P0507: Idle Control System RPM Higher Than Expected
Key takeaways
- P0507 means the engine idles faster than the target speed the computer is aiming for, and the computer can't bring it down.
- It is safe to drive, though a high idle makes the car creep harder at stops, so keep a firm foot on the brake.
- Check for a vacuum leak and a dirty throttle body first, then run a throttle body idle relearn, especially after cleaning or a battery disconnect.
- Most fixes cost $50–$400; an intake manifold gasket or a new electronic throttle body is the expensive end at up to $700.
- 25 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0507, with the Nissan Altima (4), Ford Focus (3) and 2023 Nissan Rogue (3) most reported.
What P0507 means
Your engine is idling faster than the computer wants, and it has run out of ways to bring it down. Scanners call it Idle Control System RPM Higher Than Expected. At idle the engine computer sets a target speed and controls it through the electronic throttle, or through a separate idle air control valve on older cars. If the actual RPM stays above the target by more than a set amount even after the computer has closed the idle air down as far as it can, it stores P0507. In practice that usually means air is getting into the engine that the computer isn’t controlling.
Is it safe to drive?
Yes. A high idle doesn’t hurt the engine. You may notice the car creeping harder at stops, a clunk shifting into Drive, or idle hanging around 1,000–1,500 rpm when warm. Keep a firm foot on the brake and book a repair in the next few weeks. The answer changes if the idle surges very high on its own, the car stalls, or you get a lean code like P0171 with a hiss: get it looked at sooner.
Causes, ranked
| Cause | How you confirm it | Typical cost (US independent shop, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Vacuum leak (hose, PCV valve, intake gasket) | Hiss at idle, high fuel trims or a lean code; smoke test finds it | $50–$400 for a hose or intake gasket (manifold gasket at the top); $50–$150 for a PCV valve |
| Dirty throttle body | Carbon ring behind the throttle plate; learned idle values at their limit | $80–$200 to clean |
| Idle relearn not done | Code appeared after cleaning the throttle body or disconnecting the battery | $0 (DIY procedure) to about $120 with a scan tool |
| Sticking idle air control valve (older cars) | Idle stays high when the valve is unplugged or commanded closed | $150–$400 |
| Low battery or charging voltage | Low or unsteady voltage at idle; code clears after battery service | $150–$350 for a battery |
| Failing electronic throttle body | Throttle position codes as well; plate doesn’t close fully | $300–$700 |
| Software fault | Matching bulletin for your vehicle | $100–$200, often $0 under warranty |
What to check first
- Check for a vacuum leak. Listen for a hiss with the engine running, look over the hoses and PCV valve, and ask for a smoke test if nothing is obvious.
- Look at the throttle body. A heavy carbon ring behind the plate means it needs cleaning. Don’t hold a drive-by-wire throttle open by hand with the key on.
- Do the idle relearn. After cleaning, a battery disconnect or a throttle body replacement, run the relearn for your make. Skipping it is one of the most common reasons P0507 appears right after a DIY cleaning.
- Test the battery and charging voltage. Cheap to check, and one bulletin starts here.
- Clear it and drive. After each fix, clear the code and drive a few days to see if it returns.
The bulletins show a few patterns. Nissan tells technicians to test and charge or replace the 12-volt battery first on the 2018–2021 Kicks, and has a separate bulletin for the 2020–2021 Frontier. Jaguar traced some F-PACE codes to an air leak from a split diaphragm in the cam cover pressure control valve. Hyundai has service information for the 2016–2017 Tucson, and Stellantis issued software updates for the Jeep Wrangler and Ram 1500.
What it costs
The cheap outcome is a cracked hose, a PCV valve, or a throttle body cleaning plus relearn, $50–$200. The common outcome is a vacuum leak found with a smoke test, up to about $400. The expensive outcome is an intake manifold gasket or a new electronic throttle body, up to $700. An hour of diagnosis, usually $100–$180, costs less than a throttle body you didn’t need. If you want a second opinion on your readings, ask our AI mechanic.
Related codes
P0507 has a low-idle twin, P0506, and sits in the same family as P0505 (idle control system). It often appears with lean codes like P0171 or airflow codes like P0101. For a shaky or uneven idle, see rough idle and car shakes at idle.
What owners report to NHTSA
25 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P0507, 18 of them since 2015, across 16 different models. The component owners most often filed it under: engine.
Most-reported models
| Vehicle | Complaints | Model years reported |
|---|---|---|
| NISSAN ALTIMA | 4 | 2003, 2004, 2006 |
| FORD FOCUS | 3 | 2015, 2016 |
| NISSAN ROGUE | 3 | 2023 |
Manufacturer service bulletins that name P0507
45 technical service bulletins and manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA mention P0507, from 10 makes. A bulletin means the manufacturer has documented a known cause or a fix procedure for that model. Examples:
- MACK MACK, bulletin 10206052: Mack Chassis - Diagnostic Trouble Code ( DTC ) P0507 Lighting The Malfunction Indicator Lamp ( MIL ) - US14+OBD13, US14+OBD15, US14+OBD16 Emissions (Non-Common Rail Fuel System), Common Model Years 2015 To 2017
- VOLVO VOLVO TRUCK, bulletin 10206191: Volvo Chassis - Diagnostic Trouble Code ( DTC ) P0507 Lighting The Malfunction Indicator Lamp ( MIL ) - US14+OBD13, US14+OBD15, US14+OBD16 Emissions (Non-Common Rail Fuel System), Common Model Years 2015 To 2017
- RAM 1500 (2021), bulletin 10190705: Flash: Hybrid Control Processor (HCP) Updates This bulletin involves updating the HCP with the latest available software. Customers may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination. Upon further investigati…
- NISSAN KICKS (2018, 2019, 2020, 2021), bulletin 10199172: MIL ON WITH DTC P0101 AND/OR P0507 STORED IN THE ECM IF YOU CONFIRM The MIL is ON and DTC P0101 (MAF SENSOR) and/or P0507 (ISC SYSTEM) is stored in the ECM. ACTION 1. Test the vehicle's 12 volt battery using the Midtroni…
- NISSAN FRONTIER (2020, 2021), bulletin 10202255: MIL ON WITH DTC P0223, P0507 AND/OR P2135 STORED IN THE ECM IF YOU CONFIRM The MIL is ON and one or more of the following DTCs is stored in the ECM: P0223 - TP SEN 1/CIRC-B1 P0507 - ISC SYSTEM P2135 - TP SENSOR-B1 AND Th…
- JEEP WRANGLER (2019), bulletin 10174233: Flash: Powertrain Control Module (PCM) Updates This bulletin involves reprogramming the PCM with the latest available software. The customer may experience a Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) illumination. Upon further in…
Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database and manufacturer communications file, snapshots September 2026. A complaint or bulletin that mentions a code is a report about that vehicle, not a statement that the code has one cause.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with a P0507 code?
Yes. A high idle is annoying rather than dangerous: the car creeps harder in gear and may shift roughly into Drive. Hold the brake firmly at stops and get it checked in the next few weeks.
Can a dirty throttle body cause P0507?
Yes, indirectly. As carbon builds up, the computer learns to hold the throttle open further to keep idle up. When the carbon is cleaned off, or breaks loose, that learned opening lets in too much air and idle runs high until the computer relearns.
How do I do a throttle body relearn?
It depends on the car. Many relearn on their own after a few drive cycles; some need a specific key-on and pedal sequence; others need a scan tool. Look up the procedure for your make before you clean anything.
What's the difference between P0506 and P0507?
P0506 means idle is lower than the computer wants, P0507 means it is higher. Too-high idle usually points to extra air getting in, such as a vacuum leak or an unlearned throttle; too-low usually points to a restriction such as carbon.