P2127: Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor E Circuit Low
Key takeaways
- P2127 means the second sensor in the accelerator pedal (sensor E) is sending a voltage lower than a working sensor can produce.
- The car usually falls back on the other pedal sensor and limits power, so drive short trips only and stay off the highway.
- The pedal connector and harness are the first things to check; P2127 and P2122 together almost always point to wiring or a shared 5-volt supply.
- Wiring repair runs $100–$250 and a new accelerator pedal assembly $150–$450 at a US independent shop.
- Ram has a bulletin for 2021–2023 Ram 1500 trucks with P2127 and a flashing throttle warning light; Ford and Chrysler-group bulletins point to wiring checks.
What P2127 means
The second sensor in your accelerator pedal is reading lower than it ever should, so the computer treats it as a circuit fault. Scanners call it “Throttle/Pedal Position Sensor/Switch E Circuit Low.” A drive-by-wire pedal carries two (sometimes three) position sensors so the computer can cross-check them. Sensor E usually runs on its own 5-volt supply and signal wire, often at a different voltage scale from sensor D. When its signal drops below the minimum a working sensor produces, P2127 sets. That usually means an open wire, a short to ground, or a lost supply.
Is it safe to drive?
Short trips only. With one pedal sensor out, the computer trusts the other one and typically goes into reduced-power (limp) mode: sluggish response, limited speed, and on some trucks a flashing throttle warning light. A drive to a nearby shop is usually fine. Don’t take it on the highway, because the car may not accelerate enough to merge or keep up.
The symptom that changes the answer: the engine stays at idle or ignores the pedal. That means both sensors are out. Have it towed.
Causes, ranked
| Cause | How you confirm it | Typical cost (US independent shop, 2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Loose or corroded pedal connector | Inspect and reseat the plug on the pedal; code clears and stays gone | $100–$250 |
| Chafed or pinched harness near the pedal or firewall | Continuity and short-to-ground checks; signal drops when the harness is moved | $100–$250 |
| 5-volt reference shorted by another sensor on the same circuit | Several sensor codes at once; reference recovers when the other sensor is unplugged | $100–$250 plus that sensor |
| Failed accelerator pedal assembly | Good supply and ground at the plug, but sensor E still reads low or drops out through the travel | $150–$450 |
| Software (some makes) | Dealer checks for a bulletin or PCM update | $100–$200, or free under warranty |
| Computer (ECM/PCM) | No reference voltage from the module with wiring proven good; rare | $800–$1,800 plus programming |
What to check first
- Read every code. P2127 with P2122 points to the shared connector or harness; with engine sensor codes too, suspect a shorted 5-volt reference.
- Check the pedal connector under the dash for a loose lock, corrosion or a pushed-back pin, especially after any work in the footwell.
- Follow the harness from the pedal to the firewall for pinching or rubbing.
- Measure supply and ground at the pedal with the key on before buying a pedal.
- Ask about bulletins on a Ram, Ford or GM truck.
The bulletins point to wiring and procedure. Ram has one for 2021–2023 Ram 1500 trucks with P2127 and a flashing electronic throttle control light. Chrysler-group notes, including Alfa Romeo, tell technicians to check wiring and connectors before replacing the pedal and warn that P2122 and P2127 set just from unplugging it. Ford has bulletins for 2021–2024 F-150 and Super Duty trucks and for 2020–2021 Escape losing its voltage reference with a blown fuse. In the complaint data, 5 of the 19 reports are on the 2017 Chevrolet Malibu.
What it costs
The cheap outcome is a reseated or cleaned pedal connector. The common outcome is a wiring or connector repair at $100–$250. The expensive outcome is a new accelerator pedal assembly at $150–$450. A diagnostic hour at $100–$180 that checks supply and signal at the pedal plug is cheaper than a pedal you didn’t need. If you want a second look at your scan results, ask our AI mechanic.
Related codes
P2122 is the pedal’s first sensor (D) reading low, and the two often appear together. P2138 means sensors D and E disagree. P2128 is sensor E reading high, and P2121 is sensor D’s range/performance code. For hesitation, see car jerks when accelerating; if the light came on with no obvious change, see can I drive with the check engine light on.
What owners report to NHTSA
19 complaints filed with NHTSA mention P2127, 12 of them since 2015, across 13 different models. The component owners most often filed it under: engine.
Most-reported models
| Vehicle | Complaints | Model years reported |
|---|---|---|
| CHEVROLET MALIBU | 5 | 2017 |
Manufacturer service bulletins that name P2127
40 technical service bulletins and manufacturer communications filed with NHTSA mention P2127, from 14 makes. A bulletin means the manufacturer has documented a known cause or a fix procedure for that model. Examples:
- CHRYSLER POWER TRAIN, bulletin 10173281: PEDAL, Accelerator Before replacing accelerator pedal, be sure to follow fault code diagnostic procedures in Service Library and be sure to check wiring and connectors. P2122 and P2127 will set if accelerator pedal conne…
- FORD F-600 SD (2023, 2024), bulletin 10253556: Some 2023-2024 F-Super Duty vehicles may exhibit an illuminated powertrain malfunction (wrench) indicator with diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P2122, P2123, P2127, P2128, and/or P2138 stored in the powertrain control modu…
- FORD F-150 (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024), bulletin 11008946: Some 2021-2024 F-150 non-Lightning vehicles may exhibit an illuminated powertrain malfunction (wrench) indicator with diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs) P2122, P2123, P2127, P2128, and/or P2138 stored in the powertrain cont…
- RAM 1500 (2021, 2022, 2023), bulletin 10248887: Malfunction Indicator Lamp (MIL) On, Electronic Throttle Control (ETC) Lamp Flashes, Diagnostic Trouble Code (DTC) P2127 Accelerator Pedal Position Circuit Low
- FORD ESCAPE (2020, 2021), bulletin 10201593: Some 2020-2021 Escape vehicles may exhibit a loss of voltage reference (VREF) or runs rough, blow fuse 44 and may or may not set DTC's P06A7,P0840,P0842,P0845,P0847,P2122,P2127,P0522,P008A,P06A6,P2196,P0192, P0212,P0340,…
- RAM 2500 (2019), bulletin 10173282: PEDAL, Accelerator (APPS) Before replacing accelerator pedal for P061B, make sure all PCM software service bulletins and recalls are up to date, if applicable. Before replacing accelerator pedal for other DTCs, be sure t…
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
What is the difference between P2122 and P2127?
They're the two sensors in the same accelerator pedal. P2122 is sensor D reading low, P2127 is sensor E reading low. The diagnosis is the same: connector, harness, 5-volt supply, then the pedal.
Can I drive with P2127?
Short trips, usually. The computer uses the other pedal sensor and limits power, so stay off the highway. If the car stops responding to the pedal, have it towed.
Will a new accelerator pedal fix P2127?
Only if the pedal is the problem. Manufacturers warn technicians to check wiring and connectors before replacing it, because a chafed wire or a shorted supply sets the same code.
Why did P2127 come on after I worked under the dash?
Unplugging the pedal, or bumping its connector, sets P2127 and P2122. Reseat the plug firmly, clear the codes and see if they stay away.