As I'm driving my airbag light comes on and all the lights on the dash starts flashing and cruise control gets disconnected one day it will happen next day it won't

- Toms River, NJ, USA

An accelerator that became unresponsive while driving 65mph on 3 lane highway. This problem is prevalent with Subaru and you can read about many people who have the problem which is an extreme safety issue. If you go online and search for Subaru Outback code P2138/throttle position sensor you will find that the sensor has intermitent failures which cause the accelerator to become unresponsive. Even when people get this reset at a mechanic and supposedly fixed it will begin recurring again. Or sometimes the mechanic cannot make the car fail because the problem is a sensor and the problem is intermittent. Subaru must fix this problem!! this has happened to me 5 times now over the last year.

- San Jose, CA, USA

I was driving down a street when my car engine was still running but I had no gas pedal response.so L coasted to side of road an shut it off an started it.then after I did that I got gas pedal response.the check engine light was on after restarting vechile so I had a code scan check it, an a code P2138 showed. The code is for the throttle/pedal sensor. I'm just glad I was not doing 65 on a highway an a semi wasn't behind me or any other vehicle

- Limestone, NY, USA

Well I lost all throttle control for the first time. Engine light was on which disabled the vdc and cruise and the gas pedal. It has happened several times since then. When shutting the car off it is very hard to restart. When this happens and you try to stop the car doesn't want to it just pulses forward so more brake pedal is needed. If you put it in park the engine revs high. This is a known issue with the tps not being able to communicate with the throttle servo via the tcm. This issue happens at random. Usually when I've been driving it for about 10 minutes.

- Lafayette, IN, USA

Driving at 55 miles per hour on hwy 213, check engine light came on, lost power(limp mode), cruise control flashing. Pulled over to side of road on hill(barely able to make safe spot). Turned out vehicle. Restarted(lights still warning), back up and forward to assure power. Decided to try to get to nearby community/auto shop. Was able to do so. Diagnosis: P2138. They performed diagnostic procedure, results inconclusive. Cycled the accelerator through numerous positions and raters with variations on position/pressure applied to pedal, and monitor lab scope. Sensor signals were precise and without errors. Owner researched online and found numerous cased of same-without resolution for many people-reoccurring with costly repairs to attempt repair. Suggested calling Subaru.com which I did. No reassurance as to problem being fixed, just said take it to a dealer. Concerned with safety as I drive my granddaughter in car, as well as safety for myself and others. Will take it to dealer but not optimistic about a permanent fix and safety of future driving.

- Silverton, OR, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Subaru Outback. While driving approximately 75 mph, the check engine and cruise control deactivation sensors illuminated before the speed suddenly decelerated to approximately 20 mph. The failure occurred on multiple occasions. After the vehicle was turned off and on, it operated normally. The vehicle was taken to the dealer who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not notified. The failure mileage was 120,000.

- Cleveland, TN, USA

This is my second complaint to be filed. This has been an ongoing problem since 2013. My 2007 Subaru Outback loses vehicle power as the accelerator stops responding. The cruise control, traction, and check engine lights all become illuminated or flashing. This is especially common upon restarting the car after a short drive, coming to a stop, or after 5-10 minutes from a cold start. Restarting the vehicle until the vehicle will not restart and then restarting once more resets the issue for approximately 24 hours. Cleaning the connector plug to the accelerator temporarily resolves the issue anywhere form 6 months to one week. Subaru has been contacted and issued a generic response mostly dealing with air bag safety concerns. This is a very hazardous default in the vehicle which is being ignored.

- Cedar Park, TX, USA

Problem P2138 throttle ceases to control car engine speed. In neutral it settles at ?4000 RPM. Stopping and restarting the car stops the problem, but the check engine light remains on and cruise control light flashes for 1-2 days. Cruise control is not functional while in this state. This can happen at any speed, but typically at 55-60. Happens intermittently, now 3 times in the past month. Had the throttle sensor replaced one year ago, and we had no problem for 11 months until the past month.

- St Paul, MN, USA

Vehicle stopped at a red light during rush hour. Tried to accelerate for right turn, however there was no acceleration when the gas pedal was depressed. Checked the displace for indicator lights and check engine light and traction control lights were on steadily while cruise control was blinking. Immediately turned off heater, seat heater, and radio, and proceeded to coast down a hill at idle. Gas pedal was unresponsive, but I was able to safely pull off the road after 0.3 miles. Restarted the car twice and the warning lights were still on and gas pedal still did not work. A third attempt to restart resulted in the engine turning over but no ignition. After several more restarts the gas pedal was responsive but indicators lights were still present. Drove to auto repair shop with normal speed control where the indicator lights promptly turned off. Sensor history indicated P2138 code for throttle position sensor.

- Cedar Park, TX, USA

'07 Subaru Outback 2.5I w/ automatic transmission. When transmission was cool code P0720 was set for vehicle speed sensor failure. After driving for a while error would reset as sensor presumably warmed and began working normally. I identified and confirmed the front vehicle speed sensor was the problem. A week after the initial failure, and prior to my being able to replace the sensor, the behavior of the failure changed: At highway speed (60-65mph) the car would automatically shift into first gear and feel like the brakes were slammed on. This being an obviously dangerous and scary situation, my short term solution was to cut the wire going to the sensor until I could replace it. (the sensor is hard-wired into a 3-sensor wire harness that requires access inside the transmission to be replaced). Just prior to the car automatically shifting into first gear I also heard the safety solenoid in the shifter assembly (the one that prevents the operator from putting the shifter into park while the car is moving) quickly cycling on and off, so my assumption was that a partial signal was being seen by the onboard computer and interpreted as if the vehicle was traveling at a slower speed than it really was. After cutting the speed sensor out of the circuit this aspect of the failure has not repeated itself.

- Hackettstown, NJ, USA

Information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). 2007 Subaru Outback wagon [xxx] purchased car new. Had what I called engine 'revving' or increased acceleration from first week of driving car. Reported problem to dealer and they went through a series of repairs with no change in performance. They sent a 'corporate' mechanic to test the car. He experienced the increased RPM's without stepping on the gas pedal but stated the car was normal. He then told me two things, they had found the same problem in another car and they had a fix for the problem for the 2008 but not 2007. 1) when foot is off gas, the car accelerates. 2) commonly occurs almost every time I press clutch and turn. Has only happened 2 times while in gear and driving. Application of the brake did slow the car 3) corrections include: Gas/air ratio sensor replaced, suggested I run 3 tanks of premium gas, replaced power steering pump, replaced throttle body and accelerator pedal, disconnected idle switch from power steering pump and suggested I leave this detached which I did not feel comfortable with, I have tried for a resolution through the dealer, the better business bureau and Subaru corporate with no results.

- Flagstaff, AZ, USA

Hesitation on acceleration, between 1500 and 2800 rpms.while accelerating quickly at an intersection or rolling stop.

- Syracuse, NY, USA

The contact owns a 2007 Subaru Outback. While driving 60 mph with the cruise control activated, the vehicle gained speed down hill and accelerated to 80 mph. The contact disengaged the cruise control by applying the brakes. The dealer found no failures and stated that the vehicle was designed in that manner. The mechanic at the dealer inspected the vehicle and stated that the cruise control components did not appear to have failed. The current mileage was 19,751 and failure mileage was 8,841. Updated 01/02/08.

- Bend, OR, USA

2007 Subaru Outback 2.5I, 5-speed manual transmission -- when my foot is taken off the accelerator to shift the engine actually accelerates rather than decelerates. It causes the car to jump forward much quicker than the driver planned when the next gear is selected. This is a safety issue that needs to be corrected.

- Nashua, NH, USA