What P0902 means
Set when the control circuit of the clutch A actuator shows a low state, in practice a short to ground on a motor or control line.
How the engine computer detects it
Ford defines it exactly this way for the DPS6 PowerShift transmission: the TCM tests the three-phase clutch A motor for open circuit (P0900), short to ground (P0902) and short to power (P0903), next to hall sensor and sequence checks. Ford's TCM program 14M02 for 2011-2015 Fiesta and Focus also lists P0902 among the codes for which a failed TCM can be the cause, so the module itself is a real suspect besides the motor and harness. P090C is the same fault on clutch B. With the clutch no longer controllable, the transmission goes into a fallback mode.
Written from public technical sources and not yet checked by a mechanic. How we write these pages
Symptoms
- Check engine light on
- No drive or only some gears available
- Jerky take-off and shift faults
Common causes
- Clutch A actuator motor with internal short to ground Most likely
- Failed TCM output stage (Ford program 14M02 lists this code) Possible
- Chafed motor wire touching ground Possible
How to diagnose P0902
- Read every stored code with an OBD-II scanner. If misfire or fuel trim codes are there too, fix those first: they often cause this one.
- Inspect the parts involved: clutch a actuator, wiring harness, tcm.
- Work through the causes above from most to least likely, cheapest checks first.
- Clear the code and drive a full drive cycle to confirm the repair held.
Vehicles that report P0902 most
| Vehicle | Years | Reports | Share | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ford Focus | 2012–2018 | 7 | 60k |
Counts of owner complaints to the NHTSA that mention P0902 (7 in total), not failure rates: popular models get more complaints simply because more of them are on the road. Models with fewer than 3 complaints are left out.
Reading the code
- P
- Powertrain
- 0
- Generic (SAE) code
- 9
- Transmission
- 02
- Specific fault
Questions drivers ask
Can I drive with code P0902?
If the car shifts normally, drive gently to a shop. If it's stuck in one gear, slips, shifts harshly or won't move out of Park, don't drive it: have it towed.
Will my car pass an emissions inspection with P0902?
Probably not in states that test vehicles with an OBD-II scan: an emissions-related code that keeps the check engine light on is usually an automatic fail. Rules differ by state and county, so check yours.
This page is general information, not a substitute for a professional diagnosis. Repair costs are rough estimates for parts and labor and vary by vehicle and region.