Fault Code Lookup › Network codes › U0121

U0121 Network · generic OBD-II

Lost Communication With Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) Control Module

U0121 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 30 complaints filed with NHTSA. Updated November 3, 2026.

Owners also write it as U012100 (the last two characters are the sub-code).

  • 30owner reports
  • 21car models
  • 1mention a crash
  • 0mention a fire
  • 2012–2024model years

Which cars get code U0121?

Every model whose owners mentioned U0121 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.

Where does U0121 show up?

By brand

  • Ford10
  • Chevrolet9
  • Jeep6
  • Audi1
  • Chrysler1
  • Dodge1
  • Mercedes-Benz1
  • Ram1

Component the owner filed it under

  1. Electrical System19 (63.3%)
  2. Service Brakes17 (56.7%)
  3. Power Train9 (30%)
  4. Steering8 (26.7%)
  5. Engine5 (16.7%)
  6. Forward Collision Avoidance3 (10%)

Is there a recall for U0121?

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: Instrument Cluster/Panel Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 F-150 vehicles previously repaired incorrectly under recall number 17V053. The instrument cluster may lose power after initial vehicle start-up in cold ambient temperatures. Several gauges, including the transmission gear position indicator, may… NHTSA campaign 26V370000 · June 9, 2026 · Affected cars

2017 Ford F-150. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

Electrical System: Propulsion System: Traction Battery Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ford Escape and 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair plug-in hybrid vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure. NHTSA campaign 25V789000 · November 14, 2025 · Affected cars

2020 Ford Escape. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

Electrical System: Propulsion System: Traction Battery: Management System/Energy Control Module (Bms/Becm) Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Ford Escape, and 2021-2024 Lincoln Corsair vehicles. A manufacturing defect in one or more of the high voltage battery cells may result in an internal short circuit and battery failure. NHTSA campaign 24V954000 · December 20, 2024 · Affected cars

2020 Ford Escape. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

Electrical System: Instrument Cluster/Panel Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2020-2024 Jeep Gladiator and 2018-2024 Jeep Wrangler vehicles. The instrument panel cluster may experience an internal short circuit and fail. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 101… NHTSA campaign 24V652000 · September 5, 2024 · Affected cars

2020 Jeep Gladiator. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

Electrical System: Wiring: Rear Compartment/TrunkPark outside Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2014-2016 Jeep Cherokee vehicles equipped with a power liftgate. An electrical short in the power liftgate module may lead to a vehicle fire with the ignition on or off. NHTSA campaign 23V338000 · May 11, 2023 · Affected cars

2014 Jeep Cherokee. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

Electrical System: Propulsion System: Traction Battery Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Escape and 2021 Lincoln Corsair vehicles equipped with 2.5L hybrid powertrains. Insufficient welds inside the high voltage battery may fail, resulting in a loss of drive power. NHTSA campaign 22V331000 · May 13, 2022 · Affected cars

2020 Ford Escape. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

Electrical System: Body Control Module/Bcm Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 Escape vehicles equipped with a key-start ignition system. The Body Control Module (BCM) intermittently may not pick up the signal from the rear Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS) sensors or the Remote Key Fob. In the event of a low tire… NHTSA campaign 20V635000 · October 15, 2020 · Affected cars

2020 Ford Escape. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

Electrical System: Starter Assembly Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2020 F-150 vehicles. An incorrect attachment nut may have been used to attach the battery positive (B+) power supply cable to the starter motor, possibly affecting the electrical conductivity, resulting in excess heat and electrical arcing. NHTSA campaign 20V467000 · August 10, 2020 · Affected cars

2020 Ford F-150. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.

What happened when owners saw U0121?

10 of the 30 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.

My 2020 Chevrolet Malibu experienced a sudden and severe electrical failure after driving through normal roadway water. Immediately afterward, the vehicle displayed multiple safety‑critical warnings including loss of power steering assist, Electronic Stability Control (ESC) faults, brake control faults, and reduced propulsion. A GM dealership inspected the vehicle, scanned the modules, and found more than a dozen network and chassis‑related diagnostic trouble codes, including: B3979, U0164, B1325, B3122, U0121, C0196, C0460, B1011, B097B, B3205, C056E, C056D, U0420, U1510, C0545, U0422. These codes indicate failures in the steering system, brake control module, stability control system, body…
2020 Chevrolet MalibuSteering, Electrical System, Service BrakesNHTSA complaint 11755071 · Aug 5, 2026
ABS Control module and brake booster assembly failed. Vehicle would not crank or start. Disconnected battery negative pole for one minute to reset PCM. Vehicle started. Drove immediately to independent service center without difficulty. Service center confirmed vehicle no start the next morning. Found several DTC codes including U3001 (Control Module Improper Shutdown) U300A (Ignition switch) U0121 (Lost communication with ABS) U0554 (Invalid Data recieved from Accessory Protocol Interface) and U0415 (Invalid Data Received from ABS) Flowchart determined ABS module is bad. Anti Lock Brake System control module failed which rendered the system inoperative. Warning on dash that Anti Lock Brake…
2021 Ford F-150Service BrakesNHTSA complaint 11763671 · Sep 11, 2026
Error codes U1120, U1110, and U0121 all appeared at the same time. Car became undriveable while driving on the highway. Had to pull over with lost power and stop on the side of the highway. Tried to get the car started again and upon reignition the car cycled between air bag and transmission warnings. The car could not drive without reaching 7000+ RPMS at 5 mph. Ended up deserting the vehicle and had it towed to the nearest Jeep dealer. This is the 4th time the vehicle has broken down on the highway.
2014 Jeep CherokeeElectrical System, EngineNHTSA complaint 11432839 · Sep 13, 2021
Wrench light on dash comes on sporadically with message that there is a powertrain malfunction / reduced power. It said the system has detected a powertrain or 4 WD fault. Reduced power may put both the driver and others at risk depending on the area in which this occurs, ex interstate. Dealer has yet to remedy problem. Car has been to the dealer service department 4 times for this issue. Codes present are U0121 (lost communication with ABS control module A), U1012 (invalid internal control module data received from ABS control module), and U3035 (communication authentication signal invalid data)
2024 Ford F-250Power Train, Service BrakesNHTSA complaint 11769900 · Oct 8, 2026
When driving, my vehicle recieved multple warning messages at the same time. The first message was that my brake was malfunctioning, and when I went to brake, the brakes did not work. Thankfully, I wasn't going too fast when this happened and I was able to bring it down to a slow and turned into a lot. I could've easily hit another vehicle or totaled my car because the brakes simply stopped working. The problem seems to be at the maker level for Audi eTrons - I've read this has been happening. There were no prior warnings or issues whatsoever, in fact, I had a full service in February (3 months before this incident). Audi had a tow truck take it. The code for this is TSB 2072977/3. Their…
2023 Audi e-tronElectrical System, Service BrakesNHTSA complaint 11742294 · Jun 5, 2026
Truck worked perfectly fine, then it was parked for a week because I had to have emergency eye surgery. After a week, started truck. Truck started spewing errors U0121 and U0131. Managed to get it to dealership with no steering and am told it is a power steering module failure and the cost to fix is $1800. The truck is barely out of warranty and I have seen numerous posts on forums across the Internet of others that have also experienced problems with their 2019 Colorados and the recalls on the 2015s for the same issue. - Component: Power Steering Module - Safety: Absolutely no power steering, extremely difficult to almost impossible to steer. - Reproduction: Yes, truck is at dealership…
2019 Chevrolet ColoradoSteering, Service BrakesNHTSA complaint 11422278 · Jun 25, 2021
11/14/17 ' PM CHECK ENGINE LIGHT (CEL) 11/15/17 ' HONDA DEALER REFERRED TO CHEVROLET DEALER DUE TO 'PROPRIETARY CODE' 11/16/17 ' 60191 MILES - CHEVROLET DEALER PERFORMED SUBLET REPAIRS - INTAKE MANIFOLD REPLACEMENT 7/10/18 - 74,958 ' AM STARTED ROUGH; SERVICE STABILITRACK, TRACTION CONTROL, & CEL MECHANIC PULLED CODE P0300; CYLINDER #3 MISFIRE REPLACED SPARKS PLUGS - CLEANED FUEL INJECTORS PICKED UP CAR IN PM; ROUGH START - NO INDICATOR LIGHTS 7/11 - 75,029 ' PM CEL WHILE CLIMBING HILL MECHANIC PULLED CODE P0299; ENGINE UNDER BOOST & 'MULTIPLE MISFIRES' MECHANIC SUSPECTED WATER IN FUEL, ADDED LUCAS OIL FUEL TREATMENT 7/12 ' AM STARTED ROUGH; STABILITRACK, TRACTION CONTROL, & FLASH CEL 7/16…
2015 Chevrolet CruzeElectronic Stability Control (ESC), EngineNHTSA complaint 11129698 · Sep 15, 2018
While driving the traction and stability lights came on along with the ESC service light. Also my Lane assist stopped working. It stayed on for at Least 30 mins until I turned off the car and restarted. Stopped at the closest garage and they checked the battery and used a scan tool to identify that it had a fault code U0121 Lost Communication with Anti-lock Brake System Module.
2018 Chevrolet EquinoxPower Train, Electrical System, Service BrakesNHTSA complaint 11438665 · Oct 29, 2021
2023 Chevy Traverse LT with 33, 884 miles on it. ABS, TC, Service ESC, Service 4WD, Reduced Steering Assist. OBD2 Codes: C0040, U0414, U0121 populated. There is a short in the Electronic Brake Control Monitor, a part that should last way more than 3 years and 33k miles. $1300 to remove and replace EBCM.
2023 Chevrolet TraverseElectrical System, Service Brakes, Forward Collision AvoidanceNHTSA complaint 11764409 · Sep 15, 2026
Vehicle will turn off while driving, causing steering wheel to lock up. This has happened 3 times. Engine light has come on this time and has codes U0100, U0121 and U11. I’ve had the vehicle checked at NTB, but was told these must be addressed by Chrysler. My safety has been affected while driving on the interstate and the vehicle shut down.
2012 Chrysler 200Electrical System, EngineNHTSA complaint 11496702 · Dec 9, 2022

U0121: questions drivers ask

What does code U0121 mean?

U0121 is a generic OBD-II network code. Its standard definition is "Lost Communication With Anti-Lock Brake System (ABS) Control Module". 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 21 car models.

Which cars get code U0121 most often?

In NHTSA owner complaints, U0121 is mentioned most for the Chevrolet Malibu (5), Ford F-150 (3), Jeep Cherokee (3), across 21 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 U0121?

No NHTSA recall text names U0121 directly. 8 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 U0121?

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 U0121 (including sub-code forms such as U012100). The definition is the generic SAE J2012 wording; a carmaker may use the code slightly differently. Nothing here is a diagnosis. Data: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (public domain), retrieved November 3, 2026. How CarHooq reports are made.

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