The Lemon IndexThe throttle position sensor signal has an electrical fault.
Fix soon. Book a shop visit this week. Stop driving if the car slips, shakes, overheats or warns you.
Failed throttle position sensor. Then: wiring fault; throttle body fault.
Owners named P0120 in 5 complaints to the U.S. government, most often on the GMC Yukon XL.
Cars owners report it on
Complaints that name P0120, by model. Raw counts, not a failure rate: popular models get more complaints.
The details
What P0120 means
The throttle position sensor signal has an electrical fault. The car may go into reduced power.
Can I drive with P0120?
Fix soon. Book a shop visit this week. Stop driving if the car slips, shakes, overheats or warns you.
60% of the owner complaints that name P0120 also say the car loses power or goes into limp mode. A complaint can describe more than one problem, so this doesn't prove the code caused it.
Common causes of P0120
- Failed throttle position sensor
- Wiring fault
- Throttle body fault
A shop should confirm the cause with a scan and tests before replacing parts.
What owners describe
- Loses power or goes into limp mode: 60% of complaints
- Stalls or shuts off: 40% of complaints
Share of complaints naming the code whose text also mentions each problem.
Related codes
P0121 P0122 P0123 P0126 P0128 P0117 P0113 P0131
Quick answers
What does P0120 mean?
Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor A Circuit. The throttle position sensor signal has an electrical fault. The car may go into reduced power.
Can I drive with P0120?
Fix soon. Book a shop visit this week. Stop driving if the car slips, shakes, overheats or warns you.
What causes P0120?
Failed throttle position sensor; Wiring fault; Throttle body fault.
Counts: NHTSA owner complaints whose text names P0120. A complaint is an owner's report, not a diagnosis. Meanings: the standard SAE J2012 definitions in our own words; manufacturer codes only where verified for that make. General information, not repair advice for your car.