The Lemon IndexThe transmission lost its output speed signal. Full P0720 page
113 owner complaints · the #1 code Ford F-Series owners name · 18% of Ford F-Series complaints that name a code (every car: 1.1%)
Middle of 120,000 miles · most between 84,000 and 150,000 (44 owners gave it)
Ford F-Series owners named P0720 in 113 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2013, 2012 and 2011 model years, at a middle of 120,000 miles. The part they name most is the valve body or shift solenoid (31 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Ford F-Series model years that report P0720
Owner complaints naming P0720, 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
120,000 miles is the middle of what 44 owners entered. Half were between 84,000 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 31 of the 113 complaints (27%). 23 of those mention it being replaced or repaired, and 4 say the problem came back afterwards. Next: wheel speed (ABS) sensor (26), engine software (a reflash) (20) and engine computer (ECM / PCM) (12).
- Valve body or shift solenoid31 complaints23 mention a repair or replacement, 4 of them say the problem came back · what Ford F-Series owners paid
- Wheel speed (ABS) sensor26 complaints11 mention a repair or replacement, 1 of them says the problem came back
- Software update (reflash)20 complaints18 mention a repair or replacement, 6 of them say the problem came back
- Engine computer (ECM / PCM)12 complaints8 mention a repair or replacement, 2 of them say the problem came back · what Ford F-Series owners paid
69 complaints mention a recall and 12 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 P0720
34% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Loses power or goes into limp mode26%29 of 113 complaints
- Warning lights and electrical faults7%8 of 113 complaints
- Transmission slips or shifts hard6%7 of 113 complaints
- Brakes or ABS act up5%6 of 113 complaints
- Stalls or shuts off3%3 of 113 complaints
Share of the complaints naming P0720 whose text also describes each problem. A complaint can describe more than one.
Codes owners report with it
P0722 40 P0721 7 P0706 6 P0705 5 P0707 4 P1702 3
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 · 2013 · issued 2019
The software used to reprogram the PCM did not have the necessary updates to prevent the transmission from unexpectedly downshifting into first gear, regardless of vehicle speed. NHTSA 19V433000 - Transmission & drivetrain · 2011, 2012, 2013 · issued 2019
The transmission may unexpectedly downshift into first gear, regardless of vehicle speed. NHTSA 19V075000
11 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 P0720. Recall work is free at any dealer: check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with our VIN check.
Keep going
- P0720: meaning, causes and every car that reports it
- Ford F-Series reliability by year
- 2013 Ford F-Series problems and recalls
Other codes Ford F-Series owners report
P0722 P2112 P0707 P0706 P1702 P0016 P0721 P0705 P07F7 P0430
P0720 on other cars
Infiniti Q50 (15)
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 P0720 means
The transmission lost its output speed signal. The speedometer and shifting can act up.
Fix soon. Book a shop visit this week. Stop driving if the car slips, shakes, overheats or warns you.
- Failed output speed sensor
- Wiring fault
Check the complaints yourself
NHTSA complaint numbers (search them at nhtsa.gov): 11776187, 11774440, 11772487, 11771460, 11770148, 11769670, 11769149, 11767995, 11767852, 11766888, 11766769, 11765101 and 101 more.
Quick answers
What does P0720 mean on a Ford F-Series?
Output Speed Sensor Circuit. The transmission lost its output speed signal. The speedometer and shifting can act up.
Which Ford F-Series years have the most P0720 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2013 (37), 2012 (16), 2011 (15) Ford F-Series named P0720 most (113 complaints in all, 2010–2017). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes P0720 on a Ford F-Series?
Owners most often name the valve body or shift solenoid (31 of 113 complaints), then wheel speed (ABS) sensor and engine software (a reflash). 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 P0720 show up on a Ford F-Series?
Owners who gave their mileage reported a middle of 120,000 miles; half were between 84,000 and 150,000 (44 owners).
Can I drive my Ford F-Series with P0720?
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 P0720 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.