P0741: Torque converter clutch circuit performance or stuck off
An OBD-II trouble code meaning the torque converter clutch, which locks the automatic transmission’s torque converter at cruising speeds, isn’t engaging as the transmission computer expects.
How to read it
P0741 is one of the standard OBD-II trouble codes stored when the check engine light comes on. An American Honda service bulletin names it “Torque Converter Clutch Circuit Performance or Stuck OFF”; a General Motors service bulletin calls it “Torque Converter Clutch (TCC) System Stuck Off”.
Also searched as: code P0741, P0741 code.
Code names follow SAE J2012. Manufacturers add codes of their own, and the same code can have several causes: the vehicle’s service information or a qualified mechanic can say what it means for a particular car.
What the monitor checks
The federal rule’s catch-all covers any other electronic powertrain component that sends input to or takes commands from the on-board computer and has a measurable effect on emissions.
What the manual says to do
Ford’s F-150 manual says that if the indicator stays on, the vehicle should be serviced at the first available opportunity, and that continued driving with it on can mean higher emissions, lower fuel economy, rougher running and more costly repairs.
How the light goes out
Under the federal rule, the check engine light may go out once the fault has not come back during three trips in a row in which its monitor runs without finding it. The system may erase the stored code if the same code has not been registered again in at least 40 engine warm-up cycles.
More OBD-II trouble codes
- P0420: Catalyst system efficiency below threshold (bank 1)
- P0430: Catalyst system efficiency below threshold (bank 2)
- P0300: Random/multiple cylinder misfire detected
- P0301: Cylinder 1 misfire detected
- P0302: Cylinder 2 misfire detected
- P0303: Cylinder 3 misfire detected
- P0304: Cylinder 4 misfire detected
- P0305: Cylinder 5 misfire detected
Sources
- American Honda service bulletin 23-078 (August 2023), Service bulletin 23-078, American Honda Motor Co.; published by NHTSA, Background
- GM service bulletin 19-NA-153 (August 2019), Bulletin 19-NA-153, General Motors; published by NHTSA, Condition
- 40 CFR 86.1806-05, On-board diagnostics (2012 edition), 40 CFR 86.1806-05, US Government Publishing Office (Code of Federal Regulations), § 86.1806-05(b) and (c)
- 2020 F-150 Owner's Manual, Ford Motor Company, Instrument Cluster; On-Board Diagnostics (OBD-II)
Last reviewed September 28, 2026 by Rory Hansen. How we research