P0500: Vehicle Speed Sensor A Circuit
A generic powertrain (engine and transmission) trouble code, same meaning on every brand.
Mechanically fine to drive, but ABS/traction systems may be degraded - allow extra stopping distance and fix soon.
Symptoms
- Speedometer erratic or dead
- ABS and traction lights on together
- Harsh or wrong shifting (speed input feeds the transmission)
Likely causes, most common first
- Vehicle speed sensor failure
- Damaged tone ring at the sensor
- Wiring between sensor and cluster/computer
Read P0500 yourself before paying for diagnosis
A basic Bluetooth OBD-II scanner ($20-40) plugs into the port under the dashboard and shows this code with live sensor data on your phone - useful both for confirming the fix and for talking to a shop from an informed position.
What is going on and how it gets diagnosed
P0500 means the vehicle speed signal is missing or implausible. Speed data feeds far more than the speedometer - transmission shift logic, ABS, cruise control and power steering assist all consume it, which is why one sensor failure produces such a scattered symptom list.
On many cars the transmission output speed sensor doubles as the vehicle speed source, so transmission behavior changes are a strong clue. This is typically an accessible sensor and a modest repair.
Repair options and cost
Typical US independent-shop ranges, parts and labor. Dealers run higher; regional labor rates vary.
Owner reports mentioning P0500
“Diagnostic trouble code (DTC) P0720 stands for "Output Speed Sensor Circuit Malfunction." It is stored when the ECM/PCM/TCM perceives a problem with the output speed sensor or its circuit. If, for example, the engine speed and input shaft speed are at a certain RPM but the output shaft speed is erratic or not what the computer expects, P0720 will be stored. There may also be a P0500 code stored on some platforms. T”2013 Ford F-150 · Apr 2026
“I am reporting a failure involving a 2020 vehicle equipped with a GM 6.2L V8 engine that developed a cylinder 8 misfire along with diagnostic trouble codes P0300, P0500, and P0521. Dealer inspection revealed a severely scored camshaft and metal debris present in the engine oil, indicating significant internal engine damage. The failure appears to be related to a lifter or valvetrain malfunction, leading to improper valve operation and engine misfire. This issue occurred unexpectedly and creates a serious safety concern due to the risk of sudden engine failure during operation. This may be associated with known problems affecting this engine type and should be investigated further.”2020 Chevrolet Silverado 1500 · Mar 2026
“P2138 code. Gas pedal stops responding to inputs. Car goes into limp mode and managed to get car off the road. Shut off and waited 5 minutes, restarted and it works again. Associated P0500 code also present. First time this has happened on this car.”2005 Subaru Outback · Mar 2026
Show 7 more owner reports
“Transmission Control Body. Lost of speed during driving which put me in danger of being hit from behind on the highway. The car was scanned and came up the code P0500 and P0720.”2015 Infiniti Q50 · Feb 2026
“Driving on the highway my car suddenly lost power and has since been stuck in first or second gear after further research online it seems that a ton of Nissan/Infiniti owners both cars and suv have or had the same problem between as early as 24k-100k miles all owners I have read online has the same check engine light on with codes P0500/P0720”2015 Infiniti Q70 · Aug 2025
“I received a check engine light will driving which is now indicated as code P0720 and P0500. The car refused to shift past 3rd gear and began to sputter and would not allow me to go past 25mph disrupting the flow of traffic.”2014 Infiniti Q50 · Jul 2025
“My engine light came on at 115,946 miles causing my vehicle not to accelerate or shift properly which could have resulted in a accident. The vehicle was diagnosed at local Nissan dealership with code P0720 and P0500 stating vehicle need a transmission. Prior to this diagnose this vehicle was diagnose twice by a Nissan and Infiniti dealership concerning the shifting and acceleration issues but could not duplicate the issue at the time. I see where numerous car buyers are stating they're having the same issues with the Infiniti brand at low miles and high miles.”2015 Infiniti Q50 · Apr 2024
“P0500 vehicle speed sen/cir P0720 a/t veh speed sen/ circuit-or- output speed sensor P1574 ascd vhcl apps sensor - or lcc vhl spd sen (icc models) My safety was put at risk when the vehicle hesitated and stop changing gears while traffic was behind me. The vehicle was inspected by a local dealership which was Nissan and also Infiniti including a transmission shop named ammco. There were no warning lights that would indicate the vehicle was failing until April the 5th”2015 Infiniti Q50 · Apr 2024
“The contact owns a 2012 Ford F-150. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the vehicle unintendedly downshifted to first gear. The wrench symbol was illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed, and the mechanic retrieved DTC code: P0500. The mechanic related the failure to a wheel speed sensor failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and referred to the NHTSA Hotline. The failure mileage was approximately 161,000. The VIN was not available.”2012 Ford F-150 · Oct 2023 · 161,000 mi
“I was driving perfectly fine and i stopped at a red-light. I went to accelerate and the car wouldn't shift out of first gear and then check engine light came on. I pulled over and scanned the codes, it showed code p0500. After bringing to shop and reading thousands of different things from people who own the car online all said the same thing. Transmission valve body is shot. I almost got rear ended when i let off the gas because the engines rpms were so high casuing quick engine braking.”2015 Infiniti Q50 · Mar 2023
Cars that report P0500 most often
Based on mentions of this code in NHTSA owner complaints.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with P0500?
Mechanically fine to drive, but ABS/traction systems may be degraded - allow extra stopping distance and fix soon.
How much does it cost to fix P0500?
Typical US repair costs range from $100 for the simplest fix (speed sensor) to $500 in the worst case. The right number depends on which cause your car has - see the causes list.
Definition per SAE J2012 standard nomenclature. Symptoms, causes and costs are editorial guidance - always confirm with a diagnosis of your specific vehicle.