Is it safe to drive with a P2138 code?

Severity is high. Address P2138 sooner rather than later — driving with an active check engine light can worsen the problem or void emissions warranties.

How much does it cost to fix P2138?

Repair costs for P2138 typically range from $80 to $600 in the US, depending on the underlying cause. The most common fix is: Failed accelerator pedal position sensor.

What are the symptoms of P2138?

Check engine light. Reduced engine power / limp mode. No throttle response. Stalling.

Check Engine Code

P2138

Throttle / Pedal Position Sensor D / E Voltage Correlation

Severity: high DIY difficulty: 2/5 Typical cost: $80–$600

Last updated April 30, 2026

What P2138 means

Drive-by-wire pedals have two redundant position sensors. P2138 means they're disagreeing by more than the ECM allows. Always triggers limp mode.

Vehicle-specific P2138 guides

P2138 can mean different things on different vehicles. Pick your make for engine-family specifics:

P2138 on Chevy → P2138 on Mahindra →

Symptoms

Check engine light
Reduced engine power / limp mode
No throttle response
Stalling

Likely causes (most common first)

Failed accelerator pedal position sensor
Damaged pedal harness
Bad connector
Failed throttle body (correlated sensors)

Can I keep driving?

High — risk of damage if ignored

Typical repair cost

DIY fixes can start near $80 (parts only). Shop repairs for P2138 typically run up to $600 depending on the underlying cause and vehicle. Start with the most common cause — Failed accelerator pedal position sensor — before throwing parts at it.

Symptoms that match P2138

If you got here from a search query, one of these might describe what your car is actually doing:

Related codes

P2122P2123P2127P2128

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