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
51 owner complaints · the #1 code Chevrolet Malibu owners name · 18% of Chevrolet Malibu complaints that name a code (every car: 1.7%)
Middle of 62,000 miles · most between 47,000 and 82,000 (32 owners gave it)
Chevrolet Malibu owners named P2138 in 51 complaints to the U.S. government (NHTSA), most often on the 2016, 2017 and 2018 model years, at a middle of 62,000 miles. The part they name most is the throttle body (4 complaints). Complaints are owner reports, not proof of a defect.
Chevrolet Malibu 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
62,000 miles is the middle of what 32 owners entered. Half were between 47,000 and 82,000 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 4 of the 51 complaints (8%). 2 of those mention it being replaced or repaired, and 2 say the problem came back afterwards. Next: wiring or a connector (4) and engine computer (ECM / PCM) (3).
- Throttle body4 complaints2 mention a repair or replacement, 2 of them say the problem came back · what Chevrolet Malibu owners paid
- Wiring or a connector4 complaints2 mention a repair or replacement, 2 of them say the problem came back
- Engine computer (ECM / PCM)3 complaints2 mention a repair or replacement, 2 of them say the problem came back · what owners paid
13 complaints mention a recall and 8 mention a warranty.
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
57% of these complaints say the check engine light came on.
- Loses power or goes into limp mode31%16 of 51 complaints
- Brakes or ABS act up4%2 of 51 complaints
- Warning lights and electrical faults4%2 of 51 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 2 P0138 2 P2127 2 U0401 2 C0242 2
Other codes named in the same Chevrolet Malibu complaints, and in how many.
Repair costs
Chevrolet Malibu throttle body replacement cost
Keep going
- P2138: meaning, causes and every car that reports it
- Chevrolet Malibu reliability by year
- 2016 Chevrolet Malibu problems and recalls
Other codes Chevrolet Malibu owners report
P2138 on other cars
Subaru Outback (77) · Chevrolet Impala (18) · 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): 11703103, 11615368, 11516303, 11508124, 11498770, 11497902, 11481955, 11462868, 11459861, 11455736, 11448671, 11448215 and 39 more.
Quick answers
What does P2138 mean on a Chevrolet Malibu?
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 Malibu years have the most P2138 complaints?
In complaints to NHTSA, owners of the 2016 (18), 2017 (15), 2018 (13) Chevrolet Malibu named P2138 most (51 complaints in all, 2010–2018). Raw counts, not a failure rate.
What fixes P2138 on a Chevrolet Malibu?
Owners most often name the throttle body (4 of 51 complaints), then wiring or a connector and engine computer (ECM / PCM). 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 Malibu?
Owners who gave their mileage reported a middle of 62,000 miles; half were between 47,000 and 82,000 (32 owners).
Can I drive my Chevrolet Malibu 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 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.