Fault Code Lookup › Network codes › U0073
U0073 Network · generic OBD-II
Control Module Communication Bus Off
U0073 is a standard code covering network: communication between the car's control modules. It names the system that logged the fault, not the part that failed. Below: which cars owners reported it on, what happened, and recalls on those cars, from 15 complaints filed with NHTSA. Updated November 9, 2026.
- 15owner reports
- 10car models
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention a fire
- 2012–2024model years
Which cars get code U0073?
Every model whose owners mentioned U0073 in a complaint, most reports first. Each year opens that car's full problem report. Popular models collect more reports because more of them are on the road.
Chevrolet Equinox
2 reportsChevrolet Traverse
2 reportsChevrolet Trax
2 reportsGMC Sierra
2 reportsChevrolet Bolt
1 reportChevrolet Colorado
1 reportChevrolet Silverado
1 reportChevrolet Traverse Limited
1 reportFord Focus
1 reportWhere does U0073 show up?
By brand
- Chevrolet12
- GMC2
- Ford1
Component the owner filed it under
Is there a recall for U0073?
The others concern the component owners file this code under (Electrical System) on the same cars; they may or may not relate to the code. Recall repairs are free; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Electrical System: Software General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain 2018 Chevrolet Malibu vehicles equipped with 1.5L turbo engines. An error in the Engine Control Module (ECM) software may result in the fuel injectors being disabled.
2018 Chevrolet Malibu. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Electrical System: Ignition General Motors LLC (GM) is recalling certain model year 2016-2017 Buick Verano and 2016 Chevrolet Malibu as the electronic park lock lever may allow the ignition key to be removed without the transmission being in PARK. Also, certain 2013 Buick Encore, 2011 Buick Regal, 2013-2014 Buick Verano…
2013 Chevrolet Equinox, 2012 Chevrolet Equinox. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Electrical System: Ignition Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain model year 2015 Ford Escape vehicles manufactured April 1, 2014, to June 12, 2015, Ford Focus vehicles manufactured June 17, 2014, to June 12, 2015, and Ford C-Max vehicles manufactured April 22, 2014, to June 12, 2015. In the affected vehicles, the…
2015 Ford Focus. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
What happened when owners saw U0073?
10 of the 15 reports, spread across the models above, as the owners wrote them. NHTSA removes names and VINs; long reports are trimmed. CarHooq has not verified individual claims.
The problems listed in my vehicle are the following • U0073: Control Module Communication Bus A Off • U0100: Lost Communication With Engine Control Module • U0121: Lost Communication with Electronic Brake Control Module • U0140: Lost Communication With Body Control Module • P0700: Transmission Control Module Requested MIL Illumination I believe this is due to a bad design in the wiring. Also the electric brake vacuum broke which is a common problem.
…The diagnostic read says – 1.)P0575 Cruise Control switch, 2.)P0700, 3.)U0101 - loss communication with transmission control module replace, 4.)Transmission input shaft speed sensor, 5.)Replace transmission electrical hydraulic control module, 6.)U0073 CAN bus Communication Is there a recall on this – this is very dangerous!!!
*What component failed:* Brake System Control Module / Brake System Control Module communication. DTCs U0073 (Control Module Communication Bus A Off), U1610, U053B — Permanent codes. Vehicle has been at dealer 4 times for same brake system failure since purchase at 26,000 miles, now 31,290 miles. Current RO XXX replaced Brake System Control Module and programmed. Failed again XXX, 2 days later, same brake warning and same Permanent codes. Vehicle currently at Rotolo Chevrolet, [XXX]. Dealer tech [XXX] submitted TAC case to GM engineering for assistance. Component is available for inspection at dealer upon request. *How safety was at risk:* The brake got very hard i almost crashed with my…
When driving, speedometer/RPM dial both go to 0. The “Service Stabilitrak” message comes on followed by the “Service Power Steering, Drive With Care” message. The check engine light will also sometimes appear. The transmission is also affected (jerking when changing gears, inability to accelerate properly, revving). Power steering goes in and out. Car doesn’t feel safe to drive while it’s happening. No triggers or commonalities known. Car goes back to normal when left off and turned back on. Code U0073 "Control Module Communication Bus 'A' Off” appeared with at home OBD2 scanner.
ECM - Engine System code P0700 and TCM - Transmission System code U0073. The truck went in to first gear and wouldn't go over 5 MPH on the highway. The dealer is saying it can't be replicated but it's happened multiple times to the vehicle in the past week. The truck was taken to the dealership and inspected but they claim nothing is wrong. The check engine light came on as well as the aforementioned codes.
two recalls in the past year is suppose to address the battery fire safety issue announed by gm in late 2020. days after the final software fix by gm weeks ago, the "check engine" light was lit on my chevy bolt. a follow up service appointment was needed to replace faulty hardware. today, after gm announced a THIRD recall. I used a popular third party obd2 app to check the health of my chevy bolt, 4 different issues were reported: U0293, P0AC4, U0100, and U0073. Note that GM software reports zero issues from GM's app. At this point, I trust what the third party app is reporting and NOT GM's app. It appears GM is hiding these issues from Chevy Bolt owners. I have a service appointment with…
My 2016 Colorado is having a power steering failure identical to the 2015 recall. Recall #16V054000 (issued February 2016) covered 2015 Colorados and Canyons with the same type of electric power steering (EPS) gear assembly prone to internal corrosion. Exact failure symptoms: Sudden stiff steering, steering wheel locks/stiffens “Service power steering” or “Stabilitrak” warnings DTC codes like U0073, U0101, C0545, etc. Defective part: Original gear assembly: GM part #23228020 Revised torque sensor cover kit (to prevent corrosion): GM part #84344239 The vehicle has been taken to the dealership in January when this failure first occured. The dealer claimed it was due to the corroded negative…
…Codes present from BCM are U0422 invalid data received, U1509, U0415, U0073, U0077, U0126, U0151. Service representative at dealer confirmed that Onstar will cause other problem do to error communication. Onstar device can shut down your vehicle. Electronic and computer problem can be unsafety on your vehicle. Onstar as well as Chevrolet/GM know that this is causing electrical problem but recommend to contact other shops to see if they can by pass that error and won’t take responsibility of what their are causing to all vehicles with 2G network
…Ford diagnostic report states: Description-U0073 Control module communication bus A off Failure type-88 Bus off Status-28 (Not current DTC) *Fault previously detected, not currently present* My concern with this info is if the fault was detected there is still fault! Am concerned that the faulty TCM and actuators caused issues with the clutch assembly and do not feel safe operating my 8 year old Ford due to skipping while accelerating in traffic. Vehicle one owner with 70,000 miles. No accidents and am young senior driver-age [XXX] . I can forward repair shop documentation. Thank you for your review and look forward to your recommendation. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF…
UNKNOWN . Stabilitrak , power steering drive with care, and steering assist is reduced drive with care light turned on . I was on the freeway with my newborn and the car was slowly giving out and suddenly stopped while in the carpool lane . Took it to the car dealer and did a diagnostics and codes u100,u0101, u0415, and u0073 popped up . This is the second time this same exact thing has happened to me same messages popped up so I took it to the dealer and codes p0300 came out and p050D came out . This malfunction could have caused a serious injury to myself or my family .
U0073: questions drivers ask
What does code U0073 mean?
U0073 is a generic OBD-II network code. Its standard definition is "Control Module Communication Bus Off". The code tells you which system set the fault, not which part failed; the owner reports on this page show what it meant in practice for 10 car models.
Which cars get code U0073 most often?
In NHTSA owner complaints, U0073 is mentioned most for the Chevrolet Malibu (3), Chevrolet Equinox (2), Chevrolet Traverse (2), across 10 models and model years 2012 to 2024. Popular models collect more reports because more of them are on the road.
Is there a recall for code U0073?
No NHTSA recall text names U0073 directly. 3 recalls on the cars that report this code concern the same component owners name most (Electrical System); they may or may not relate to the code. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What should I do if my car shows U0073?
Write down when the code appeared and what the car did (warning lights, loss of power, noises, speed, weather). Check your VIN for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls, ask a dealer or independent workshop to read the stored freeze-frame data before anyone clears the code, and keep the repair order. If the car loses power in traffic, stop driving it. CarHooq does not diagnose: these are owner reports and official recall notices, not repair advice.
How this page was made
CarHooq read the text of every owner complaint filed with NHTSA for 19 US and European brands (model years 2012 onwards) and picked out the diagnostic trouble codes owners wrote down. This page lists every mention of U0073. The definition is the generic SAE J2012 wording; a carmaker may use the code slightly differently. Nothing here is a diagnosis. More answers: the fault code FAQ. Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain), retrieved November 9, 2026. How CarHooq reports are made.
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