Tire Pressure Sensor Fault: What It Means and How to Fix It Fast

Have you ever seen a tire pressure sensor fault flash on your dashboard and felt that little panic? You’re not alone. This warning shows up on millions of cars every year – from a 2020 Ford Explorer to high-end Ferrari models. The good news? In most cases, a tire pressure sensor fault is fixable without spending a fortune.

Table of Contents

What Does “Tire Pressure Sensor Fault” Actually Mean?

Your car is saying: “Hey, I can’t hear one of the tire sensors!”

Every tire has a tiny sensor inside it. This little sensor tells the car two things:

How much air is in the tire
How hot or cold the tire is

When the sensor stops talking (or talks too quietly), your car gets worried. It turns on the yellow warning light and writes tire pressure sensor fault on the screen.

That’s all it means – one (or more) of the little sensors is not answering the car.

Why This Warning Matters for Your Safety

Big countries said, “Every new car MUST have TPMS!”

USA started in 2008
Europe started in 2014
Almost all rich and growing countries now do it too

Flat or soft tires cause thousands of crashes every year. TPMS helps stop those crashes. Correct tire pressure:

Prevents blowouts
Improves fuel economy by up to 3%
Makes braking shorter and safer
Extends tire life by thousands of miles

Most Common Causes of Tire Pressure Sensor Fault

Here are the top reasons drivers see this message (ranked by how often they happen):

Dead or weak sensor battery – TPMS batteries last 5–10 years. After that, the sensor stops sending signals.
Someone broke the tiny sensor when they took your tire off or moved it to another wheel.
It happens by mistake a lot when people change or rotate tires.
Cold weather – When the temperature drops 10 °C, tire pressure can fall 1–2 psi, and some older sensors misread this.
Corrosion or dirt on the sensor – Road salt and grime can stop the sensor from talking to the car.
You put on new wheels or new tires, but you forgot to teach the car the new sensor names.
The car is like, “Who are these new guys? I don’t know them!” Your car’s main battery is too weak or sick.
When the big battery feels tired, the tire sensors get confused and act funny. So the car shows the fault light. Faulty TPMS control module (rare but expensive).

Ford-Specific Issues: Why So Many F-150, Explorer, Escape Owners See This Message

Tons of Ford drivers see “tire pressure sensor fault” pop up, even when every tire is filled just right!

The car is yelling for no real reason!

It happens a ton on:

F-150 trucks
Explorer SUVs
Escape SUVs
Edge SUVs
Fusion cars

…from the years 2015 to 2023.

The car is just being picky, not because the tires are bad! Real owner reports on forums and Reddit show that:

The 2020–2022 Ford Explorer and Escape often trigger the fault after tire rotation.
Many 2017–2021 F-150 owners get the message in winter, and it disappears when spring arrives.
Ford’s “sensor training” procedure sometimes needs to be done twice for the car to accept new sensors.

How to Fix Tire Pressure Sensor Fault – Step-by-Step

Option 1 – Quick Checks You Can Do in 10 Minutes (Free)

Check and adjust all four tires (plus spare if it has a sensor) to the pressure shown on the driver’s door sticker.
Drive above 20 mph (32 km/h) for 10–15 minutes – many cars auto-reset the system.
If the light stays on, try the official Ford reset procedure (ignition on, hazard lights 3 flashes, etc.).

Option 2 – Grab a cheap magic tool (costs less than $30)

Get a little gadget like the Autel TS408 or ATEQ VT31. It wakes up the sleepy sensors and teaches the car: “Hey, car, these are my sensors again!”

Super easy and works on most cars! Great for DIY people.

Option 3 – Replace the Faulty Sensor

Average cost per sensor: $40–$90 (OEM) or $20–$40 (aftermarket)
Labor: 0.5–1 hour per wheel
Total cost per sensor with mounting: $80–$150 in most countries

Option 4 – Take it to the pros

If the light keeps coming back and saying “fault,” go to a tire shop or the dealer. They plug in a special computer, and in 5 minutes they can say: “This exact tire has the bad sensor!” Then they fix only the one that’s broken. Easy!

How to Reset Tire Pressure Sensor Fault on Popular Ford Models

2020–2023 Ford Explorer & Escape

Inflate tires to door-sticker pressure.
Menu → Settings → Vehicle → Tire Pressure Monitor → Reset.
Drive 2 minutes above 20 mph.

2015–2023 F-150 Use the “Test” or “Relearn” procedure with the hazard-button method (full steps in owner’s manual).

Luxury & Sports Cars: Ferrari and Other High-End TPMS Problems

Yep! Even people with fancy Ferraris see “tire pressure sensor fault” on their dash.

Their super-fast cars (488, F8, SF90, Roma, etc.) get the exact same sensor troubles as your everyday car.

Same problems… just way more expensive to fix!

The problems are the same! Only two big differences:

Ferrari parts cost 5 to 10 times more money
You almost always have to go to the Ferrari dealer to make the new sensors work. Source: AW Italian Auto Parts – 5 Common TPMS Issues in Ferrari¹

Tire Pressure Sensor Fault After Tire Rotation or New Wheels?

This is the #1 complaint worldwide. When tires are moved to different corners, many cars lose track of which sensor is where. The fix is a quick “relearn” procedure – takes 5–15 minutes with the right tool.

Cold Weather and TPMS: Why the Light Comes On Every Winter

A 10 °C temperature drop lowers tire pressure by about 1 psi. Combine that with an aging sensor battery, and the system thinks the sensor is dead. The light usually disappears when the weather warms up.

How Long Do Tire Pressure Sensors Really Last?

Battery life: 5–10 years or 100,000–160,000 km
Direct TPMS (sensor inside tire): most common, battery cannot be replaced → full sensor replacement needed
Some new 2024–2025 cars use longer-life sensors (up to 12 years)

Direct vs Indirect TPMS – Which System Does Your Car Have?

TypeHow it worksProsConsDirectSensor inside each wheel, very accurate. Expensive to replace, Indirect, Uses ABS wheel-speed sensors, battery, cheaper, less accurate, needs reset often

Most Ford, BMW, Mercedes, Toyota, and Ferrari use direct TPMS.

Symptoms of a Bad Tire Pressure Sensor

TPMS warning light stays on after tires are filled
Dashboard shows “—-” instead of pressure numbers
Message: tire pressure sensor fault or tire sensor not reading
Light comes on only in cold weather and goes away when warm

FAQs

Can I keep driving with a tire pressure sensor fault?

Yes, it’s totally safe to drive for days or weeks! The car just can’t warn you if a tire goes flat. So grab a $5 tire gauge and check the air every week until it’s fixed – super easy and keeps you safe!

Will Discount Tire reset my TPMS for free?

Yep! Big shops like Discount Tire, Costco, Walmart, or Kwik-Fit almost always do the reset for free when you buy tires there. If you already bought tires somewhere else, they might charge only $10–$20. Just ask nicely!

Why does my TPMS light stay on after filling tires?

You fixed the air, but the car still thinks one sensor is “lost” or sleeping. Drive 10–20 minutes over 20 mph, or do the quick reset trick – the light usually turns off and stays off!

How much does it cost to replace all 4 TPMS sensors?

In most big countries, it costs $400 to $800 total for all four (parts + work). If you pick cheap aftermarket sensors and a small shop, you can pay as little as $300. Dealer prices can go over $1,000!

Conclusion

A tire pressure sensor fault is annoying, but 9 times out of 10 it’s caused by a dead battery, cold weather, or a simple relearn issue – not a dangerous problem. Check your pressures, try the reset steps, and if the light stays on, get it scanned. Fixing it early saves money and keeps you safe on the road.

What car do you drive, and when did you first see the tire pressure sensor fault message? Drop it in the comments – we read every one and love helping drivers just like you!

References

AW Italian Auto Parts – 5 Common TPMS Issues in Ferrari ↩︎

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