🔧 FixIt
🟡

P2138 on SUBARU FORESTER

Severity
Medium
NHTSA Reports
5
Most Affected
2005, 2011, 2012

What P2138 Means on Your SUBARU FORESTER

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

Data from NHTSA Vehicle Complaints Database. All reports are filed by vehicle owners directly with the U.S. Department of Transportation.

Common Causes of P2138 on SUBARU FORESTER

60%
20%
20%

Percentages based on NHTSA complaint component analysis for this vehicle.

Complaint Trend by Year

2005
1
2011
1
2012
1
2014
1
2015
1

What To Do Next

  1. 1
    Check for recalls on YOUR VIN

    Go to nhtsa.gov/recalls and enter your VIN. Free repairs if your vehicle is covered.

  2. 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. 3
    Compare repair quotes

    Get 2-3 quotes. Dealer vs independent shop prices often differ 30-50% for the same repair.

P2138 on Other Vehicles

Data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (U.S. Department of Transportation) and the SAE J2012 OBD-II standard. Code definitions follow the SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6 standard. Owner reports are filed directly with NHTSA by vehicle owners. This information is provided for educational purposes only and should not replace professional automotive diagnosis. Always consult a qualified mechanic for vehicle repair decisions.

Last updated: March 2026