Engine

P0297 — Vehicle Overspeed Condition

Severity: low Safe to drive

What P0297 means

P0297 means the engine control module saw a vehicle speed higher than the limit set by the manufacturer. The module reads speed from the vehicle speed sensor (VSS) or from wheel speed data supplied by the ABS module. If the signal is too high or the car truly exceeded the limit, the code is stored and power may be reduced.

Symptoms

  • Check Engine light on
  • Reduced engine power or limp mode
  • Erratic or frozen speedometer
  • Cruise control cutting out
  • Unwanted traction control activation
  • Irregular automatic transmission shifting

Possible causes

  1. Vehicle actually exceeded the calibrated speed limit
  2. Faulty vehicle speed sensor or damaged reluctor ring
  3. Broken, corroded or loose wiring or connector in the sensor circuit
  4. PCM software or calibration glitch
  5. Mechanical transmission fault giving a wrong output speed signal
  6. Faulty wheel speed sensor or ABS module feeding bad speed data
  7. Failed PCM (rare)

How to diagnose

  1. Read all codes and freeze frame data to see the speed when the fault was set
  2. Clear the code and see if it returns during normal driving
  3. Compare scan tool speed with the speedometer and GPS
  4. Inspect the speed sensor, harness and connectors for damage, dirt and corrosion
  5. Check the reluctor ring or tone wheel for cracks, dirt and metal debris
  6. Test sensor power, ground and signal with a multimeter or scope
  7. Review wheel speed and ABS data on a scan tool
  8. Check for available PCM software updates for your model

Common fixes

  • Replace the vehicle speed sensor
  • Repair the wiring and connectors in the sensor circuit
  • Clean or replace the reluctor ring
  • Update or reflash the PCM software
  • Replace the PCM if confirmed faulty

Questions and answers

What does P0297 mean?

The PCM believes the vehicle is going faster than its allowed limit. This can be real speed or a false signal from the speed sensor.

Can I drive with P0297?

Usually yes, but power may be limited and cruise control may not work. Have the speed sensor and wiring checked soon.

How do I fix P0297?

Start by checking the speed sensor, its wiring and the connector, then clear the code. If it returns, look at PCM software and ABS speed data.

This is general information about the code. The meaning can differ between makes and models: a scan tool and the repair manual for your car will show the exact cause.