P0720 on Ford vehicles
132 owner complaints filed with NHTSA about Ford vehicles mention P0720 (Output Shaft Speed Sensor Circuit) - across 4 models. Below is where it shows up, by model and year.
Can you drive with it? Same as P0715 - short careful trips only.
Symptoms, likely causes in order and realistic repair costs are on the main P0720 page - they do not differ much by brand. This page shows what is specific to Ford: which models and years actually report it.
Ford models reporting P0720
The number next to each year is how many NHTSA complaints for that car mention P0720. Owners rarely quote trouble codes when complaining, so real occurrence is many times higher - use these numbers to compare years, not as totals.
What Ford owners report
“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
“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
Counts are NHTSA owner complaints whose text mentions P0720 - owner-reported and unverified. Always confirm with a diagnosis of your specific vehicle.