What are the common causes of P0500?

Faulty vehicle speed sensor (VSS). Damaged wiring or connector. Poor sensor mount or air gap. Damaged speed sensor tone ring. Faulty ABS wheel speed sharing the signal.

Inspect the VSS wiring and connector for damage. Read vehicle speed signal with an OBD-II scanner during a road test. Verify sensor mounting and tone ring condition. Compare ABS wheel speed readings if available. Replace the VSS if no signal is present at the PCM.

P0500

Vehicle Speed Sensor Malfunction

System: Speed and idle control (P code)
Lamp: Check Engine Light
Category: Powertrain - Computer and Auxiliary Controls

What it means

P0500 means Vehicle Speed Sensor Malfunction.

Where it lives

For P0500, the description names the sensor as the part involved.

Check these first

Faulty vehicle speed sensor (VSS)
Damaged wiring or connector
Poor sensor mount or air gap
Damaged speed sensor tone ring
Faulty ABS wheel speed sharing the signal

What to do next

Inspect the VSS wiring and connector for damage
Read vehicle speed signal with an OBD-II scanner during a road test
Verify sensor mounting and tone ring condition
Compare ABS wheel speed readings if available
Replace the VSS if no signal is present at the PCM

Look up another code

Code or symptom

Enter a full code or a symptom. Press / to search. How to read a code

Type a code above, or start from a symptom or a common code.

Updated

Generic SAE J2012 definition. Last updated 2026-08-30.