Fault Code Lookup › Network codes › U0131
U0131 Network · generic OBD-II
Lost Communication With Power Steering Control Module
U0131 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.
- 30owner reports
- 15car models
- 0mention a crash
- 0mention a fire
- 2013–2026model years
Which cars get code U0131?
Every model whose owners mentioned U0131 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 Silverado
3 reportsFord Explorer
3 reportsFord F-150
3 reportsFord Fusion
3 reportsFord Escape
2 reportsFord Fiesta
2 reportsJeep Cherokee
2 reportsRam 1500
2 reportsChevrolet Colorado
1 reportChevrolet Corvette
1 reportChevrolet Suburban
1 reportFord Maverick
1 reportGMC Hummer EV SUV
1 reportJeep Grand Cherokee
1 reportWhere does U0131 show up?
By brand
- Ford14
- Chevrolet6
- GMC5
- Jeep3
- Ram2
Component the owner filed it under
Is there a recall for U0131?
The others concern the component owners file this code under (Steering) on the same cars; they may or may not relate to the code. Recall repairs are free; check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Steering: Column Chrysler (FCA US, LLC) is recalling certain 2022-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee and 2021-2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee L vehicles. An incorrectly assembled steering column intermediate shaft may disconnect from the u-joint, and result in a loss of steering control.
2023 Jeep Grand Cherokee. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Steering: Electric Power Assist System Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Ram 1500 trucks. These vehicles may have been built with a contaminated electric power steering (EPS) gear that may short circuit, potentially resulting in an intermittent loss of power steering assist.
2019 Ram 1500. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Steering: Electric Power Assist System Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2013-2016 Ford Fusion and Lincoln MKZ, 2015-2016 Ford Edge, and 2016 Lincoln MKX vehicles originally sold, or currently registered in Connecticut, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan…
2016 Ford Fusion, 2014 Ford Fusion, 2013 Ford Fusion. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Steering: Rack And Pinion: Rack Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Jeep Cherokee vehicles. The steering rack gear may break, possibly causing a loss of steering control.
2020 Jeep Cherokee. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Steering Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Jeep Wrangler and 2019 Ram 1500 vehicles. These vehicles have improperly machined steering column stub shafts that may break, possibly causing the steering wheel to detach from the steering column.
2019 Ram 1500. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Steering: Electric Power Assist System Chrysler (FCA US LLC) is recalling certain 2019 Ram 1500 vehicles. The battery ground fastener on the driver-side front fender may have been improperly secured, possibly resulting in a loss of power steering assist.
2019 Ram 1500. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Steering: Steering Wheel/Handle Bar Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2014-2018 Lincoln MKZ and Ford Fusion vehicles. The steering wheel retaining bolt may loosen allowing the steering wheel to detach while driving.
2016 Ford Fusion, 2014 Ford Fusion. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
Steering Ford Motor Company (Ford) is recalling certain 2017 Explorer, Taurus and Police Interceptor Utility and Sedan vehicles. The steering gear heat shield fasteners may corrode, allowing the heat shield to detach.
2017 Ford Explorer. Full risk and remedy on each car's report.
What happened when owners saw U0131?
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.
While driving at highway speed, my 2025 GMC Sierra suddenly began slowing down without warning and lost propulsion. When I pressed the accelerator, there was no acceleration response. The vehicle felt like it was braking or dragging instead of accelerating, creating a serious crash risk in traffic. A warning message appeared instructing me to “Put in neutral and restart truck.” I followed the instruction, but the vehicle would not restart. It sounded like it was attempting to start, but it would not start normally. A “Service ESC” warning also appeared. The vehicle was towed by AAA to a GMC dealership and remains available for inspection. The dealership provided a diagnostic trouble code…
I own a 2022 Chevrolet Silverado LTZ Texas Edition with 51,000 miles, equipped with the factory multi-camera system and rear backup camera. The camera images are clear and all cameras function normally, but the forward/reverse guide/trajectory lines no longer appear. When the cameras are activated, a blue hourglass appears in the upper-left corner and the guide lines never load. This is a safety concern because the guide lines help the driver judge the vehicle's path and distance when backing up and maneuvering in tight areas. The loss of this feature reduces the functionality of the factory safety/parking camera system. I took the truck to an authorized GM dealer. They diagnosed a front…
I am reporting a safety-related defect involving the electric power steering system on my 2017 Ford Explorer. The vehicle displays a “Steering System Fault” warning, and when this occurs the power steering assist is reduced or disabled, creating a safety risk during low-speed driving, turning, and parking. When the ignition is on with the engine off, multiple communication fault codes appear, including U0100, U0131, U0140, and U0151. After the engine is started, these communication codes disappear, but the steering fault warning remains illuminated and no active fault codes are stored. This behavior indicates the steering system enters a fail-safe state during startup and does not recover…
While driving I will get a wrench symbol with a bunch of codes pop up u0121:00:28 u0131:00:28 u0137:00:28 u0164:00:28 u0199:00:28 u0200:00:28 u0212:00:28 u0252:00:28 u0256:00:28 u1012:00:28 p0557:00:28 p1935:00:68 p193e:00:28 I have also had it jerk while driving ( went down into first gear) while having no power to my gauge cluster ac nothing
Sudden Loss of Power Steering Assistance and Simultaneous ABS/AdvanceTrac System Faults I am submitting this complaint to document a serious vehicle safety incident involving my 2014 Ford Fusion SE. The vehicle experienced a loss of communication with the Power Steering Control Module (PSCM), accompanied by faults affecting the ABS and traction/stability control systems. During the incident, the dashboard illuminated multiple warning lights, and the steering suddenly became extremely difficult to operate. The simultaneous loss of power steering assistance and warnings involving critical vehicle safety systems created a serious potential crash hazard, particularly at highway speeds or during…
Daughter was driving and noticed initially that the steering wheel briefly lost power making right turns and applying the brakes. The next day while negotiating a curve the steering wheel froze and warning light came on stating “steering wheel assist fault.” Almost left the roadway before steering returned. Went directly to mechanic nearby. Mechanic scanned and found code U0131 Lost Communication with Steering Control Module A. Vehicle is unsafe to drive and left at mechanic for repairs.
I am remembering one incident I had years ago. It was my first year since I got my first driver license. I parked my car. While I was getting off with half of my body already outside the car, my car started moving forward. I jumped back in a car in a shock and tried to stop the car. I realized that I had not removed my car key. I also realized that a stick shift was in neutral position. I told myself that it was my wrong-doing, but after reading numerous complaints and lawsuits against Ford Fiesta over the last years, I am not so sure if it was my fault or the car's defect. It happened only once and can not reproduce this. Around the same time, I have also experienced car not starting…
I went to this dealership today to get my steering column control module reprogrammed. Which includes What the Dealer’s Reprogramming Usually Covers (Standard & Expected) • SCCM (Steering Column Module)programming/configuration — Loads the correct software and vehicle-specific data into the new module.• Steering Angle Sensor (SAS) calibration — Teaches the system the straight-ahead wheel position (critical for fixing hard steering and related codes).• Intelligent Battery Sensor (IBS) relearn — Calibrates the new sensor so the vehicle accurately monitors battery voltage/charging (helps with electrical gremlins and odometer issues). • Instrument cluster synchronization/reset — Clears the…
My 2025 Ram 1500 has experienced seven separate incidents in which the steering suddenly became extremely difficult or impossible to turn. The most recent incident occurred on August 20, 2026. During these events, I temporarily lose the ability to steer the vehicle normally, creating an immediate risk of a crash. A vehicle diagnostic scan recorded repeated U0131 faults for lost communication with the Power Steering Control Module in multiple control modules. The Electric Power Steering module also recorded communication faults involving the PCM, transmission, ABS, and body control module. The scan additionally showed an active B2204 ECU configuration mismatch. This steering failure has…
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…
U0131: questions drivers ask
What does code U0131 mean?
U0131 is a generic OBD-II network code. Its standard definition is "Lost Communication With Power Steering 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 15 car models.
Which cars get code U0131 most often?
In NHTSA owner complaints, U0131 is mentioned most for the GMC Sierra (4), Chevrolet Silverado (3), Ford Explorer (3), across 15 models and model years 2013 to 2026. Popular models collect more reports because more of them are on the road.
Is there a recall for code U0131?
No NHTSA recall text names U0131 directly. 8 recalls on the cars that report this code concern the same component owners name most (Steering); they may or may not relate to the code. Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
What should I do if my car shows U0131?
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 U0131. 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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