TransmissionGeneric OBD-II codeUrgency: Monitor
Code P0711: gearbox oil temperature sensor: performance
P0711 means: transmission fluid temperature sensor "A": circuit out of range or performance problem.[1][2] The transmission fluid temperature sensor (a thermistor) tells the gearbox ECU the oil temperature, so it can schedule gear changes and torque converter lock-up and protect the fluid. The code indicates a reading that is inconsistent with conditions, for example one that does not rise after a long drive.[2][3]
What code P0711 means
The transmission fluid temperature sensor (a thermistor) tells the gearbox ECU the oil temperature, so it can schedule gear changes and torque converter lock-up and protect the fluid. The code indicates a reading that is inconsistent with conditions, for example one that does not rise after a long drive.[2][3]
It is a generic OBD-II code (it starts with P0), so it means the same on any make.[1]
Original definition (SAE J2012): Transmission Fluid Temperature Sensor "A" Circuit Range/Performance[1][2]
Causes of P0711
From most to least likely, according to the sources.
Symptoms
- Warning light on.[2]Engine warning light: faults that cause it
- Gearbox problem warning.[3]Gearbox warning: faults that cause it
- Harsh, delayed or jerky shifts.[2][3]Judder when pulling away: faults that cause it
- Limp mode or no overdrive.[2][3]Limp mode: faults that cause it
How to diagnose P0711
In order: from the most likely and cheapest to check to the most expensive.
- 1Check the gearbox oil level and condition.[2][3]
- 2Read the temperature in live data and compare it with the gearbox's actual temperature.[2]
- 3Measure the sensor's resistance at different temperatures.[2]
- 4Check the internal wiring and the connector, and replace the sensor if it is out of specification; it is usually part of the valve body harness.[2][3]
Can I keep driving with P0711?
Monitor
AutoDTCs rates it low to moderate: you can drive, but the gearbox may behave oddly and, if there is real overheating, its service life is shortened. Get it checked without delay.[2]
Documented faults related to P0711
Known faults of specific engines and cars, with their repair cost, the affected years and their sources.
Automatic gearbox (torque converter and CVT): the most serious faults by engine and car
- Critical severityFrequency: CommonMultitronicWear of the variator chain and conesYes: the variator uses a chain of more than 1,000 links between two pairs of cones that wears with mileage, especially if the oil is not changed regularly. Gebrauchtwagenberater ties the gearbox's reputation to "numerous total failures"; Schaeffler/LuK sells a kit to repair the chain.
- Critical severityFrequency: Common2.0 CDI (OM640)Costly failure of the Autotronic (CVT) automatic gearboxYes: the Autotronic continuously variable gearbox, optional on the 180 CDI and 200 CDI, is the problem cited most by owners of the 140 hp version (24 of 114 testimonies) and a fault hotspot according to the ADAC up to 2006. A German source recommends avoiding it and choosing the manual gearbox.
- High severityFrequency: CommonMultitronicControl unit (TCU) failure and limp modeYes: the multitronic control unit, especially in the 01J code (up to 2007), is one of its best-documented weak points. Overheating with oil seeping into the control unit causes fault warnings and limp mode and, if ignored, can end up damaging the gearbox itself.
- High severityFrequency: Common7G-Tronic / 9G-TronicConductor plate and speed sensor failure (limp mode)Yes: one of the most cited weak points of the 7G-Tronic (722.9) is the internal conductor plate, which integrates the turbine, output and intermediate-shaft speed sensors; if it fails it can trigger a limp mode with delayed shifts or harsh jerks, although it does not always require replacing the whole gearbox.
- High severityFrequency: CommonAudi A6 C6Wear and failures of the Multitronic automatic gearbox on front-wheel-drive versionsYes: on front-wheel-drive versions with the Multitronic (CVT) gearbox, gebrauchtwagenberater.de documents jerking when pulling away that can progress to complete failure, especially on older cars; fiches-auto.fr adds selector lock-ups and torque converter breakages. The quattro versions, with the Tiptronic gearbox, do not share this problem.Repair (garage): €1,000Appears at around 120,000 km
- High severityFrequency: CommonMINI Cooper R50Faults in the CVT automatic gearbox, the manual gearbox and the clutchAccording to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the Mini R50 accumulates 22 gearbox mentions and 32 clutch mentions, and the CVT automatic variant is described as fragile and 'to be avoided'. Wikipedia confirms that the CVT and the manual gearboxes were fitted depending on the year.
Gearbox mechatronic unit: the most serious faults by engine and car
- High severityFrequency: Very frequentDSG7 DQ200Mechatronic unit failure: pressure accumulator, pump and cracked housingYes: the mechatronic unit is the DQ200's most cited weak point. Its pressure accumulator and hydraulic pump can fail because of a housing design defect, with fault warnings, limp mode or loss of drive; Volkswagen has acknowledged the problem with service actions and software updates.Repair (garage): €600–€2,200
- High severityFrequency: CommonMultitronicControl unit (TCU) failure and limp modeYes: the multitronic control unit, especially in the 01J code (up to 2007), is one of its best-documented weak points. Overheating with oil seeping into the control unit causes fault warnings and limp mode and, if ignored, can end up damaging the gearbox itself.
- High severityFrequency: Common7DCTJerking, hesitation and mechatronic faults at low speedYes: several sources based on owner accounts name the 7DCT as one of the most-cited weak points of these models, with jerking and hesitation on pulling away, missing gears (sometimes reverse) and, on the most affected diesels, more than a third of the accounts mentioning gearbox faults.
- High severityFrequency: Common7G-Tronic / 9G-TronicConductor plate and speed sensor failure (limp mode)Yes: one of the most cited weak points of the 7G-Tronic (722.9) is the internal conductor plate, which integrates the turbine, output and intermediate-shaft speed sensors; if it fails it can trigger a limp mode with delayed shifts or harsh jerks, although it does not always require replacing the whole gearbox.
- High severityFrequency: CommonAudi Q5 IAudi Q5 S tronic gearbox faults: jerking, vibrations and mechatronicsThe S tronic gearbox and the transmission account for 65 and 48 testimonies out of 322 on fiches-auto.fr, with jerking, vibrations and gear selection faults; there are cases of mechatronic unit replacement at 105,000 km. No official campaign found.Appears at around 48,000 km
- High severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda CX-60Transmission control module (TCM) software: the engine and electric motor clutch may not re-engage after brakingYes: campaign AR043A corrects a software fault in the transmission control module (TCM) which, after braking, can stop the clutch between the engine and the electric motor from re-engaging; the car may not respond to the accelerator. It is fixed by reprogramming the module at an authorised workshop.
Engine sensors: the most serious faults by engine and car
- High severityFrequency: Occasional2.0 DTI and 2.2 DTIVP44 injection pump and air mass meter failureGerman Wikipedia documents recurring failures of the Bosch VP44 injection pump and the air mass meter in the early years of this engine. An owner testimony for this engine describes the pump being replaced at 192,500 km, at a cost the owner calls «prohibitive».
- Medium severityFrequency: Common2.0 TDIClogged particulate filter or faulty pressure sensorThe 2.0 TDI's particulate filter clogs if the car mostly makes short journeys, because it never gets to regenerate; sometimes the fault is just the differential pressure sensor. Cleaning it costs around €200 and replacing it, €800 to €3,000.Repair (garage): €800–€3,000
- Medium severityFrequency: Common1.4 and 1.6 8vCrankshaft position sensor failure (TDC sensor)The crankshaft position sensor (capteur PMH, or TDC sensor) appears repeatedly in the reliability sources for the Clio II, the Kangoo I and the Dacia Logan I with this engine, with hard cold starting or stalling as the main symptoms. It is a cheap part, but the failure can leave you stranded.
- Medium severityFrequency: Common1.4 and 1.6 16vCrankshaft position sensor failureThe crankshaft position sensor (capteur PMH) appears repeatedly in the reliability sources for almost every generation with this engine, with hard cold starting, stalling or the car cutting out unexpectedly. It is a cheap part, but the failure can leave you stranded.
P0711 by make
Documented faults that can trigger P0711 in each make's engines and cars.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with code P0711?
Normally yes, but the gearbox may work strangely. Check the oil level and get the repair done soon.[2]
Does the sensor have to be replaced?
Not always: first rule out the oil level and condition and the wiring. If the sensor fails, it is usually in the valve body.[2][3]
What does "range/performance" mean?
That the reading exists but does not fit reality, for example it stays cold after a long drive.[2]
Will I pass the MOT with code P0711?
If the code has switched on the engine warning light, no: with that light on, the inspection records a serious defect, and on Euro 5 and Euro 6 cars the ITV (Spain's roadworthiness inspection, similar to the MOT) also reads the OBD diagnostic system. Repair the fault before you go; clearing the code just before the inspection does not help either, because it counts as a serious defect.[4]
Not sure what is wrong with your car? Describe what you notice in the symptom diagnosis or see all fault codes.
Sources
Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.
- P0711 DTCDTCSearch · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026
- P0711 diagnostic trouble codeAutoDTCs · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026
- OBD Fehlercode P0711CarWiki · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026 · in German
- Desmontando mitos: ¿puede pasar mi coche la ITV con el testigo de «avería motor» encendido?Diariomotor · Motoring press · published 8 March 2021 · consulted 2 October 2026 · in Spanish