P0500
Vehicle Speed Sensor "A" Malfunction
The vehicle speed sensor (VSS) signal is missing or implausible. On automatic transmissions this often disables cruise control and shift adaptation; ABS-equipped cars typically derive speed from wheel speed sensors as a fallback.
- Check engine light: Yes
- Emissions related: Yes
- Repair difficulty: medium
Common causes
Ordered by how often each turns out to be the cause.
- Speed sensor failedCommon
- Wiring or connector faultPossible
Parts involved
- Vehicle Speed Sensor
- Vehicle Speed Sensor Wiring
P0500 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.