Buy Ford F-150 Speed Sensors

The F‑150 uses two main sensor families:

• Wheel speed sensors at each hub (2009‑present) or a single rear‑axle sensor on older trucks. They feed ABS, traction control, and, on newer models, the speedometer. (Workshop Manuals, YouTube)
• Output‑shaft or transmission speed sensors (OSS/TSS) that sit on or inside the transmission and tell the powertrain control module (PCM) how fast the output shaft spins so it can pick the right gear. (JustAnswer, OBD-Codes.com)

A speed sensor produces an electrical pulse every time a toothed ring spins past its magnetic tip. The truck's computer counts those pulses to calculate miles per hour. If the pulse stream stops or looks odd, the PCM sets codes such as P0500 (vehicle speed signal fault) or P0720 (output speed signal fault) and may restrict shifting to protect the drivetrain. (CarParts.com, OBD-Codes.com)

• 1997‑2003 - One sensor on top of the rear differential housing handles both ABS and the speedometer. (YouTube, Workshop Manuals)
• 2004‑2008 - Rear differential sensor plus independent front‑wheel sensors for four‑wheel ABS. (YouTube)
• 2009‑2010 - Four wheel sensors only; speed reading comes from the left‑front hub. (Ford Parts)
• 2011‑2020 (6R80 transmission) - Four wheel sensors and an output‑shaft speed sensor located in the transmission's lead‑frame. (JustAnswer)
• 2021‑present - Similar to 2015+, but the wheel sensors also feed driver‑assist functions like Pre‑Collision Assist. (F150 Gen 14)

• Speedometer or odometer drops to zero. (CarParts.com)
• ABS, traction‑control, or brake lights stay on. (F150 Forum)
• Hard or delayed shifts; sudden downshifts (2014 recall). (Automotive Dive)
• Cruise control will not engage. (OBD-Codes.com)
• Trouble codes P0500, P0720, P0722, C1230, etc. (, YouTube)

1. Scan for codes. A cheap OBD‑II reader will display P‑codes that point to the failed sensor. (YouTube)
2. Visual check. Look for rust, broken wires, or debris at the sensor tip or tone ring. (YouTube)
3. Meter test. Spin the wheel while probing the sensor; you should see an A/C voltage that rises with speed or resistance in the 780‑1 900 Ω range (front) and about 1 500 Ω (rear diff). (YouTube, F150 Forum)
4. Wiggle test. Flex the harness-if the reading cuts out, the wire is corroded. (YouTube)

• Soak the mounting bolt in penetrating oil; torque the new wheel sensor bracket to 106 in‑lb (12 N m). (F150 Forum)
• Clean rust off the hub's tone ring before installing the new sensor to prevent false ABS trips. (YouTube)
• For the 6R80, the OSS is part of the lead‑frame; replacing it means dropping the pan and valve body-watch a step‑by‑step video first. (YouTube, YouTube)
• Always disconnect the battery before unplugging sensors to avoid stored soft faults. (YouTube)

Below is a quick guide; always match by VIN before ordering:

← scroll table horizontally →

(YouTube, JustAnswer, F150 Gen 14)

A 2024 campaign (NHTSA 24S37) covers 552 000 2014 F‑150s that can downshift into first gear if the OSS signal drops. Dealers add updated PCM software, and owners can check their VIN on the free NHTSA recall lookup. (Automotive Dive, WXYZ 7 News Detroit, Cars.com)

Earlier recalls in 2019 (19S07) and 2016 (16S19) addressed similar OSS wiring concerns on 2011‑2013 models. (JustAnswer)

• Keep connectors dry and use dielectric grease on exposed plugs. (YouTube)
• Replace rusty backing plates; corrosion can change the air‑gap between sensor and tone ring. (YouTube)
• After a lift kit or larger tires, recalibrate the speedometer through a dealer scan tool or an aftermarket programmer-see this owner discussion for tips.

• The sensor pulse also feeds adaptive steering and trailer sway control on 2021+ trucks. (F150 Gen 14)
• A failed rear diff sensor on early trucks turns off 4×4 because the transfer‑case computer can't confirm wheel speed. (JustAnswer)

Q: What does a speed sensor actually do?
A: It sends a steady stream of pulses to the computer so it knows how fast each wheel or the transmission is spinning. (CarParts.com)

Q: Can I drive with a bad wheel speed sensor?
A: You can, but the truck may lose ABS, traction control, and cruise control, and it may shift hard. It's safer to fix it soon. (, OBD-Codes.com)

Q: Why did my 2014 F‑150 slam into first gear on the highway?
A: A dropped OSS signal can force the PCM to downshift; Ford's recall 24S37 installs software that ignores a single glitch. (Automotive Dive)

Q: How hard is it to swap a front wheel sensor?
A: With hand tools it takes about 30 minutes per side-see this video guide.

Q: Do I need to bleed brakes after changing a sensor?
A: No. The sensor is outside the hydraulic system.

Q: What size bolt holds the front sensor?
A: An 8 mm bolt torqued to 106 in‑lb (12 N m). (F150 Forum)

Q: My code reader shows P0720. Is that the same part?
A: P0720 points to the output‑shaft sensor in the transmission, not the wheel hubs. (OBD-Codes.com)

Q: Can cleaning fix a sensor?
A: Sometimes. Rust flakes or metal shavings can block the magnetic tip; gentle brushing and brake‑clean often restores the signal. (YouTube)

Q: What should resistance be?
A: Front hub sensors often read around 1 000 Ω; the rear diff sensor is closer to 1 500 Ω. (F150 Forum)

Q: Will bigger tires throw off the speed reading?
A: Yes. Re‑programming the tire‑size parameter resets the pulse‑to‑mile ratio so the speedometer stays true. (F150 Gen 14)

Q: Does a bad sensor hurt fuel economy?
A: Indirectly. Incorrect speed data can alter shift timing, keeping the engine in higher revs and burning more fuel. (CarParts.com)

Use these pointers to keep your F‑150's speed sensors-and everything they control-working smoothly.