P081F
- Powertrain
- Generic (SAE)
- Safety
Stop driving
Continuing to drive risks injury or major mechanical damage. Shut the engine off when it is safe to do so.
Brake Transmission Shift Interlock (BTSI) Signal Correlation
This code is in our catalogue but has not yet been through editorial review, so the guidance below is limited to what our structured data supports. We publish deeper diagnostic content only after a code has been reviewed — here is why.
The Brake Transmission Shift Interlock prevents shifting out of Park unless the brake pedal is pressed. The TCM compares the brake-pedal input to the BTSI solenoid command and detects an inconsistency — for example shift permitted while brake not pressed, or interlock active while brake is pressed.
A trouble code records what a control module measured. It does not identify which part failed. Test before replacing anything.
- Safe to drive
- Continuing to drive risks injury or major mechanical damage. Shut the engine off when it is safe to do so.
- Urgency
- Stop driving
- Will it pass emissions
- Not affected
- Check engine light
- Solid
- Check engine or transmission warning light on
- Harsh, delayed, or missing shifts
- Possible limp mode (locked in one gear)
- Slipping or shuddering during gear changes
Many vehicles show no symptom at all beyond the warning light. The absence of a symptom does not mean the fault is not real.
| # | Cause | How often | Component |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Stuck brake pedal switch | Very common | — |
| 2 | Mis-adjusted BTSI mechanism | Common | — |
Ordering reflects how often each cause is responsible in general, not a probability for your vehicle. Confirm by testing.
- Btsi Solenoid
- Brake Pedal Switch
- Definition
- Generic code set (SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6) via the OBDexopen database, dedicated to the public domain under CC0-1.0.
- Diagnostic guidance
- Written and reviewed in-house. See our editorial policy.
- Review status
- Awaiting review
Found something wrong? Tell us — we publish corrections.