I was driving on the highway traveling about 70 miles per hour in the mountains of colorado when my car's accelerator stopped working. I was on a sharp downhill curve when I was no longer able to accelerate my car to keep up with traffic. This was extremely dangerous as I was almost hit by the cars behind me. There was no warning prior to the incident. *tr
2006 Subaru Outback cruise control problems
moderate 71 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $600 · see cruise control across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
71
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$600
2crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 71 cruise control complaints filed for the 2006 Subaru Outback, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Of the 17 model years of Subaru Outback we track for cruise control problems, this one carries the most owner complaints on file — 71.
Owners have filed 71 cruise control complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2006 Subaru Outbacks describe a pattern of sudden, unpredictable throttle failure where the accelerator pedal becomes completely unresponsive while driving. The engine enters limp mode—idling at 15-30 mph with zero acceleration response—while the Check Engine light comes on and the cruise control light flashes. This happens at random intervals: sometimes 5 minutes after startup, sometimes after braking, sometimes mid-highway at 65+ mph.
Simultaneously, the engine often revs to 2000-4000 rpm with no foot pressure on the accelerator. Owners report unable to accelerate, unable to maintain speed, and in some cases unable to stop reliably. A few owners describe the opposite failure: uncontrolled acceleration without pedal input, with brakes that feel unresponsive.
The diagnostic code is consistently P2138 (throttle/pedal position sensor voltage correlation). Dealerships and independent shops replaced the accelerator pedal assembly at costs of $320-$404, but owners report the failure recurring even after replacement. Restart also becomes problematic—engines sometimes won't turn over on first or second attempt after these events.
Owners universally emphasize the danger: loss of power at 60+ mph in traffic, on highway merge ramps, or at intersections left them unable to escape safely. Multiple owners stated this easily could have caused collisions or injuries. No recall was issued.
Same Subaru Outback cruise control reports on nearby years: 2005 · 2007
Failure modes owners describe
Loss of throttle response with limp mode
Engine enters limp mode; accelerator pedal becomes unresponsive regardless of input. Vehicle decelerates to idle speed (typically 15-30 mph) with no way to accelerate. Check Engine light illuminates and cruise control light flashes. Condition often repeats across multiple driving sessions.
When: Occurs randomly while in motion at various speeds (20-70 mph), sometimes within 5 minutes of startup, sometimes after brake application
Symptoms owners cite: Accelerator pedal does not respond to depression; Vehicle decelerates or maintains only idle speed; Check Engine light comes on; Cruise control light blinks/flashes; Engine RPM revs erratically or stays at elevated idle (2000-2500 rpm) while in neutral; Vehicle in limp mode
Codes mentioned: P2138
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report replacement of accelerator pedal assembly (including pedal position sensor) at costs ranging $320-$403.88. Some replaced throttle body; others replaced only the sensor. Problem reportedly recurred in some cases even after pedal replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Subaru dealers and independent shops replaced accelerator pedal assemblies; some dealers could not diagnose the problem. No recalls issued. Dealer response varied: some could not find the fault during diagnostic, others suggested loose gas cap or couldn't confirm issue until code appeared. Manufacturer offered no extended warranty or recall despite complaint pattern.
Uncontrolled engine revving and sudden acceleration
Engine revs to high RPM (2500-4000 rpm) with no foot pressure on accelerator. Vehicle accelerates without pedal input or accelerates beyond driver intent. Occurs in both parked and moving vehicle states. Brakes reportedly become unresponsive or require excessive force.
When: While coasting downhill, at low speeds after braking, in neutral while parked, or during normal highway driving
Symptoms owners cite: Engine races to 2500-4000 rpm without accelerator pedal input; Vehicle accelerates without driver pedal depression; Brake response diminishes or becomes unresponsive; Check Engine light illuminates; Cruise control light flashes; Vehicle behavior erratic during acceleration attempts
Codes mentioned: P2138
Repairs/costs cited: Owners replaced accelerator pedal assembly or throttle sensor; costs cited at $365. One owner reported continued symptoms after turning throttle sensor off.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers replaced pedal assembly or throttle body components. No recall or design change acknowledgment.
Inability to restart or multiple restart attempts required
Vehicle fails to turn over on first or second restart attempt after limp mode event. Owner must wait several seconds to minutes or turn ignition off/on repeatedly before engine catches. Occurs in connection with accelerator pedal loss-of-response events.
When: Immediately following accelerator failure events or after turning off engine to reset
Symptoms owners cite: Engine does not turn over on first attempt; Requires 2-3 restart attempts before engine catches; May require 10+ seconds for engine to crank; Occurs after Check Engine/cruise control light events; Check Engine and cruise control lights remain on after restart
Codes mentioned: P2138
Repairs/costs cited: No specific repairs documented for restart issue alone. Pedal replacement sometimes resolved the overall condition.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific technical service bulletins or manufacturer guidance noted for restart failures.
Synthesized from 71 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Subaru outback. The contact was driving 55 MPH and attempting to accelerate but the vehicle would not respond. The check engine light illuminated as the engine was turned off momentarily and the failure would reset itself until recurring with the illumination of the check engine light. The vehicle was previously taken to the dealer in which a diagnostic test was…
I was driving at 55 MPH in my 2006 Subaru outback. When I brake for slowing traffic, the check engine light came on and the cruise control light started to blink. The accelerator pedal became unresponsive and it appeared that the car's engine went into idle mode. I was losing speed and pulled to the shoulder of the road. I shut off my engine and a few minutes later I was able to restart the car.…
Accelerator pedal goes limp and unresponsive at random moments including highway driving. It has happens more and more often and other Subaru owners have said the same. It seems to happen the most during colder weather and the cars gas pedal becomes completely unresponsive and requires the car to be pulled over over and turned off to sit for a some time. When putting the car into park the rpms…
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Subaru outback. The contact stated that while driving 20 MPH, the vehicle suddenly decelerated. The contact also stated that the check engine lamp and cruise control warning lamp illuminated on the instrument panel. The vehicle was taken to a local mechanic, who diagnosed that a sensor on the accelerator pedal needed to be replaced. The manufacturer was not made aware…
Vehicle lost throttle response suddenly. Was able to coast at about 20mph off of an interstate to a safe location code check indicated p2138 throttle position sensor fault. *tr
Just received "takata recall" letter stating there are now sufficient parts available. At the same time my check engine light came on and cruise light started flashing. I made an appointment for the recall work and to have the car checked out. I googled this and found that a code p2138 is found with this occurrence and it seems to be happening with many of these vehicles. My wife called me on her…
Had cruise control trouble with your 2006 Subaru Outback?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the cruise control problem on the 2006 Subaru Outback?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 71 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $600 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the cruise control typically fail?
Across the 65 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most cruise control failures cluster between 77,000 and 141,000 miles, with the median around 101,200. A quarter of owners report trouble before 77,000; a quarter make it past 141,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $600 for cruise control repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to cruise control?
No active recalls currently cover cruise control issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2006/Subaru/Outback.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.