Why cars go into ‘limp mode’ and what to do

If your car suddenly loses power, and you can’t accelerate beyond a low speed, it’s possible that your car has just gone into limp mode.

In limp mode, you’re likely to find the engine won’t rev beyond a certain level, speed will be limited, and systems such as your air conditioning may be disabled.

Limp mode is triggered when vehicle sensors detect a serious issue, such as excessive temperatures or loads. By limiting the engine outputs and reducing loads on it and on the transmission, limp mode is a way to protect the vehicle from more serious damage.

You will be able to continue to drive, but the speed of your vehicle will be limited, allowing you to get to help or to pull over somewhere safe and call for assistance.

Once you’ve stopped somewhere safe, try switching off the ignition, wait for around 30 seconds, then start the car again. Allowing the vehicle to cool with the engine off for approximately 20 minutes may also bring the vehicle out of limp mode.

There’s a chance that limp mode may have been activated by a faulty sensor, in which case stopping and restarting may take the car out of limp mode. It is still recommended that you have the car professionally checked to determine what caused limp mode to be triggered.

Dangerously low engine fluid levels, or a transmission fault, are other possible triggers for limp mode activation.

Most modern cars will have limp mode as a feature to protect the vehicle from further damage, including plug-in hybrid and battery electric vehicles, which may be triggered as a response to a battery or other electrical issue.