Code U0681 indicates that the engine control module has lost communication with the accelerator pedal position sensor. This typically triggers a safety 'limp home' mode to prevent unintended acceleration or loss of throttle control.
Internal failure of the pedal sensor's electronic circuitry or a failed potentiometer.
Frayed, chafed, or broken wires between the pedal sensor and the control module.
Poor electrical contact at the pedal connector or the PCM connector due to corrosion or vibration.
A blown fuse in the circuit providing power to the accelerator pedal sensor.
A failure within the control module's processing circuit for the pedal signal.
The vehicle is generally safe to drive to a repair facility, but performance will be severely limited by limp mode for safety reasons.
No. While the PCM is listed as a cause, it is rarely the source of this problem; the issue is almost always the sensor itself or the associated wiring.
No. This code refers to the pedal sensor (the input), not the throttle body actuator (the output), though both are part of the electronic throttle system.