Powertrain, generic (extended)

P271B Park Pawl Position Sensor A Circuit High

Check engine lightUsually off
EmissionsNot relevant
Drive cycleNot required
Limp modePossible

P271B is the upper-limit partner of P271A: the signal from park pawl position sensor A reads above its plausible range. Typical electrical causes are a broken ground or signal wire, which lets the input float towards the reference, or a short to a supply line. No manufacturer documents P271B publicly. The closest published case concerns the same sensor at its lower limit, Ford's recall 26V688 for the Integrated Park Module of the HF55 hybrid transmission, which shows what is at stake: if the controller cannot trust the pawl position it may refuse to leave Park or drop to Neutral. Most systems carry a second sensor B as a cross-check (P271C/P271D), so a single high reading is normally caught before the pawl moves unintentionally.

Likely causes

Open sensor ground or signal wire
Signal wire shorted to reference or battery voltage
Corroded or loose connector at the park actuator
Failed position sensor A

Symptoms

  • Shift system warning on the display
  • Park cannot be selected or released

Repair estimate

DifficultyShop_onlyWorkshop job
Parts and labour€100–1,500
Time1–4 h

Typical range across vehicles; the real cost depends on what the testing finds.

Parts involved

park pawl position sensor awiring harness

Related codes

P271AP271DP271CP272C

References: law.cornell.edu, static.nhtsa.gov, en.wikipedia.org.