P0500 OBD II Trouble Code Vehicle Speed Sensor Malfunction

How to quickly diagnose, repair, and info on sytmptoms causes of a P0500 trouble code which means the vehicle speed sensor has malfunctioned and is causing an errant reading.

Symptoms of P0500 OBD II Trouble Code

  • loss of anti-lock brakes
  • the "anti-lock" or "brake" warning lamps on the dash may be lit
  • the speedometer or odometer may not work properly (or at all)
  • your vehicle's RPM limiter may be decreased
  • the shifting of an automatic transmission may become erratic
  • other symptoms may also be present

Common Causes of P0500 OBD II Trouble Code

  • The Vehicle Speed Sensor (VSS) is not reading (functioning) properly
  • There is a broken/frayed wire leading to the vehicle speed sensor
  • The vehicle's PCM is not correctly configured for the actual tire size on the vehicle