U0212

Lost Communication With Steering Column Control Module

Q: Is it safe to drive with U0212?

You can, but treat it as soon-as-possible. U0212 won't stop the car, but you may lose turn signals, wipers, or the horn — all safety items — so get it repaired promptly.

Q: Can I just clear U0212?

You can clear it, but if the module is still off the bus the code returns almost immediately. Fix the wiring, connector, power/ground, or module first, then clear and confirm the feature works.

Network communication Generic OBD-II Medium

What it means

U0212 sets when a module can no longer communicate over the data bus with the Steering Column Control Module — the module that reads the multifunction stalks and steering-wheel switches (turn signals, wipers, high-beams, horn, audio and cruise buttons). It doesn't control power-steering assist, so the car still steers and drives; but because you can lose turn signals and wipers, it's worth fixing promptly.

Medium

Can I keep driving? You can drive, but treat it as soon-as-possible: steering and braking are unaffected, yet you may lose turn signals, wipers, or the horn, which are safety-critical.

Real-world scan data

Seen in

146

scans in the past year

Found in

<0.1%

of scans

<0.1%

of scans that found faults

Appears alongside · share of U0212 scans

U0121in 38.4% of scans

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

Turn signals, wipers, high-beams, or horn on the column stalks may stop working
Steering-wheel audio, phone, or cruise-control buttons unresponsive
Powered tilt/telescoping column adjustment lost (if equipped)
Warning lights or messages on the instrument cluster

Common causes

Most likely first

Corroded, loose, or damaged connector at the module or an inline body connectorLikely
Chafed, broken, or shorted wiring in the communication (CAN) circuit to the moduleCommon
Loss of switched power or ground to the affected moduleCommon
Water intrusion into a body/door connector or the module itselfLess often
Failed module with an internal faultLess often
A wider data-bus problem pulling the network downLess often

How to diagnose & fix

Work through it in order

Scan every module and note all U-codes first — several codes together point to a bus or gateway fault rather than one module.
Inspect the connector and harness at the module for corrosion, bent pins, water, or chafing.
Confirm the module has good switched power and a clean ground with a multimeter.
Check communication-bus continuity and resistance from the module back to the network.
If wiring and power are good, the module is likely faulty — replace and program/configure it as required.
Clear the code, recheck, and confirm the affected feature works and the code stays gone.

FAQ

Quick answers

Is it safe to drive with U0212?+

You can, but treat it as soon-as-possible. U0212 won't stop the car, but you may lose turn signals, wipers, or the horn — all safety items — so get it repaired promptly.

Can I just clear U0212?+

You can clear it, but if the module is still off the bus the code returns almost immediately. Fix the wiring, connector, power/ground, or module first, then clear and confirm the feature works.

Read & clear U0212 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