Heavy towing, hill climbing or stop-and-go driving in heat; Low or degraded transmission fluid; Blocked transmission cooler or cooler lines; Slipping torque converter clutch or internal slipping.

P0218: Transmission Fluid Over Temperature Condition

Q: What does P0218 mean?

P0218: Transmission Fluid Over Temperature Condition. The transmission fluid temperature has exceeded the safe limit.

Q: Is it safe to drive with P0218?

Severity: High. Limit driving and diagnose promptly. Continued driving can cause damage, stalling or limp mode.

P0218 means Transmission Fluid Over Temperature Condition. The transmission fluid temperature has exceeded the safe limit.

CodeP0218

SystemTransmission

SeverityHigh

TypeGeneric powertrain

Can I keep driving? Limit driving and diagnose promptly. Continued driving can cause damage, stalling or limp mode.

Common symptoms

Transmission warning or check engine light
Harsh or delayed shifts
Limp mode
Burnt fluid smell

Possible causes

Heavy towing, hill climbing or stop-and-go driving in heat
Low or degraded transmission fluid
Blocked transmission cooler or cooler lines
Slipping torque converter clutch or internal slipping

How to diagnose P0218

Let the transmission cool down.
Check fluid level and condition using the manufacturer's procedure.
Inspect the transmission cooler and lines.
Check for other transmission codes that point to slipping.

What the code means, digit by digit

PPowertrain0Generic (SAE) code2Sub-system18Specific fault

Generic codes have the same definition on every OBD-II vehicle (petrol cars from model year 1996 in the US, 2001 in the EU; diesels later). Manufacturers can add their own enhanced codes; those are not listed here.

Symptoms linked to P0218

Transmission slipping

General guidance only. Fault codes describe what the engine computer saw, not which part failed: confirm with testing before replacing parts, and follow the vehicle's service information.