The Lemon IndexThe two gas pedal position signals disagree, so the car may go into reduced power or not respond to the pedal. Full P2138 page
18 owner complaints · the #1 code Chevrolet Impala owners name · 21% of Chevrolet Impala complaints that name a code (every car: 1.7%)
Middle of 54,000 miles · most between 37,000 and 79,000 (14 owners gave it)
Chevrolet Impala owners named P2138 in 18 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2008, 2009 and 2011 model years, at a middle of 54,000 miles. The part they name most is the throttle body (3 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Chevrolet Impala model years that report P2138
Owner complaints naming P2138, 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
54,000 miles is the middle of what 14 owners entered. Half were between 37,000 and 79,000 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 3 of the 18 complaints (17%). 3 of those mention it being replaced or repaired.
- Throttle body3 complaints3 mention a repair or replacement · what Chevrolet Impala owners paid
6 complaints mention a recall.
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 P2138
39% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Loses power or goes into limp mode22%4 of 18 complaints
- Warning lights and electrical faults11%2 of 18 complaints
Share of the complaints naming P2138 whose text also describes each problem. A complaint can describe more than one.
Codes owners report with it
P2122 4
Other codes named in the same Chevrolet Impala complaints, and in how many.
Repair costs
Chevrolet Impala throttle body replacement cost
Recalls on these Chevrolet Impala years
- Electrical · 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012 · issued 2014
In the affected vehicles, the weight on the key ring and road conditions or some other jarring event may caus. NHTSA 14V355000
1 recall for the same systems (electrical and engine) on the Chevrolet Impala model years above. A recall for the same system isn't proof it's behind P2138. Recall work is free at any dealer: check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with our VIN check.
Keep going
- P2138: meaning, causes and every car that reports it
- Chevrolet Impala reliability by year
- 2008 Chevrolet Impala problems and recalls
P2138 on other cars
Subaru Outback (77) · Chevrolet Malibu (51) · Subaru Legacy (18)
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 P2138 means
The two gas pedal position signals disagree, so the car may go into reduced power or not respond to the pedal.
Fix soon. Book a shop visit this week. Stop driving if the car slips, shakes, overheats or warns you.
- Failing accelerator pedal sensor
- Wiring or connector fault
- Throttle body fault
Check the complaints yourself
NHTSA complaint numbers (search them at nhtsa.gov): 11562238, 11554752, 11518381, 11434416, 11390195, 11104582, 10870610, 10809365, 10586464, 10579215, 10577246, 10513650 and 6 more.
Quick answers
What does P2138 mean on a Chevrolet Impala?
Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor/Switch D/E Voltage Correlation. The two gas pedal position signals disagree, so the car may go into reduced power or not respond to the pedal.
Which Chevrolet Impala years have the most P2138 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2008 (5), 2009 (4), 2011 (3) Chevrolet Impala named P2138 most (18 complaints in all, 2006–2012). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes P2138 on a Chevrolet Impala?
Owners most often name the throttle body (3 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 P2138 show up on a Chevrolet Impala?
Owners who gave their mileage reported a middle of 54,000 miles; half were between 37,000 and 79,000 (14 owners).
Can I drive my Chevrolet Impala with P2138?
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 P2138 on the Chevrolet Impala, 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.