P0502 Vehicle speed sensor A circuit low
What P0502 means
The engine control unit sees little or no input from the vehicle speed sensor while other data shows the car is moving. Without road speed the car may shift poorly and some functions stop working.
P0502 is a generic SAE J2012 code: it means the same on every make. The exact cause still depends on the car, so read the freeze-frame data before replacing parts.
At a glance
- Severity
- Medium
- Typical repair cost
- 80–280 €
- Workshop time
- 0.4–1.4 h
- Repair difficulty
- Easy
- DIY possible
- Yes
- Check engine light
- Yes
- Affects emissions test
- No
Parts and labour at an independent workshop in Europe. Main dealers charge more; the cause decides the bill, not the code.
Symptoms
- Speedometer reads zero or drops out
- Harsh or delayed gear shifts
- Cruise control not working
- Check engine light on
Common causes
- Failed vehicle speed sensor
- Open or shorted signal wire
- Corroded or loose connector
- Faulty ABS module or instrument cluster on cars that share the speed signal
Can I keep driving with P0502?
You can drive carefully, but have it checked within one to two weeks. Keep an eye on your real speed since the speedometer may be wrong.
What to check first
- Inspect the sensor connector and wiring
- Check sensor supply and ground
- Watch the speed signal in live data while driving
- Replace the sensor if the wiring checks out
Related codes
- P0501 Vehicle speed sensor A range/performance
- P0503 Vehicle speed sensor A intermittent/erratic/high
- P0500 Vehicle speed sensor A circuit
- P0504 Brake switch A/B correlation
- P0505 Idle air control system
- P0506 Idle control system RPM lower than expected
- P0507 Idle control system RPM higher than expected
- P0510 Closed throttle position switch
Data: TORKO fault-code catalogue, built on OBDex (CC0-1.0) and reviewed against workshop practice. Informational only — it does not replace a diagnosis by a mechanic.
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