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C0238

Speed Wheel-to-Wheel Mismatch

The ABS control module has detected an implausible speed difference between wheels that cannot be explained by cornering. This typically points to one suspect sensor, mismatched tyre sizes or a damaged tone ring.

  • Check engine light: Not always
  • Emissions related: No
  • Repair difficulty: medium

Symptoms

  • ABS warning light on
  • ESC/stability control deactivated
  • Possible reduced brake assist
  • Speedometer may behave erratically

Common causes

Ordered by how often each turns out to be the cause.

  • Tyre sizes or wear levels do not match across axlesCommon
  • Tone ring missing teeth on one wheelPossible
  • Wheel speed sensor degradedLess likely

Parts involved

  • Wheel Speed Sensor
  • Tone Ring
  • Tires
  • ABS Control Module

C0238 is a generic OBD-II code defined by SAE J2012. Exact wording and diagnostic procedure vary by manufacturer and model. Code definitions are drawn from the public-domain OBDex dataset; the workshop notes are our own.