P0720: Output Speed Sensor Circuit Malfunction
Key takeaways
- P0720 means the transmission computer sees a fault in the output shaft speed sensor circuit, which reports how fast the transmission's output is turning.
- Expect harsh or wrong shifts, a speedometer that drops to zero or jumps, cruise control that won't set, and sometimes limp mode.
- Wiring, connectors and the sensor itself are the usual answers; on some transmissions the sensor is inside, on an internal harness.
- Ford gave 2011–2013 F-150 and 2012–2013 Expedition and Navigator trucks with the 6R80 transmission extended coverage for an internal part tied to output speed sensor failures.
- Most fixes run $100–$300 for a sensor or wiring repair; an internal harness or a transmission computer can reach $1,500.
What P0720 means
Your transmission’s computer isn’t getting a usable signal from the sensor that measures how fast the transmission’s output is turning. Scanners call it Output Speed Sensor Circuit Malfunction (sometimes Output Shaft Speed Sensor Circuit). The output speed sensor reads a toothed wheel or ring on the output shaft. The transmission computer uses it to pick shift points, work out the gear ratio and, on many cars, drive the speedometer. When the signal is missing, out of range or doesn’t agree with other speed signals, it stores P0720.
Is it safe to drive?
Short trips, carefully. The engine runs fine, but the transmission is guessing at road speed. Expect harsh, late or missed shifts, a speedometer that drops to zero or jumps, cruise control that won’t set, and sometimes limp mode stuck in one gear. What changes the answer: if it holds a low gear and screams at highway speed, drops into a low gear at speed, or bangs into gear, keep it off the highway and drive it only as far as a shop.
Causes, ranked
| Cause | How you confirm it | Typical cost (US independent shop, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Damaged wiring or a corroded or wet connector | Signal drops out when the harness is moved; corrosion, water or fluid in the connector | $100–$250 |
| Failed output speed sensor (external) | No signal or a ragged signal in live data; resistance or scope test; metal debris on the tip | $100–$300 |
| Internal harness or lead frame with the sensor built in | Sensor sits inside the transmission; fault stays after external wiring checks out | $400–$900 |
| Damaged tone ring or reluctor | Signal erratic at speed with a good sensor; visible damage when the sensor is out | $300–$1,200 |
| Transmission control module or software | Sensor and wiring test good; a bulletin covers the car | $100–$200 update; $500–$1,500 module |
What to check first
- Read every module’s codes. P0720 with an ABS wheel speed code, or with P0500, tells a shop which speed signal is actually bad.
- Watch output speed in live data on a test drive. A signal that drops out over bumps points to wiring.
- Inspect the connector and harness at the transmission for corrosion, water, broken locks and chafed wires.
- Test or pull the sensor. Resistance or a scope check; wipe metal debris off a magnetic tip and look at why it’s there.
- Check for an extended coverage program or bulletin before paying for internal work.
The bulletin pattern is Ford. Ford’s extended coverage for 2011–2013 F-150 and 2012–2013 Expedition and Navigator with the 6R80 transmission covers the molded lead frame, the internal harness that carries the output speed sensor, so ask a dealer whether yours is still covered. Ford also has a bulletin for an intermittent light with P0720 and P0722 on 2015–2016 Mustangs with the 5.2L engine; Infiniti and Nissan have bulletins on the 2014–2015 Q50 and 2014 Rogue.
What it costs
The cheap outcome is a wiring or connector repair at $100–$250, or an external sensor at $100–$300. The common expensive outcome is an internal harness or lead frame at $400–$900, because the pan and valve body come off. The worst case is a transmission computer at $500–$1,500. Watching live data first is what keeps you from paying for a sensor when the problem is a wire. If the check engine light comes on and off with it, that fits an intermittent connection.
Related codes
P0720 often sets with P0722 (no signal) or P0721 (range/performance) from the same sensor, with the input speed code P0715, and with P0500 when the engine computer shares the speed signal. The engine computer may add P0700. If the car jerks while driving, that’s the shift strategy guessing. 164 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0720, and 111 are for the Ford F-150, 40 of those from 2013 models; a complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed cause.
What owners report to NHTSA
164 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0720, 153 of them since 2015, across 22 different models. The component owners most often filed it under: power train.
Most-reported models
| Vehicle | Complaints | Model years reported |
|---|---|---|
| FORD F-150 | 111 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2016 |
| INFINITI Q50 | 18 | 2014, 2015, 2016 |
| FORD MUSTANG | 6 | 2012, 2013, 2014 |
| FORD EXPEDITION | 5 | 2013, 2014, 2017 |
| FORD EDGE | 4 | 2007, 2008 |
Manufacturer service bulletins that name P0720
6 technical service bulletins and manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA mention P0720, from 4 makes. A bulletin means the manufacturer has documented a known cause or a fix procedure for that model. Examples:
- FORD EXPEDITION (2011, 2012, 2013), bulletin 10183669: Certain 2011 - 2013 Model Year F-150 and 2012- 2013 Model Year Expedition/Navigator Vehicles Equipped with A 6R80 Transmission Transmission Molded Leadframe Extended Coverage In some of the affected vehicles, an output s…
- LINCOLN NAVIGATOR (2011, 2012, 2013), bulletin 10183669: Certain 2011 - 2013 Model Year F-150 and 2012- 2013 Model Year Expedition/Navigator Vehicles Equipped with A 6R80 Transmission Transmission Molded Leadframe Extended Coverage In some of the affected vehicles, an output s…
- FORD MUSTANG (2015, 2016), bulletin 10078972: SOME 2015 AND 2016 MUSTANG VEHICLES EQUIPPED WITH A 5.2L TWIN INDEPENDENT VARIABLE CAMSHAFT TIMING (TI-VCT) ENGINE AND BUILT ON OR BEFORE 2/26/2016 MAY EXHIBIT AN INTERMITTENT ILLUMINATED MIL WITH DTCS P0720 AND P0722 PR…
- INFINITI Q50 (2014, 2015), bulletin 10168892: 2014-2015 Q50; MIL ON WITH DTC P0720 AND MAY HAVE HARSH SHIFTING AND/OR LACK OF POWER SERVICE INFORMATION If DTC P0720 OUTPUT SPEED SENSOR is stored, follow the diagnostic procedure in the ESM. If the diagnosis leads to …
- NISSAN ROGUE (2014), bulletin 10192336: IF YOU CONFIRM The MIL is on with any one of these DTCs alone, or any combination of any of DTCs: * P2765 - CLUTCH B SPEED SENSOR * P0500 - VEH SPEED SEN/CIRC * P1574 - ASCD VHL SPD SEN * P1715 - INPUT SPEED SENSOR * P07…
- NISSAN ALTIMA (2010), bulletin 10192259: IF YOU CONFIRM The vehicle has slower than normal acceleration from a stop at times, and/or the customer describes the vehicle has slower than normal acceleration from a stop at times, and/or The MIL is ON with DTC P1778…
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database and manufacturer communications file, snapshots September 2026. A complaint or bulletin that mentions a code is a report about that vehicle, not a statement that the code has one cause.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with P0720?
Short trips, carefully. Without an output speed signal the transmission guesses at shift points, so shifts can be harsh or it may stay in one gear, and on many cars the speedometer stops working. Judge your speed by traffic and get it fixed soon.
Where is the output speed sensor?
On many rear-wheel-drive transmissions it is bolted into the tail housing or case and can be reached from underneath. On others, including Ford's 6R80, it sits inside the transmission on an internal harness, which means the pan and sometimes the valve body have to come off.
Will a bad output speed sensor affect the speedometer?
Often yes. Many cars use the output shaft speed for the speedometer, so a dead or erratic sensor shows up as a needle that drops to zero or jumps. Cars that take speed from the ABS wheel sensors may keep a working speedometer.
What's the difference between P0720 and P0722?
P0720 is the general circuit fault for the output speed sensor. P0722 is more specific: the computer sees no signal at all. The testing is almost the same, and the two often set together.