Generic fault code
U0126 — Lost communication with steering angle sensor module
The control unit stores code U0126 when it detects this fault: “Lost communication with steering angle sensor module”.
Indicative severity: HighCommunication network
Reviewed by Daniel Morales, founder of Reprorace SL, on
What does code U0126 mean?
Control units talk to each other over buses such as CAN. A U code means one control unit has stopped hearing another: the cause may be that other unit, the wiring or the power supply, often a low battery.
- System
- U · Network and communication
- Area
- Communication network · Car system: CAN network and modules
- Type
- Generic (SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6): the same meaning on every make
- Indicative severity
- High. Diagnose as soon as possible: it may affect safety or cause damage (engine, catalyst, brakes).
What usually causes code U0126?
- Poor module supply or ground (fuse, relay, battery)
- Mechanical wear or failure, loose or misplaced mounting
- Communication network fault (bus wiring, termination resistor, gateway)
The most likely causes come first. Only a check on the car confirms which one is yours.
What are the symptoms of code U0126?
- Warning lights of the system whose control unit does not answer
- That control unit's functions not responding
- Sometimes the car will not start or goes into limp-home mode
These are the usual symptoms of this kind of fault: not all of them always appear, and sometimes you notice nothing.
Can I keep driving with code U0126?
Better not, except when you really have to. This fault may affect safety or damage the engine, the catalytic converter or the brakes. See a workshop as soon as possible; if you must move the car, drive gently and only short distances. If the light flashes, the car loses power, makes unusual noises or the brakes or steering feel different, stop somewhere safe and call for assistance.
This is guidance only: only someone who checks the car can say whether it is safe to drive.
An indicative description of the code's generic meaning. Each manufacturer may give it a different meaning, conditions or tests: always follow its service information and your workshop's advice.
What you can do yourself
For this kind of fault
Check whether that control unit's fuse has blown (the owner's manual says which one) and check the battery. Read the faults of every control unit: the problem is usually in the one that does not answer or in its power supply.
Read the code and keep the report: with an ECO-LITE in the OBD socket you see it on your phone or computer, with the data captured when the fault happened.
Look for anything obvious: a loose connector, a disconnected hose, a fuel cap not closed properly or a low fluid level. Do not take apart anything you do not know.
Clear the code only after writing it down or after the repair. Clearing turns the light off, but it also deletes the freeze-frame data and the readiness monitors used at the inspection.
Drive normally for a few days and read the codes again. If the code comes back, the fault is still there: book the workshop and bring the report.
Read your car's fault codes on your phone
With an ECO-LITE in the OBD socket you see the codes in your account, with the data captured when the fault happened, and your workshop can check them remotely, always with your permission.
Related codes
- U0123Lost communication with yaw rate sensor module
- U0124Lost communication with lateral acceleration sensor module
- U0125Lost communication with multi-axis acceleration sensor module A
- U0127Lost communication with tire pressure monitor module
- U0128Lost communication with park brake control module
- U0129Lost communication with brake system control module A
U01xx codes: lost communication with control units
In the glossary
Read more: Remote OBD diagnostics: what it is, how it works and what it can't do