P0741: Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Performance or Stuck Off
Key takeaways
- P0741 means the transmission computer commanded the torque converter clutch to lock, but engine and turbine speeds show it isn't locking fully.
- Most cars drive normally with it, but fuel economy drops and the transmission runs hotter, so fix it soon.
- Check fluid level and condition first; old or low fluid is the cheapest common cause.
- Hyundai, Kia, Nissan and Ford have bulletins naming P0741, several of them software updates.
- Fixes range from about $100 for a software update or fluid service to about $2,500 for a torque converter.
What P0741 means
Your transmission’s lockup clutch isn’t locking when the computer tells it to. The torque converter has a clutch inside it that locks the engine directly to the transmission at cruising speed, so the converter stops slipping. The transmission computer commands that clutch on, then compares engine speed with the transmission’s input (turbine) speed. If they still differ by more than it allows, it stores P0741, “Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Performance or Stuck Off.” The word “circuit” is misleading: this code usually means the clutch isn’t holding, not a broken wire.
Is it safe to drive?
Yes, in most cases, while you arrange a repair. Without lockup the converter keeps slipping, so RPM runs a little higher on the highway, fuel economy drops and the fluid runs hotter. The symptom that changes the answer: if the transmission slips, flares between gears, shifts harshly, goes into a limp mode stuck in one gear, or the fluid smells burnt, keep trips short and get it in quickly. Heat is what kills transmissions, and driving on a slipping one turns a $300 repair into a rebuild.
Causes, ranked
| Cause | How you confirm it | Typical cost (US independent shop, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Low, burnt or worn-out transmission fluid | Check level and condition (dark, burnt smell, debris) | $150–$300 for a fluid service |
| Transmission software needing an update | A bulletin covers your make, model and year | $100–$200 |
| Faulty torque converter clutch (lockup) solenoid or its wiring | Solenoid resistance and command test; codes like P0740 or P0742 alongside | $300–$1,200 |
| Valve body wear or a sticking valve | Pressure test; lockup problem only when hot | $300–$1,200 |
| Worn torque converter clutch | Slip persists with good fluid, solenoid and software; shudder when lockup applies | $1,000–$2,500 |
A full rebuild ($3,000–$5,500) is only on the table when the fluid shows heavy debris or other clutches are slipping too.
What to check first
- Check the fluid. Level first (many cars need a specific hot-check procedure), then color and smell. Low fluid means find the leak; if you see red fluid under the car, that’s likely it.
- Look for a bulletin. The pattern here is software. Hyundai and Kia issued transmission computer updates for P0741 on 2020-era Venue, Accent, Elantra, Rio and Telluride models; on the IVT (their CVT) models, the bulletins allow replacing the transmission if the update doesn’t fix it. Nissan has a bulletin on Kicks and Versa CVTs, and Ford has one on 2020 vehicles with the 8F35/8F40 transmission.
- Read the live data. A shop compares commanded lockup with actual slip in RPM on a test drive.
- Test the solenoid and wiring. Cheaper than the converter and often the answer when electrical codes set with P0741.
- Clear it and drive only after a fix. Clearing without a repair tells you nothing; the code resets on the next highway drive.
NHTSA data shows 137 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0741, led by the Honda Pilot with 13, the Honda Accord with 11 and the Toyota Corolla with 10. Those are owner reports, not confirmed causes.
What it costs
The cheap outcome is a software update or a fluid service, about $100–$300. The common outcome is a lockup solenoid or wiring repair at $300–$1,200. The expensive outcome is a torque converter, about $1,000–$2,500, because the transmission has to come out. A lockup test and a fluid check cost far less than guessing, and you want the software checked before anyone pulls the transmission. If the car jerks while driving as well, mention it to the shop.
Related codes
P0741 often appears with P0740 (converter clutch circuit), P0742 (stuck on) or P0744 (intermittent), which point more toward the solenoid and wiring. On some cars the engine computer also stores P0700, which only means “the transmission computer has a code”; the real code is in the transmission module.
What owners report to NHTSA
137 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0741, 104 of them since 2015, across 52 different models. The component owners most often filed it under: power train.
Most-reported models
| Vehicle | Complaints | Model years reported |
|---|---|---|
| HONDA PILOT | 13 | 2005, 2008, 2017, 2018 |
| HONDA ACCORD | 11 | 2003, 2004, 2005, 2016 |
| TOYOTA COROLLA | 10 | 2005, 2007, 2008, 2018 |
| HONDA RIDGELINE | 8 | 2017, 2019 |
| FORD ESCAPE | 7 | 2007, 2013, 2014, 2016, 2017 |
| FORD F-150 | 5 | 2011, 2015, 2016, 2017 |
| PONTIAC VIBE | 4 | 2006, 2007 |
| BMW 530IA | 4 | 2002, 2003 |
| BMW 530I | 4 | 2002, 2003 |
| ACURA RDX | 4 | 2017, 2018 |
Manufacturer service bulletins that name P0741
58 technical service bulletins and manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA mention P0741, from 10 makes. A bulletin means the manufacturer has documented a known cause or a fix procedure for that model. Examples:
- HYUNDAI VENUE (2020, 2021, 2026), bulletin 10233540: Certain 2020-22MY Venue (QX) vehicles may experience a check engine light or malfunction indicator light due to Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) listed below. Perform the TCU update, and, if necessary, replace the IVT (Int…
- NISSAN KICKS (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021), bulletin 10190212: DTC P0741/4/6, P0776, P0841, P0965, P2857/8/9, P17F0/1/2/4 AND/OR P285A STORED, AND MAY HAVE HESITATION AND/OR REDUCED POWER This bulletin has been amended. See AMENDMENT HISTORY on the last page. Please discard previous…
- FORD F-250 SD (2021), bulletin 10208150: Some 2021 F-Super Duty vehicles equipped with the 10R140 transmission and built on 01-Jun-2021 and through 31-Jul-2021 may exhibit no forward or reverse engagement with 3 or more clutch stuck off diagnostic trouble codes…
- HYUNDAI ACCENT (2020, 2021), bulletin 10251288: Certain 2020-2021MY Accent (HC) vehicles may experience an illuminated warning light due to the following Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC) listed below: TCU DTC Codes: P0730, P0731, P0741, P0867, P1603 Follow the procedure…
- KIA TELLURIDE (2020), bulletin 10174521: TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN: TCM MIL ON DTC P0741 LOGIC IMPROVEMENT - This bulletin provides the procedure to improve the logic of the Transmission Control Module (TCM) on some 2020MY Telluride (ON) vehicles, produced fro…
- HYUNDAI ELANTRA (2020), bulletin 10177135: Certain vehicles may experience an illuminated warning light due to Diagnostic Trouble Codes (DTC). Perform the ECU and TCU update, and, if necessary, replace the IVT (Intelligent Variable Transmission) to resolve this c…
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 low transmission fluid cause P0741?
Yes. The converter clutch is applied by fluid pressure, so low, burnt or worn-out fluid can keep it from locking fully. Checking level and condition is the first step, and a fluid service fixes some cases.
Does P0741 mean I need a new transmission?
Not usually. Software updates, a lockup solenoid, wiring or a fluid service fix many cases. A torque converter replacement is the expensive outcome, and a full transmission rebuild is only needed when there is wider internal damage.
What does P0741 feel like when driving?
Often nothing obvious. Some drivers notice higher RPM at highway speed, worse fuel economy, or a shudder like driving over rumble strips at 35–50 mph when the clutch tries to lock.
Can I drive with P0741?
Usually yes, for a while. The converter still transmits power without locking. Stop and have it checked if the transmission slips, shifts harshly, goes into a limp mode or the fluid smells burnt.