp mode". OEM reading DTCs P0720, P0722.”2013 Ford F-150 · Apr 2026
“2013 F 150 5.0 TRANSMISSION LEAD MODULE LOOSING DATA TO COMPUTER AND TRANS GOES TO 3RD GEAR WHILE DRIVING AT HIGHWAY SPEED THIS HAPPENED MULTIPLE TIMES IN THE LAST FEW DAYS the 6r80 transmission and has code P0720 AND IS GOING IN FOR REPAIRS 4 21 2026 AS IM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT .IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM WHEN TALKING TO THE TRANSMISSION SHOP AND COULD COST $900 OR MORE IF THE TRANS IS NO HARMED BY THIS SUDDEN MALFUNCTION”2013 Ford F-150 · Apr 2026
“Diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0720 stands for "Output Speed Sensor Circuit Malfunction." It is stored when the ECM/PCM/TCM perceives a problem with the output speed sensor or its circuit. If, for example, the engine speed and input shaft speed are at a certain RPM but the output shaft speed is erratic or not what the computer expects, P0720 will be stored. There may also be a P0500 code stored on some platforms. T”2013 Ford F-150 · Apr 2026
“Truck downshifts into low gear, yellow wrench and engine light come on and the truck goes into limp mode, no warnings or anything. These symptoms first started about 5 months ago and I have stopped driving the truck for that time. I took it to the dealer after looking it up and seeing there was a recall 26S28 for the molded leadframe. At the dealer they told me they couldn't perform the service because my truck was showing codes: P061A-00, P0720-00, and P0722-00 and they needed: P0705, P0706, P0707, P1702 to perform the recall service. My codes also point to the molded leadframe but the speed sensors instead of the range sensors.”2016 Ford F-150 · Apr 2026
“Transmission Control Body. Lost of speed during driving which put me in danger of being hit from behind on the highway. The car was scanned and came up the code P0500 and P0720.”2015 Infiniti Q50 · Feb 2026
Cars that report P0720 most often
Based on mentions of this code in NHTSA owner complaints.
P0720 by make
Makes with enough NHTSA reports of P0720 for a page of their own - which models and years report it.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with P0720?
Same as P0715 - short careful trips only.
How much does it cost to fix P0720?
Typical US repair costs range from $80 for the simplest fix (output speed sensor) to $450 in the worst case. The right number depends on which cause your car has - see the causes list.
Related codes
The codes closest to P0720. 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.