U0163

Lost Communication With Navigation Control Module

Q: Is it safe to drive with U0163?

Yes. It only affects navigation and infotainment, not how the car drives, steers, or brakes.

Q: Can I just clear U0163?

You can try, and a one-off glitch may not return. If the module has a wiring or hardware fault, the code and the loss of navigation will come back.

Communication network / infotainment Generic OBD-II Low

What it means

U0163 means the vehicle has lost communication with the navigation control module — the computer behind the built-in navigation and its map display. When it goes offline you lose navigation and related display features, but nothing about how the car drives is affected. The cause is normally a wiring, connector, power/ground, software, or bus fault at the module, and it's a low-priority, comfort-only issue.

Low

Can I keep driving? Yes — this is a navigation/infotainment fault. The car drives normally; you just lose navigation and possibly related display features until it's repaired.

Real-world scan data

Seen in

scans in the past year

Found in

<0.1%

of scans

<0.1%

of scans that found faults

Figures reflect only diagnostic scans recorded through our own apps and tools. Cars are typically scanned because a symptom or warning light prompted it, so these counts describe our scan records — not the incidence of faults in any model, and not the quality, reliability, or safety of any vehicle. No comparison between manufacturers or models is implied. All trademarks belong to their respective owners; no affiliation or endorsement is implied.

Common symptoms

What you'll notice

Navigation unavailable, or the display is blank or frozen
Loss of nav-linked features such as maps and guidance
Infotainment or display error messages
Scan tool can't reach the navigation control module

Common causes

Most likely first

Wiring or connector fault at the navigation moduleLikely
Power or ground problem to the moduleCommon
Failed navigation control moduleCommon
Software fault or bus wiring issueLess often

How to diagnose & fix

Work through it in order

Confirm the code and check for related infotainment U-codes.
Inspect the module's connector, wiring, power, and ground.
Try a system or software reset if the vehicle supports one.
Verify bus communication to the module.
Replace and program the navigation module if it's confirmed faulty.

FAQ

Quick answers

Is it safe to drive with U0163?+

Yes. It only affects navigation and infotainment, not how the car drives, steers, or brakes.

Can I just clear U0163?+

You can try, and a one-off glitch may not return. If the module has a wiring or hardware fault, the code and the loss of navigation will come back.

Read & clear U0163 yourself

Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.

▶ Get it on Google Play

✓ Verified name — SAE J2012 / ISO 15031-6Guidance reviewed by OBD DashX