P0297 fault code: Vehicle Overspeed Condition

Last updated · OBDCode UK editorial

Can I drive with P0297? — Drive with care

You may drive with care if the car feels normal now. P0297 records an overspeed event; it is not a high-pressure fuel fault. Stop if the engine management light flashes or the car behaves unsafely.

P0297 means “Vehicle Overspeed Condition” — a fuel and injector circuits fault in the powertrain. Drive with care. The control unit logged that the vehicle exceeded a stored speed threshold. This is an overspeed record, not an injector or fuel-rail fault, and it does not by itself prove a failed part.

Can I DIY?

Caution — conditions apply. We do not publish DIY repair or strip-down steps for this code on this page. Read codes and observe only; leave the repair to a qualified garage.

Caution — conditions applyDIY boundary
ToolsNo special tools are required for the guidance on this page.

Some checks may be possible for a careful DIY driver with the right tools and a safe place to work. Stop if anything feels beyond your skill or kit.

P02xxFuel and injector circuits
MOT fail riskif the warning light stays on

What does P0297 mean?

P0297 is a generic (SAE standard) powertrain code reported by your car’s engine control unit. It sits in the P02xx block, which covers fuel and injector circuits. The stored description is “Vehicle Overspeed Condition”. The code itself tells you which circuit or system tripped the fault — not always the exact part that failed.

Will P0297 fail an MOT?

An illuminated engine management light is a Major defect at MOT (automatic fail) until the fault is repaired and the light stays off.

Before booking your test, check what usually fails on your car: see our MOT pass rates by make and model, built from 33.1 million DVSA tests.

What the MOT data says

No MOT certificate item corresponds to this code; MOT outcome data cannot be shown.

Related guides

Car diagnostic test cost: compare the scopeUK booking marketplaces currently publish diagnostic averages of about £52–£65. Engine management light on: steady or flashing?A steady engine management light means the computer has stored a fault. Drive with caution and get the code read. A flashing light is different — stop when it is safe.
P0200Injector Circuit/Open P0201Injector Circuit/Open - Cylinder 1 P0202Injector Circuit/Open - Cylinder 2 P0203Injector Circuit/Open - Cylinder 3 P0204Injector Circuit/Open - Cylinder 4 P0205Injector Circuit/Open - Cylinder 5 P0206Injector Circuit/Open - Cylinder 6 P0207Injector Circuit/Open - Cylinder 7

P0297 — quick answers

Is it safe to drive with P0297?

Drive with care. You may drive with care if the car feels normal now. P0297 records an overspeed event; it is not a high-pressure fuel fault. Stop if the engine management light flashes or the car behaves unsafely.

Can I fix P0297 myself?

Caution — conditions apply. We do not publish DIY repair or strip-down steps for this code on this page. Read codes and observe only; leave the repair to a qualified garage. No special tools are required for the guidance on this page.

Will P0297 fail my MOT?

An illuminated engine management light is a Major defect at MOT (automatic fail) until the fault is repaired and the light stays off.

Fault-code identifiers are standard diagnostic facts. Their explanations and diagnostic guidance on this site are original editorial summaries, not reproduced SAE wording. MOT defect rules reflect the DVSA MOT inspection manual (2026). This page is general guidance for UK drivers, not a substitute for a professional diagnosis.