Vehicle speed sensor
P0501
Vehicle Speed Sensor "A" Range/Performance
The computer isn't getting a believable road speed signal.
Fix it soon
Can I keep driving? For a short while, gently. Have it checked in the next few days, and stop if the car feels, sounds or smells different. The speedometer may be wrong, and an automatic may shift harshly. Cruise control and anti-lock braking (ABS) can stop working.
What the words mean
- Range/Performance means the reading is believable electrically but doesn't match what the computer expects.
Common causes
- A failed speed sensor
- Wiring or connector damage
- A damaged sensor gear or tone ring
- A wheel speed sensor fault on cars that use those for road speed
Listed roughly from most to least likely. The same code can have different causes on different cars.
What to do
- Check whether the speedometer works.
- Have the sensor and wiring tested.
General guidance. Your owner's manual wins. If a red warning light is on or the car drives differently, stop safely and get help.
Related codes
Track this automatically in Tagwell Auto
Tagwell Auto keeps your car's service dates and mileage, so when a code shows up you know what was done last. With a Bluetooth reader for the car's diagnostic port (called OBD-II), the phone app can read the code itself.