The throttle position sensor replacement cost is usually the sensor part plus one to two hours of shop labor. As of 2026-11-06, one repair blog lists the part at $30 to $150 depending on brand.
The throttle position sensor replacement cost depends on whether the sensor is really at fault. Read the trouble code first, then check whether a free repair applies to your vehicle.
How Much Does a Throttle Position Sensor Replacement Cost?
A throttle position sensor replacement usually costs $30 to $150 for the part plus $120 to $150 per hour of labor, as of 2026-11-06. The parts figure comes from one repair blog’s price survey, and it varies by make, model and brand. Use the range as a starting point for any throttle position sensor replacement cost comparison.
Labor is the larger swing. A typical job takes one to two hours, so labor alone works out to roughly $120 to $300 at those rates. Shops usually quote the whole job, so ask for the part and the labor on separate lines.
| Cost item | Typical figure | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor part | $30 to $150 | Repair blog price survey, as of 2026-11-06 |
| Shop labor rate | $120 to $150 per hour | Repair blog price survey |
| Labor time | 1 to 2 hours | Repair blog price survey |
| Labor total | About $120 to $300 | Calculated from the two rows above |
| Shop total | Part plus labor, plus tax and fees | Depends on your shop and location |
Treat these throttle position sensor replacement cost figures as a planning range, not a quote. Local labor rates, sales tax and shop fees can move the final total well beyond them. For another sensor job, see the MAF sensor replacement cost guide.
What the Throttle Position Sensor Does
The throttle position sensor reports how far the throttle plate is open, so the engine computer can match airflow and fuel to what the driver asks for. On many vehicles it sits on the throttle body, the part that controls air entering the engine, so a throttle position sensor replacement cost can include throttle body work.
The sensor sends its position as a voltage. One repair blog lists normal readings of 0.5 to 1.0 volts at idle and 4.5 to 4.7 volts at wide-open throttle. Those figures are useful for a basic multimeter check, but the exact specification for your engine is in the service manual.
What Drives the Price Up or Down
The throttle position sensor replacement cost is decided mostly by labor time, the part itself and whether the fault is in the sensor or its wiring. Four factors matter most.
- Labor time, which is billed at the shop’s hourly rate.
- Part brand, since the sensor price spans $30 to $150.
- Wiring damage, which takes longer to find and fix than a sensor swap.
- Throttle body work, which is a separate job from swapping the sensor. Our guide to throttle body repair cost shows what that job adds.
Parts Price Differences
The part’s share of the throttle position sensor replacement cost ranges from $30 to $150 depending on brand. A lower price is not a saving if the new part does not fix the code, so match the part to the diagnosis.
Wiring Problems Cost More
KBB lists open or shorted wiring, and damaged harnesses leading to the engine computer, as causes of the P2135 code. Repairing a harness or cleaning a corroded connector takes more time than a sensor swap, so a wiring fault can push the throttle position sensor replacement cost above the price of the sensor itself.
Confirm the Fault Before You Pay for a Part
Read the trouble code with a scan tool before you buy a sensor, because P0121 and P2135 point to different problems. Each code has a first check that costs little or nothing, and that check is the cheapest step in any throttle position sensor replacement cost plan.
| Code | What it means | First check |
|---|---|---|
| P0121 | Range or performance problem in sensor A | Check the throttle body for dirt, then the sensor and its connection |
| P2135 | Sensor A and sensor B voltages do not match | Check both the throttle and pedal sensor circuits and their wiring |
P2135 carries the most at stake. KBB describes it as the engine computer expecting the two sensor voltages to stay in a close range, and says the computer may limit acceleration to about 15 percent in fail-safe mode.
Causes listed for P2135 include faulty throttle or pedal sensors, open or shorted wiring and, sometimes, a faulty engine computer. Because those causes lead to different repairs, a scan before buying parts is the cheapest way to keep the throttle position sensor replacement cost down. The P0121 note comes from a repair blog, so treat it as a starting point rather than a manufacturer specification.
Check for Free Repair Coverage First
GM special coverage in GM service bulletin 11273B offered a free sensor replacement, with engine computer reprogramming included, on listed V8 models from 2008 to 2011, for 10 years or 120,000 miles from the in-service date.
The bulletin covers vehicles identified by VIN, including Cadillac Escalade, Chevrolet Silverado, Tahoe, Suburban and related GMC and Hummer models. It applies regardless of ownership, and the repair was done by a dealer at no charge to the owner. The bulletin also requires a scan tool to show DTC P2135 as current or in history before the covered repair starts.
Check the dates before you plan around it. Every model year in that bulletin is now past the 10-year window, so the bulletin is most useful as a diagnostic reference. Vehicles that are not listed are not covered by it.
How to Check Your Vehicle
Write down your year, make, model and engine. Then look up your VIN on NHTSA’s recall lookup and ask a dealer whether any newer bulletin or special coverage applies to your vehicle.
Replace It Yourself or Pay a Shop
A throttle position sensor replacement can be a do-it-yourself job for some owners, so the real choice depends on your tools, your confidence in the diagnosis and whether wiring is involved. In any throttle position sensor replacement cost estimate, the part is the cheap piece, so a wrong guess costs more than the sensor. If the car needs a throttle relearn afterward, see our scanners with throttle relearn roundup.
- A throttle position sensor replacement done yourself costs the part, plus an automotive multimeter if you do not own one.
- A shop adds labor at $120 to $150 per hour, usually for one to two hours, which often makes up more of the throttle position sensor replacement cost than the part.
- Throttle body parts need care, since GM’s procedure warns against dropping the body or soaking electronic parts in solvent.
- Wiring or engine computer faults are outside a simple sensor swap.
If the scan points to wiring or the engine computer, the job changes and the throttle position sensor replacement cost range above no longer applies. In that case, get the diagnosis in writing before you approve any repair.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a bad throttle position sensor cause limp mode?
It can. KBB says the P2135 fault may put the engine computer into a fail-safe mode that limits acceleration to about 15 percent. Other sensor faults can also reduce power, so read the stored code with a scan tool before you replace anything. Our guide to limp mode explains what the car is doing.
Is cleaning the throttle body a cheaper fix?
Sometimes, for P0121. One repair blog lists a dirty or faulty throttle body as a cause of that code. Cleaning costs less than a new sensor, but use only the cleaner the service manual names, because GM’s procedure warns against solvents that can damage throttle parts.
Is a throttle position sensor replacement free under warranty?
Only if a bulletin, recall or warranty covers your exact vehicle. The GM special coverage listed above applies to certain 2008 to 2011 V8 models and has run out on those model years. Check your VIN with NHTSA and ask a dealer about any open coverage for the throttle position sensor replacement cost.
How long does a throttle position sensor replacement take?
One repair blog estimates one to two hours of labor, which sets the labor share of the throttle position sensor replacement cost. Actual time depends on how easily the sensor can be reached and whether the throttle body must come off. Ask the shop for its labor estimate in writing before you agree to the job.
Do I need to clear the code after a throttle position sensor replacement?
Yes, the stored code should be cleared with a scan tool after the repair. Then drive the vehicle and check whether the code returns. If it does, the wiring or the engine computer may be the cause, so return to the diagnosis step.
What if the code returns after the new sensor is installed?
Check the wiring and connector for corrosion, opens or shorts, which KBB lists as causes of P2135. If the wiring is sound, the engine computer may be at fault, and a second diagnosis is worth paying for before more parts are bought.
Before you pay for a throttle position sensor replacement, confirm the code, check whether free coverage applies to your vehicle, and compare a shop quote that lists the part and labor separately. If wiring or the engine computer is involved, get that diagnosis in writing first.
