U0292 — Lost Communication With Drive Motor Control Module "B"

U0292 — Lost Communication With Drive Motor Control Module "B". A fault in the vehicle network (CAN bus) communication. Short, gentle driving to a shop is usually possible. Typical causes: poor grounds or low battery voltage, water ingress in harness junctions, a faulty module pulling the bus down.

vehicle network

Is it safe to drive?

Drive with caution Depends on what is affected. A single dead convenience module is fine to drive with; loss of communication with engine, braking or steering modules is not. If multiple critical systems drop out, do not drive.

How to diagnose with an OBD scanner

  1. Read the code and freeze frame Connect an OBD2 scanner, confirm U0292 is stored, and save the freeze frame data — it shows engine conditions when the fault was detected.
  2. Check for companion codes and TSBs Related codes often reveal the real root cause. Also check manufacturer technical service bulletins (TSB) for your make and model — many U0xxx issues have factory fixes or software updates. Search by VIN on the manufacturer site or nhtsa.gov.
  3. Inspect wiring and connectors Visually inspect the wiring harness and connectors related to the vehicle network (CAN bus) communication for damage, corrosion, chafing or poor contact.
  4. Subsystem check Measure resistance between CAN-High and CAN-Low at the OBD port with power off — about 60 Ω is healthy.
  5. Subsystem check Scan all modules: the one that does not respond is either the culprit or downstream of the break.
  6. Verify the repair Clear the code, complete a full drive cycle including the conditions from the freeze frame, and confirm U0292 does not return.

Approximate repair cost

Repair cost depends on which component actually failed. Typical scenarios for U0292 (parts and labor, USD, independent shop rates): Replace the faulty control module: $300–$1,500; Repair CAN wiring or connectors: $100–$400; Remove interfering aftermarket device: $0–$150. Overall, fixing U0292 usually costs between $0 and $1,500. An accurate diagnosis before buying parts saves money — the most expensive scenario is rarely the first one to check.

Common questions

What is the most common cause of U0292?

The most common causes are: poor grounds or low battery voltage, water ingress in harness junctions, a faulty module pulling the bus down.

What does OBD2 code U0292 mean?

U0292 — Lost Communication With Drive Motor Control Module "B". A fault in the vehicle network (CAN bus) communication. Short, gentle driving to a shop is usually possible. Typical causes: poor grounds or low battery voltage, water ingress in harness junctions, a faulty module pulling the bus down.

How do I diagnose U0292 myself?

Start with a scan: confirm U0292, save the freeze frame and note any companion codes. Then inspect the wiring and connectors related to the vehicle network (CAN bus) communication, and verify the suspect component against live data before buying parts.

Is it safe to drive with U0292?

Depends on what is affected. A single dead convenience module is fine to drive with; loss of communication with engine, braking or steering modules is not. If multiple critical systems drop out, do not drive.

How much does it cost to fix U0292?

Replace the faulty control module — $300–$1,500; Repair CAN wiring or connectors — $100–$400; Remove interfering aftermarket device — $0–$150. Exact cost depends on the root cause, your vehicle and local labor rates — a proper diagnosis is the cheapest first step.

What does U0292 mean?

U0292 is logged by the onboard diagnostics when the vehicle network (CAN bus) communication does not behave as expected. The official definition is “Lost Communication With Drive Motor Control Module "B"”. This is a vehicle network category code.

This code does not appear from a single bad reading: the module must see the fault condition repeat under defined operating conditions before it turns on the warning light. The freeze frame captured with U0292 — engine load, rpm, temperature, speed — tells you exactly when the problem occurs, so reproduce those conditions when testing.

Common symptoms of U0292

  • random, hard-to-reproduce electrical glitches
  • no-start or intermittent starting in some cases
  • intermittent loss of functions (gauges, windows, steering assist)
  • modules intermittently not communicating with the scanner
  • multiple warning lights on at once

What causes U0292?

  • poor grounds or low battery voltage
  • a faulty module pulling the bus down
  • water ingress in harness junctions
  • damaged CAN bus wiring or short to power/ground

How to diagnose U0292

  1. Connect an OBD2 scanner, confirm U0292 is stored, and save the freeze frame data — it shows engine conditions when the fault was detected.
  2. Related codes often reveal the real root cause. Also check manufacturer technical service bulletins (TSB) for your make and model — many U0xxx issues have factory fixes or software updates. Search by VIN on the manufacturer site or nhtsa.gov.
  3. Visually inspect the wiring harness and connectors related to the vehicle network (CAN bus) communication for damage, corrosion, chafing or poor contact.
  4. Measure resistance between CAN-High and CAN-Low at the OBD port with power off — about 60 Ω is healthy.
  5. Scan all modules: the one that does not respond is either the culprit or downstream of the break.
  6. Clear the code, complete a full drive cycle including the conditions from the freeze frame, and confirm U0292 does not return.

How to fix U0292

Start with the cheapest and most common causes before replacing expensive parts:

  • Replace the faulty control module — $300–$1,500
  • Repair CAN wiring or connectors — $100–$400
  • Remove interfering aftermarket device — $0–$150

How much does it cost to fix U0292?

Repair cost depends on which component actually failed. Typical scenarios for U0292 (parts and labor, USD, independent shop rates):

  • Replace the faulty control module: $300–$1,500
  • Repair CAN wiring or connectors: $100–$400
  • Remove interfering aftermarket device: $0–$150

Overall, fixing U0292 usually costs between $0 and $1,500. An accurate diagnosis before buying parts saves money — the most expensive scenario is rarely the first one to check.

Can you drive with U0292?

Depends on what is affected. A single dead convenience module is fine to drive with; loss of communication with engine, braking or steering modules is not. If multiple critical systems drop out, do not drive.

Related OBD2 codes