P2138 on SUBARU FORESTER — Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor/Switch D/E Voltage Correlation

Q: "What does P2138 mean on a SUBARU FORESTER?"

"P2138 indicates: Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor/Switch D/E Voltage Correlation. This is a powertrain code. 5 SUBARU FORESTER owners have reported this to NHTSA."

Q: "What are the most common causes of P2138 on SUBARU FORESTER?"

"Based on 5 NHTSA reports, the most commonly cited components are: Vehicle Speed Control, Power Train, Unknown Or Other. These percentages are based on the component field in owner complaints."

Q: "Is P2138 serious on my SUBARU FORESTER?"

"Of 5 NHTSA reports for this code on SUBARU FORESTER, none involved a crash or fire. However, any diagnostic code should be evaluated by a qualified mechanic."

Q: "What should I do if my SUBARU FORESTER shows P2138?"

"1) Check for recalls on your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 2) Get a professional diagnosis — a code alone doesn't identify the exact failed part. 3) Get 2-3 repair estimates to compare."

What P2138 Means on Your SUBARU FORESTER

P2138 is a diagnostic trouble code indicating: Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor/Switch D/E Voltage Correlation. This code relates to the powertrain system. The vehicle's computer detected a condition outside normal operating parameters and stored this code.

5 SUBARU FORESTER owners have reported this issue to NHTSA across model years 2005-2015. Most reports come from the 2005, 2011 model years. The most commonly reported component is Vehicle Speed Control (60.0% of reports).

Real SUBARU FORESTER Owner Reports

Source: NHTSA Complaints Database

"While driving, the car experienced: -loss in power (stuttered a couple times), then completely stalled -we had to coast it to the side of the road -a few hours later we tried starting it again and it ran fine -immediately before the problem, the car had been driven for ~15 minutes with no issues"

— 2005 SUBARU FORESTER owner · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · Filed 10/23/2017

"This happened while driving through colorado, from crested butte to telluride. i was driving with the cruise control active. as the car went up hills it would automatically shift down, causing the engine to rev into the 4,000 rpm range, which is not safe to drive sustained."

— 2011 SUBARU FORESTER owner · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · Filed 01/26/2021

"Vehicle transmission shifted into neutral while in cruise control on the highway. the vehicle had to be powered off and back on before the transmission would reengage. dtc was p2138. this is the fourth incidence over a 14 month period."

— 2012 SUBARU FORESTER owner · POWER TRAIN · Filed 03/02/2018

"I was on the freeway when the check engine light came on with an alert I couldn't read in time before it disappeared. Then the gas pedal stopped working. I got to a safe place and shut off the car."

— 2014 SUBARU FORESTER owner · UNKNOWN OR OTHER · Filed 07/20/2025

"I drove into garage at about 1 m.p.h. and put the car in park. after idling for about 3 seconds the engine accelerated to 2,800 r.p.m. and stayed there,i couldn't get it to slow down. i pressed on the accelerator many times,it wouldn't slow down or speed up. it just stayed at the same speed."

— 2015 SUBARU FORESTER owner · VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL · Filed 07/20/2019

All reports filed by vehicle owners directly with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

📊 Complaint Trend by Model Year

1

'05

1

'11

1

'12

1

'14

1

'15

Common Causes on SUBARU FORESTER

Based on NHTSA complaint component analysis for this vehicle.

VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 60%

POWER TRAIN 20%

UNKNOWN or OTHER 20%

What To Do Next

1
Check for recalls on YOUR VIN
Go to nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your VIN. If your vehicle is covered, repairs are free.
2
Get a proper diagnosis
A code alone doesn't tell you the exact failed part. A diagnostic at a shop ($50–$150) pinpoints the root cause before you spend money on parts.
3
Compare repair quotes
Get 2–3 quotes. Dealer vs. independent shop prices often differ 30–50% for the same repair.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does P2138 mean on a SUBARU FORESTER? ▾

P2138 indicates: Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor/Switch D/E Voltage Correlation. This is a powertrain code. 5 SUBARU FORESTER owners have reported this to NHTSA.

What are the most common causes of P2138 on SUBARU FORESTER? ▾

Based on 5 NHTSA reports, the most commonly cited components are: Vehicle Speed Control, Power Train, Unknown Or Other. These percentages are based on the component field in owner complaints.

Is P2138 serious on my SUBARU FORESTER? ▾

Of 5 NHTSA reports for this code on SUBARU FORESTER, none involved a crash or fire. However, any diagnostic code should be evaluated by a qualified mechanic.

What should I do if my SUBARU FORESTER shows P2138? ▾

1) Check for recalls on your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. 2) Get a professional diagnosis — a code alone doesn't identify the exact failed part. 3) Get 2-3 repair estimates to compare.