Different engine but i have a similar experience with temp sensors only this one was for engine oil temp that screws into the sump of the TDV6, recently had a few limp episodes while on the freeway at over 100kph and when i did get a chance to read the does i got a P0196-26 which is oil temp sensor out of range.
Cleared the codes after taking a screenshot and the next time it occurred i checked the live values in the gap tool and found that sensor was only reading 39c at operating temp and when cold 15c, couldn't get a new sensor same day so got one off a much newer 2016 ford territory wreck that uses the same 2.7TDV6 and right away it has improved.
Apparently the ecu uses oil temp and coolant temp for fueling and also for trans shifting of which mine had been a bit sluggish, also gave an injector pressure tool low DTC which hasn't returned so far.
These cascading faults are the biggest pain in the **** in these cars.