P0500: Vehicle Speed Sensor A Malfunction
Key takeaways
- P0500 means the engine computer isn't getting a usable vehicle speed signal, from a dedicated speed sensor or, on many newer cars, from the ABS wheel speed sensors.
- A dead or jumpy speedometer, harsh or late shifts, cruise control that won't set and an ABS or traction light are the usual signs.
- Drive it only for short trips until it's fixed: the transmission may shift badly and ABS or stability control may be off.
- Most fixes cost $100–$450 for a sensor or wiring repair; a tone ring, axle or instrument cluster can push it to $1,000.
- 32 owner complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0500, 11 of them for the Infiniti Q50, mostly 2015 models.
What P0500 means
Your engine computer has lost a usable signal telling it how fast the car is going. Scanners call it “Vehicle Speed Sensor A Malfunction.” Older designs use a dedicated speed sensor on the transmission or transfer case that reads a toothed wheel on the output shaft. Many newer cars have no separate sensor; the ABS module works out vehicle speed from the wheel speed sensors and sends it to the engine computer over the car’s network. P0500 sets when that signal is missing, erratic, or doesn’t make sense against engine speed and load, for example zero speed while the engine is clearly driving the car.
The engine computer uses vehicle speed for shift timing, cruise control, idle control and, on many cars, the speedometer. That’s why this code usually comes with symptoms you can feel.
Is it safe to drive?
Short trips only. The engine will usually keep running, but the rest of the car is guessing at your speed. Expect some mix of a dead or jumping speedometer, harsh, late or missing shifts, a transmission stuck in one gear, cruise control that won’t set, and ABS or traction control lights. With ABS off, the brakes still work normally but the wheels can lock in a hard stop.
The answer becomes no for highway driving if the transmission is stuck in a low gear or shifts violently, or the ABS and brake warning lights are both on. Drive it only far enough to get it fixed.
Causes, ranked
| Cause | How you confirm it | Typical cost (US independent shop, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Damaged wiring or a corroded or wet connector | Signal drops out when the harness is moved; green corrosion or water in the connector | $100–$250 |
| Failed vehicle speed sensor (on cars that have one) | No signal or a ragged signal in live data while driving; sensor tip covered in metal debris | $100–$300 |
| Failed ABS wheel speed sensor (on cars that use ABS for speed) | ABS light on, a wheel speed code such as C0035 in the ABS module, one wheel reading zero in live data | $150–$450 per sensor |
| Cracked or rusted tone ring | Wheel sensor reads erratically at speed; visible damage on the ring at the hub or axle | $250–$700 (ring, hub or axle) |
| Module or instrument cluster not passing the signal on | Speed present in one module but missing in another; network codes stored | $300–$1,000 |
What to check first
- Read codes from every module, including ABS and transmission. A wheel speed code in the ABS module or P0720 in the transmission tells you where the bad signal starts.
- Watch vehicle speed in live data while a helper drives, or on a lift with the wheels turning. A signal that drops out on bumps points at wiring.
- Inspect the sensor connector and harness at the transmission or at each wheel for corrosion, water, broken clips and chafed wires. Wheel sensor wires near the suspension take a beating.
- Pull the sensor and look at the tip. Metal debris on a magnetic sensor can weaken the signal; cleaning it and checking the tone ring is cheaper than guessing.
- Ask about bulletins. Only three bulletins name P0500, but they share a theme: a 2014 Nissan Rogue bulletin groups it with other speed-sensor codes and names moisture as a factor, and a Hino truck bulletin traces it to the speed signal path between the instrument cluster and the engine computer. Neither is a sensor part number.
32 owner complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0500, and 11 of them are for the Infiniti Q50, 9 from the 2015 model year. These are owner reports, not a confirmed defect.
What it costs
The cheap outcome is a wiring or connector repair at $100–$250, or a new speed sensor at $100–$300. The common outcome on newer cars is an ABS wheel speed sensor at $150–$450. The expensive outcome is a tone ring, hub or axle at $250–$700, or a cluster or module repair up to about $1,000. Reading every module’s codes first is what keeps you from replacing a transmission sensor when the problem is at a wheel. For the general rules on driving with the light on, see can I drive with the check engine light on.
Related codes
P0500 often appears with P0502 (low input) or P0503 (erratic signal) from the same sensor, with transmission speed codes like P0715 and P0720, and with an ABS wheel speed code on cars that take speed from the wheels.
What owners report to NHTSA
32 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0500, 28 of them since 2015, across 17 different models. The component owners most often filed it under: power train.
Most-reported models
| Vehicle | Complaints | Model years reported |
|---|---|---|
| INFINITI Q50 | 11 | 2014, 2015 |
Manufacturer service bulletins that name P0500
3 technical service bulletins and manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA mention P0500, from 3 makes. A bulletin means the manufacturer has documented a known cause or a fix procedure for that model. Examples:
- DUCATI 848 EVO (2012, 2009, 2010, 1998), bulletin 10203083: Tips & Tricks. Applicability: All Models, All Model Years, P. 10-Error P0314 Validation: High misfire with risk of damaging the catalytic converter; P.11-Control unit reprogramming. Multistrada V4S All Model Years, P.30-…
- HINO CONVENTIONAL MODELS (2017, 2018), bulletin 10125468: TT-17-017 The P0500 typically sets due to a short or sensor concern. Since the speed is sent to the meter then to the ECU, suspect a concern between the meter and engine ECU. If so, unplug the radio and see if the concer…
- NISSAN ROGUE (2014), bulletin 10192336: IF YOU CONFIRM The MIL is on with any one of these DTCs alone, or any combination of any of DTCs: * P2765 - CLUTCH B SPEED SENSOR * P0500 - VEH SPEED SEN/CIRC * P1574 - ASCD VHL SPD SEN * P1715 - INPUT SPEED SENSOR * P07…
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database and manufacturer communications file, snapshots September 2026. A complaint or bulletin that mentions a code is a report about that vehicle, not a statement that the code has one cause.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with a P0500 code?
Short trips, carefully. The engine usually runs fine, but without a speed signal the transmission may shift harshly or hold a gear, and on many cars ABS and stability control switch off. Watch your speed by traffic, not the speedometer, and get it fixed soon.
Why did my speedometer stop working with P0500?
The speedometer and the engine computer usually read the same speed signal. When the sensor, its wiring or the module passing the signal along fails, both lose it at once. A speedometer that works while the code is stored points more toward the engine computer's own input or wiring.
Can a bad ABS sensor cause P0500?
Yes, on cars that calculate vehicle speed from the wheel speed sensors. A failed sensor, a damaged wire at the wheel or a cracked tone ring can set P0500 along with an ABS code. That's why the ABS module's codes should be read, not just the engine's.
Where is the vehicle speed sensor?
On cars that have one, it's usually on the transmission or transfer case near the output shaft, held in by one bolt with a single connector. Many newer cars don't have a separate one and use the ABS wheel speed sensors instead, so check your car's layout before buying a part.