P0700 fault code: Transmission Control System (MIL Request)

Last updated 19 August 2026 · OBDCode UK editorial

Can I drive with P0700? — Limit driving

Our verified driving guidance for P0700 is: limited driving. A short, gentle trip to a garage may be possible if gears still engage. Do not continue if the gearbox will not select a gear, slips badly, or a temperature warning appears.

P0700 means “Transmission Control System (MIL Request)” — a transmission fault in the powertrain. Limit driving. The gearbox control unit has asked the engine computer to turn on the engine management light. P0700 is a request flag — the specific gearbox fault is usually stored as a companion transmission code, not as P0700 itself.

Can I DIY?

Caution — conditions apply. We do not publish DIY repair or strip-down steps for this code on this page. Read codes and observe only; leave the repair to a qualified garage.

Caution — conditions applyDIY boundary

ToolsBasic tools only — for example a household socket set, tyre gauge, or a consumer OBD reader.

Some checks may be possible for a careful DIY driver with the right tools and a safe place to work. Stop if anything feels beyond your skill or kit.

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Fault code: P0700 — Transmission Control System (MIL Request).
Can I drive: Limit driving. Our verified driving guidance for P0700 is: limited driving. A short, gentle trip to a garage may be possible if gears still engage. Do not continue if the gearbox will not select a gear, slips badly, or a temperature warning appears.
Question: What does this code mean for a UK car, is it safe to drive, what are the most likely causes, and what should I ask a garage to check before replacing parts?

For your garage

REPAIR BRIEF — prepared by the owner with obdcode.co.uk
Fault code: P0700 — Transmission Control System (MIL Request).
Drive guidance from obdcode.co.uk: Limit driving. Our verified driving guidance for P0700 is: limited driving. A short, gentle trip to a garage may be possible if gears still engage. Do not continue if the gearbox will not select a gear, slips badly, or a temperature warning appears.
Owner’s request: please diagnose before replacing parts, itemise diagnosis time separately, and quote before any work beyond diagnosis.

P07xxTransmission

MOT fail riskif the warning light stays on

What does P0700 mean?

P0700 is a generic (SAE standard) powertrain code reported by your car’s engine control unit. It sits in the P07xx block, which covers transmission. The stored description is “Transmission Control System (MIL Request)”. The code itself tells you which circuit or system tripped the fault — not always the exact part that failed.

How to diagnose P0700 yourself

Confirm P0700 and companion gearbox codes: Scan the engine computer and, if your reader can, the transmission control unit. Write down every code stored with P0700, including pending codes. Do not clear them. Stop if: The car will not select a gear, or a gearbox temperature warning is already showing. Do not continue driving to finish a scan.

Park safely and switch off before locating the socket. Its position varies, so use the vehicle handbook and never force or dismantle trim.
Check that gears still engage from the seat: From the driver's seat, parking brake on, with space around the car. Note whether Park, Reverse and Drive engage, and whether the engine management light is steady or flashing. Do not remove a gearbox pan or dipstick as a 'test'. Stop if: No drive or reverse, burning smell from the gearbox, or the car lurches uncontrollably.

Will P0700 fail an MOT?

An engine management light left on is a Major defect at MOT, including when a gearbox module requested the lamp. The tester does not need a separate transmission-control code to fail the lamp.

Before booking your test, check what usually fails on your car: see our MOT pass rates by make and model, built from 33.1 million DVSA tests.

What the MOT data says

No MOT certificate item corresponds to this code; MOT outcome data cannot be shown.

P0701Transmission Control System Range/Performance P0702Transmission Control System Electrical P0703Brake Switch 'B' Circuit P0704Clutch Switch Input Circuit Malfunction P0705Transmission Range Sensor Circuit Malfunction (PRNDL Input) P0706Transmission Range Sensor Circuit Range/Performance P0707Transmission Range Sensor Circuit Low P0708Transmission Range Sensor Circuit High

P0700 — quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0700?

Limit driving. Our verified driving guidance for P0700 is: limited driving. A short, gentle trip to a garage may be possible if gears still engage. Do not continue if the gearbox will not select a gear, slips badly, or a temperature warning appears.

Can I fix P0700 myself?

Caution — conditions apply. We do not publish DIY repair or strip-down steps for this code on this page. Read codes and observe only; leave the repair to a qualified garage. Basic tools only — for example a household socket set, tyre gauge, or a consumer OBD reader.

Will P0700 fail my MOT?