P0722: Output Speed Sensor Circuit No Signal
Key takeaways
- P0722 means the transmission computer expected pulses from the output shaft speed sensor while the car was moving and saw none.
- Expect a speedometer that drops to zero, harsh or wrong shifts, cruise control that won't set and often limp mode.
- An open wire, a bad connector or a dead sensor is the usual answer; on some transmissions the sensor is on an internal harness.
- Ford gave 2011–2013 F-150 and 2012–2013 Expedition and Navigator trucks with the 6R80 transmission extended coverage for the internal part that carries the output speed sensor.
- Most fixes run $100–$300; an internal harness or transmission computer can reach $1,500.
What P0722 means
Your transmission’s computer isn’t hearing anything from the sensor that measures how fast the transmission’s output is turning. Scanners call it Output Speed Sensor Circuit No Signal. The output speed sensor reads a toothed wheel on the output shaft and sends a pulse for each tooth. The transmission computer uses that for shift points, gear ratio checks and, on many cars, the speedometer. When other signals say the car is moving (engine speed, input speed, wheel speeds) but the output sensor sends nothing, it stores P0722. A dead signal usually means an open circuit or a sensor that has quit, not a transmission that is slipping.
Is it safe to drive?
Short trips, carefully. The engine runs normally, but the transmission doesn’t know road speed. Expect a speedometer stuck at zero, harsh or missed shifts, cruise control that won’t set and often limp mode in one gear. What changes the answer: if it’s stuck in a low gear and over-revving at speed, drops into a low gear at speed, or bangs into gear, stay off the highway and drive only as far as a shop.
Causes, ranked
| Cause | How you confirm it | Typical cost (US independent shop, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Broken wire or unplugged, corroded or wet connector | No signal at the connector; wiggle test; corrosion, water or fluid in the plug | $100–$250 |
| Failed output speed sensor (external) | Open or shorted sensor on a resistance check, or no pulses on a scope | $100–$300 |
| Internal harness or lead frame with the sensor built in | Sensor sits inside the transmission; external wiring checks out | $400–$900 |
| Damaged tone ring or reluctor | Good sensor, no signal; damage visible with the sensor out | $300–$1,200 |
| Transmission control module or software | Sensor and wiring good; bulletin for the car | $100–$200 update; $500–$1,500 module |
What to check first
- Read every module’s codes. An ABS wheel speed code or P0500 alongside tells the shop which speed signal to chase.
- Check the connector first. Unplugged, broken lock, corrosion, water or fluid inside are common findings on sensors that sit low on the transmission.
- Measure the sensor at the connector (resistance or a scope while the wheels turn) before buying one.
- Pull an external sensor and look at the tip for metal debris or damage.
- Check for an extended coverage program or bulletin before paying for internal work.
The bulletins point at a few makes. Ford’s extended coverage for 2011–2013 F-150 and 2012–2013 Expedition and Navigator with the 6R80 transmission covers the molded lead frame that carries the output speed sensor. Ford also has a bulletin for 2015–2016 Mustangs with the 5.2L engine, Mazda has one for startup-time P0722 on 2012–2014 Mazda3 and CX-5, and GM has preliminary information for the 2017 Malibu.
What it costs
The cheap outcome is a connector or wiring 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. A signal test at the connector costs far less than a sensor bought on a guess. If the light comes on and off, that points toward an intermittent connection.
Related codes
P0722 often sets with P0720 (general circuit fault) or P0721 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. 129 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0722, and 99 are for the Ford F-150, 28 of those from 2013 models; a complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed cause.
What owners report to NHTSA
129 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0722, 126 of them since 2015, across 16 different models. The component owners most often filed it under: power train.
Most-reported models
| Vehicle | Complaints | Model years reported |
|---|---|---|
| FORD F-150 | 99 | 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2017 |
| FORD EDGE | 5 | 2007, 2008 |
| CHEVROLET SILVERADO 1500 | 4 | 2022 |
| DODGE CALIBER | 3 | 2007, 2009 |
| FORD MUSTANG | 3 | 2012, 2013 |
Manufacturer service bulletins that name P0722
9 technical service bulletins and manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA mention P0722, 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…
- CHEVROLET MALIBU (2017), bulletin 10113422: This Preliminary Information communication provides information to the technician about vehicles that have a Service Engine Soon Malfunction Indicator Lamp on. Technician may find Diagnostic Trouble Codes P0721, P0722, P…
- 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…
- MAZDA MAZDA3 (2012, 2013, 2014), bulletin 10097383: SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND A/T WARNING LIGHT ON WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE. AT THE SAME TIME, AN ENGINE INSPECTION REQUIRED MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED ON THE LCD. DTC P0722:00 IS STORED IN THE TRANSM…
- MAZDA CX-5 (2013, 2014, 2012), bulletin 10099811: SOME CUSTOMERS MAY COMPLAIN OF A CHECK ENGINE LIGHT AND A/T WARNING LIGHT ON WHEN STARTING THE ENGINE. AT THE SAME TIME, AN ENGINE INSPECTION REQUIRED MESSAGE IS DISPLAYED ON THE LCD. DTC P0722:00 IS STORED IN THE TRANSM…
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 P0722?
Short trips, carefully. With no output speed signal the transmission can't tell road speed, so it may shift harshly, hold one gear or go into limp mode, and the speedometer often reads zero. Watch your speed by traffic and get it repaired soon.
Is P0722 always the sensor?
No. Wiring and connectors fail about as often as the sensor, and on some transmissions the sensor is part of an internal harness. A shop should check the signal at the connector before replacing parts.
Can low transmission fluid cause P0722?
Not directly; this is an electrical signal code. But a leak can soak a connector, and metal debris in old fluid can collect on a magnetic sensor tip, so a fluid check is still worth the two minutes.
Why did P0722 set right after starting the car?
Some bulletins describe exactly that. Mazda has one for 2012–2014 Mazda3 and CX-5 models that set P0722 with a warning at startup. If yours does it at startup, ask a dealer about bulletins for your model.