The Lemon IndexThe two throttle position signals disagree, so the computer cuts power to stay safe. Full P2135 page
18 owner complaints · the #4 code Chevrolet Malibu owners name · 6% of Chevrolet Malibu complaints that name a code (every car: 0.8%)
Middle of 73,000 miles · most between 56,000 and 103,000 (18 owners gave it)
Chevrolet Malibu owners named P2135 in 18 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2011, 2010 and 2008 model years, at a middle of 73,000 miles. The part they name most is the throttle body (8 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Chevrolet Malibu model years that report P2135
Owner complaints naming P2135, by model year. Raw counts: years that sold more get more complaints, so this is each model year's record, not a failure rate.
Mileage when it happened
73,000 miles is the middle of what 18 owners entered. Half were between 56,000 and 103,000 miles.
The mileage on the complaint form, when the owner gave one.
What owners say caused it or fixed it
The most-named part is the throttle body, in 8 of the 18 complaints (44%). 5 of those mention it being replaced or repaired, and 1 say the problem came back afterwards.
- Throttle body8 complaints5 mention a repair or replacement, 1 of them says the problem came back · what Chevrolet Malibu owners paid
Counted from the owners' own words: a part counts when a sentence names it with a cause or repair word. What owners wrote, not a diagnosis. A shop should confirm the cause before replacing parts.
Symptoms owners describe with P2135
56% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Loses power or goes into limp mode39%7 of 18 complaints
- Shakes, runs rough or misfires28%5 of 18 complaints
- Stalls or shuts off17%3 of 18 complaints
- Transmission slips or shifts hard11%2 of 18 complaints
- Warning lights and electrical faults11%2 of 18 complaints
Share of the complaints naming P2135 whose text also describes each problem. A complaint can describe more than one.
Codes owners report with it
C0242 2
Other codes named in the same Chevrolet Malibu complaints, and in how many.
Repair costs
Chevrolet Malibu throttle body replacement cost
Recalls on these Chevrolet Malibu years
- Electrical · 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012 · issued 2014
In the affected vehicles, increased resistance in the Body Control Module (BCM) connection may result in voltage fluctuations in the Brake Apply Sensor (BAS) circuit. NHTSA 14V252000
1 recall for the same systems (electrical, engine and speed) on the Chevrolet Malibu model years above. A recall for the same system isn't proof it's behind P2135. Recall work is free at any dealer: check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with our VIN check.
Keep going
- P2135: meaning, causes and every car that reports it
- Chevrolet Malibu reliability by year
- 2011 Chevrolet Malibu problems and recalls
Other codes Chevrolet Malibu owners report
The details
How we count
We read every owner complaint in the NHTSA file whose text names this trouble code, and count the ones filed about this model (matched by the make, model and model year on the complaint). Mileage is what the owner entered on the form.
Parts: a complaint counts for a part when one of the owner's own sentences names that part together with a cause word (failed, bad, diagnosed, caused by, leaking ...) or a repair word (replaced, repaired, new, reprogrammed ...). "Came back" means the same complaint also says the problem returned or the repair didn't fix it. These are counts of what owners wrote, not a diagnosis, and one complaint can name several parts.
Complaints are reports, not proof of a defect, and most owners never file one. Popular models get more complaints, so the counts are not a failure rate. The code meaning is the standard SAE J2012 definition in our own words, or the carmaker's meaning where we verified it for that make.
What P2135 means
The two throttle position signals disagree, so the computer cuts power to stay safe.
Fix soon. Book a shop visit this week. Stop driving if the car slips, shakes, overheats or warns you.
- Failing throttle body sensor
- Wiring or connector fault
Check the complaints yourself
NHTSA complaint numbers (search them at nhtsa.gov): 11396518, 11191393, 11184773, 11169916, 11144148, 11074962, 11061236, 10948634, 10846145, 10824035, 10818544, 10683602 and 6 more.
Quick answers
What does P2135 mean on a Chevrolet Malibu?
Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor/Switch A/B Voltage Correlation. The two throttle position signals disagree, so the computer cuts power to stay safe.
Which Chevrolet Malibu years have the most P2135 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2011 (8), 2010 (6), 2008 (2) Chevrolet Malibu named P2135 most (18 complaints in all, 2008–2017). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes P2135 on a Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners most often name the throttle body (8 of 18 complaints). That's what owners wrote, not a diagnosis: have a shop confirm the cause with a scan and tests before replacing parts.
At what mileage does P2135 show up on a Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners who gave their mileage reported a middle of 73,000 miles; half were between 56,000 and 103,000 (18 owners).
Can I drive my Chevrolet Malibu with P2135?
Fix soon. Book a shop visit this week. Stop driving if the car slips, shakes, overheats or warns you.
Sources: NHTSA owner complaints that name P2135 on the Chevrolet Malibu, counted by The Lemon Index; NHTSA recalls; repair bills owners named. Meanings: SAE J2012 in our own words. Owner reports, not a diagnosis or repair advice for your car.