NHTSA Complaint #10549601 — 2006 SUBARU OUTBACK

I WAS ACCELERATING TO GET ON THE FREEWAY ENTRANCE IN MY SUBARU OUTBACK (WITH MY WIFE AND TWO SMALL CHILDREN) WHEN I NOTICE A COMPLETE LOSS IN THROTTLE RESPONSE. THE CAR WAS JUST BARELY MOVING DUE TO THE ENGINE IDLE. CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I DROVE AT THAT PACE TO A PARKING LOT TO CHECK MY OPTIONS. I HAD NOT NOTED, UNTIL NOW, THAT THIS CAR HAS NO THROTTLE CABLE AND IS COMPLETELY DRIVE-BY-WIRE. I LOOKED AT THE CONNECTION OF WIRE HARNESS TO THE PEDAL ASSEMBLY AND DID NOT SEE ANY RED FLAGS - NO CORROSION, ETC. IT APPEARED TO BE IN GOOD SHAPE. I SHUT THE CAR OFF, WAITED ABOUT 30 SEC, AND RESTARTED IT. IT THEN GOT US HOME. WHEN I GOT HOME TONIGHT, I RAN MY OBD DIAGNOSTIC TOOL AND GOT A P2138 ERROR CODE. THIS IS LISTED AS "THROTTLE/PEDAL POSITION SENSOR/SWITCH "D"/"E" VOLTAGE CORRELATION" TROUBLE CODE DESCRIPTION. I AM GOING TO CHECK INTO MY OPTIONS TOMORROW, BUT FELT THIS WAS WORTH REPORTING SINCE IT APPEARS THERE ARE OTHERS OUT THERE THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM AS WELL. THERE IS DEFINITELY A SAFETY CONCERN WITH A FAILURE OF THIS NATURE AS I WAS TRAVELING AT A GOOD RATE AND IN TRAFFIC. LUCKILY, EVERYONE IS OK - BUT MY WIFE AND I WORRY WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN AGAIN. THANKS. *TR