Generic fault code
P0550 — Power steering pressure sensor/switch, circuit: malfunction
The control unit stores code P0550 when it detects this fault: “Power steering pressure sensor/switch, circuit: malfunction”.
Indicative severity: HighSpeed, idle and auxiliary inputs
Reviewed by Daniel Morales, founder of Reprorace SL, on
What does code P0550 mean?
The vehicle speed sensors and idle control, the speed the engine turns at when you are not accelerating.
- System
- P · Powertrain
- Area
- Speed, idle and auxiliary inputs · Car system: Fuel and air
- Type
- Generic (SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6): the same meaning on every make
- Indicative severity
- High. Diagnose as soon as possible: it may affect safety or cause damage (engine, catalyst, brakes).
What usually causes code P0550?
- Faulty, aged or drifting sensor
- Damaged, chafed or pinched wiring
The most likely causes come first. Only a check on the car confirms which one is yours.
What are the symptoms of code P0550?
- Speedometer or cruise control not working properly
- Idle too high, too low or unstable
- Odd shifts on automatics, or ABS and ESP lights
These are the usual symptoms of this kind of fault: not all of them always appear, and sometimes you notice nothing.
Can I keep driving with code P0550?
Better not, except when you really have to. This fault may affect safety or damage the engine, the catalytic converter or the brakes. See a workshop as soon as possible; if you must move the car, drive gently and only short distances. If the light flashes, the car loses power, makes unusual noises or the brakes or steering feel different, stop somewhere safe and call for assistance.
This is guidance only: only someone who checks the car can say whether it is safe to drive.
An indicative description of the code's generic meaning. Each manufacturer may give it a different meaning, conditions or tests: always follow its service information and your workshop's advice.
What you can do yourself
For this kind of fault
Note whether the fault appears with something specific, such as braking, switching on the air conditioning or turning the wheel: it helps the workshop find the input at fault.
Read the code and keep the report: with an ECO-LITE in the OBD socket you see it on your phone or computer, with the data captured when the fault happened.
Look for anything obvious: a loose connector, a disconnected hose, a fuel cap not closed properly or a low fluid level. Do not take apart anything you do not know.
Clear the code only after writing it down or after the repair. Clearing turns the light off, but it also deletes the freeze-frame data and the readiness monitors used at the inspection.
Drive normally for a few days and read the codes again. If the code comes back, the fault is still there: book the workshop and bring the report.
Read your car's fault codes on your phone
With an ECO-LITE in the OBD socket you see the codes in your account, with the data captured when the fault happened, and your workshop can check them remotely, always with your permission.
Related codes
- P0551Power steering pressure sensor/switch, circuit: range/performance
- P0552Power steering pressure sensor/switch, circuit: signal low
- P0553Power steering pressure sensor/switch, circuit: signal high
- P0554Power steering pressure sensor/switch, circuit: intermittent
- P0564Cruise control multi-function input A, circuit: malfunction
- P0565Cruise control on signal: malfunction
P05xx codes: vehicle speed, idle control and auxiliary inputs
In the glossary
Read more: Remote OBD diagnostics: what it is, how it works and what it can't do