Fault codes › Powertrain › Generic (SAE standard) › Vehicle speed, idle control and inputs

P0500 Vehicle speed sensor

Needs attention Have it looked at soon. The car is usually driveable with care in the meantime.

What does P0500 mean?

P0500 is a generic powertrain code, defined by the SAE standard, so it means the same thing on every make and model: vehicle speed sensor. It belongs to the vehicle speed, idle control and inputs group of codes.

A control module stores the code when something it watches stays outside what it expects for long enough. On its own the code says which system complained, not which part has failed — the causes below, most likely first, are where to start.

Is it safe to drive with P0500?

Needs attention. Driveable, but cruise control and some safety systems may be inactive.

Common causes of P0500

Failed speed sensor.
Wheel speed sensor or ABS module fault.
Wiring damage.

Symptoms

Speedometer dropping out.
Cruise control disabled.
Harsh gear changes.

What to check first

Speed signal while driving.
ABS fault codes.
Sensor wiring.

Can I just clear P0500?

You can, and the light goes out — but a fault that is still there sets the code again, often within a drive or two. Clearing also erases the freeze frame (what the engine was doing when the code was stored) and resets the emissions readiness monitors, so an MOT, smog or inspection test will wait until they have run again. Fix the cause first, then clear it, then watch whether it returns.

Read and clear P0500 from your iPhone with OBDTrip

Plug a Bluetooth OBD-II adapter into the car and OBDTrip reads every stored, pending and permanent code, explains each one in plain English like this, shows what the engine was doing when it was set, and clears the check engine light once the fault is fixed. It keeps a history of when each code comes back, and records every drive on its own from then on.

Needs a Bluetooth Low Energy adapter such as the Vgate iCar Pro — which adapters work with iPhone. Reading and clearing codes is part of an OBDTrip subscription.

Related codes

General guidance from OBDTrip's fault-code catalogue, not a diagnosis of your car. When a code points to brakes, steering, overheating or a flashing check engine light, have the car looked at before driving on.