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P2138 on SUBARU IMPREZA

Severity
Medium
NHTSA Reports
3
Most Affected
2012, 2013

What P2138 Means on Your SUBARU IMPREZA

Real SUBARU IMPREZA Owner Reports (Source: NHTSA Complaints Database)

"Driving about 30 - 35mph when all of a sudden the car lost power. the car did not stall, but engine went down to idle speed and my accelerator pedal had no throttle control. the "check engine " light came on as well as the "traction control" light."

— 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA owner • FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL • Filed 08/02/2013

"While driving in normal circumstances, engine power was lost, and complete loss of throttle control occurred. car would accelerate extremely slowly, and not past 20-25 mph (presumably 'engine fail-safe mode'?). thankfully not on a high-speed road."

— 2012 SUBARU IMPREZA owner • FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL • Filed 09/12/2012

"Car throws a p2138 code and car goes in limp mode with the accelerator pedal non-responsive. have to pull over and reset ecu to get back on road. have replaced accelerator pedal, throttle body, relay, and ecm at subaru dealership. happened dozens of times."

— 2013 SUBARU IMPREZA owner • VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL • Filed 12/07/2019

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 IMPREZA

66.7%
33.3%

Percentages based on NHTSA complaint component analysis for this vehicle.

Complaint Trend by Year

2012
2
2013
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