The Lemon IndexThe gear selector position signal doesn't make sense. Full P0706 page
38 owner complaints · the #5 code Ford F-Series owners name · 6% of Ford F-Series complaints that name a code (every car: 0.3%)
Middle of 114,000 miles · most between 81,000 and 150,000 (8 owners gave it)
Ford F-Series owners named P0706 in 38 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2016, 2015 and 2017 model years, at a middle of 114,000 miles. The part they name most is the valve body or shift solenoid (12 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Ford F-Series model years that report P0706
Owner complaints naming P0706, by model year. Raw counts: years that sold more get more complaints, so this is each model year's record, not a failure rate.
Mileage when it happened
114,000 miles is the middle of what 8 owners entered. Half were between 81,000 and 150,000 miles.
The mileage on the complaint form, when the owner gave one.
What owners say caused it or fixed it
The most-named part is the valve body or shift solenoid, in 12 of the 38 complaints (32%). 5 of those mention it being replaced or repaired, and 1 say the problem came back afterwards. Next: engine software (a reflash) (6), engine computer (ECM / PCM) (5) and wheel speed (ABS) sensor (4).
- Valve body or shift solenoid12 complaints5 mention a repair or replacement, 1 of them says the problem came back · what Ford F-Series owners paid
- Software update (reflash)6 complaints5 mention a repair or replacement, 3 of them say the problem came back
- Engine computer (ECM / PCM)5 complaints4 mention a repair or replacement, 3 of them say the problem came back · what Ford F-Series owners paid
- Wheel speed (ABS) sensor4 complaints1 mentions a repair or replacement
21 complaints mention a recall and 4 mention a warranty.
Counted from the owners' own words: a part counts when a sentence names it with a cause or repair word. What owners wrote, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause before replacing parts.
Symptoms owners describe with P0706
37% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Warning lights and electrical faults21%8 of 38 complaints
- Loses power or goes into limp mode18%7 of 38 complaints
- Won't start or hard to start8%3 of 38 complaints
- Brakes or ABS act up8%3 of 38 complaints
- Transmission slips or shifts hard8%3 of 38 complaints
Share of the complaints naming P0706 whose text also describes each problem. A complaint can describe more than one.
Codes owners report with it
P0707 33 P1702 14 P1921 7 P0705 7 P0720 6 P0722 4
Other codes named in the same Ford F-Series complaints, and in how many.
Repair costs
Ford F-Series valve body replacement cost · Ford F-Series ECM (engine computer) replacement cost
Recalls on these Ford F-Series years
- Transmission & drivetrain · 2014 · issued 2026
A loss of signal between the transmission output shaft speed sensor and the powertrain control module (PCM) can cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift into first gear. NHTSA 26V378000 - Transmission & drivetrain · 2015, 2016, 2017 · issued 2026
A loss of signal between the transmission range sensor and the powertrain control module can cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift into second gear. NHTSA 26V237000 - Transmission & drivetrain · 2014 · issued 2024
A loss of signal between the transmission output shaft speed sensor and the powertrain control module can cause the transmission to unexpectedly downshift into first gear, regardless of vehicle speed. NHTSA 24V444000 - Transmission & drivetrain · 2017 · issued 2018
A roll pin may not have been installed in the transmission, potentially causing a loss of the "Park" function. NHTSA 18V213000 - Transmission & drivetrain · 2017 · issued 2017
The pin that attaches the transmission shift linkage to the transmission may come out, preventing the transmission from responding to movement of the shift lever. NHTSA 17V671000
6 recalls for the same systems (powertrain) on the Ford F-Series model years above. A recall for the same system isn't proof it's behind P0706. Recall work is free at any dealer: check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with our VIN check.
Keep going
- P0706: meaning, causes and every car that reports it
- Ford F-Series reliability by year
- 2016 Ford F-Series problems and recalls
Other codes Ford F-Series owners report
P0720 P0722 P2112 P0707 P1702 P0016 P0721 P0705 P07F7 P0430
The details
How we count
We read every owner complaint in the NHTSA file whose text names this trouble code, and count the ones filed about this model (matched by the make, model and model year on the complaint). Mileage is what the owner entered on the form.
Parts: a complaint counts for a part when one of the owner's own sentences names that part together with a cause word (failed, bad, diagnosed, caused by, leaking ...) or a repair word (replaced, repaired, new, reprogrammed ...). "Came back" means the same complaint also says the problem returned or the repair didn't fix it. These are counts of what owners wrote, not a diagnosis, and one complaint can name several parts.
Complaints are reports, not proof of a defect, and most owners never file one. Popular models get more complaints, so the counts are not a failure rate. The code meaning is the standard SAE J2012 definition in our own words, or the carmaker's meaning where we verified it for that make.
What P0706 means
The gear selector position signal doesn't make sense. Shifting and starting can act up.
Fix soon. Book a shop visit this week. Stop driving if the car slips, shakes, overheats or warns you.
- Failing range sensor
- Misadjusted linkage
Check the complaints yourself
NHTSA complaint numbers (search them at nhtsa.gov): 11770148, 11769670, 11769149, 11764463, 11761206, 11754965, 11754738, 11745148, 11742652, 11740368, 11739516, 11737636 and 26 more.
Quick answers
What does P0706 mean on a Ford F-Series?
Transmission Range Sensor A Circuit Range/Performance. The gear selector position signal doesn't make sense. Shifting and starting can act up.
Which Ford F-Series years have the most P0706 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2016 (18), 2015 (9), 2017 (8) Ford F-Series named P0706 most (38 complaints in all, 2014–2017). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes P0706 on a Ford F-Series?
Owners most often name the valve body or shift solenoid (12 of 38 complaints), then engine software (a reflash) and engine computer (ECM / PCM). That's what owners wrote, not a diagnosis: have a shop confirm the cause with a scan and tests before replacing parts.
At what mileage does P0706 show up on a Ford F-Series?
Owners who gave their mileage reported a middle of 114,000 miles; half were between 81,000 and 150,000 (8 owners).
Can I drive my Ford F-Series with P0706?
Fix soon. Book a shop visit this week. Stop driving if the car slips, shakes, overheats or warns you.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints that name P0706 on the Ford F-Series, counted by The Lemon Index; NHTSA recalls; repair bills owners named. Meanings: SAE J2012 in our own words. Owner reports, not a diagnosis or repair advice for your car.