By iCarsoft Official Store Technical Team, Automotive Diagnostics Editors · Updated October 14, 2026 · Technical sources checked
Quick Answer
U0130 records lost communication with steering effort control module. It does not prove a failed module; preserve the full scan and use the VIN-specific network procedure before selecting a repair.
What Does the U0130 Code Mean?
The Autel official DTC table lists U0130 as Lost Communication with Steering Effort Control Module. That terminology identifies the named message endpoint; it does not establish a vehicle-specific topology, threshold or failed part. The full fault record determines the test branch.
The Autel table names the Steering Effort Control Module, but gives no make, bus or test threshold. Treat the label as the endpoint a receiver expected to hear from. A missing message can follow loss of module power, wake or ground, a bus branch fault, gateway routing, configuration, or an internal controller issue.
Steering-effort terminology is not interchangeable with power-steering or steering-angle codes: the reporter, companion U-codes and VIN diagram decide which controller is actually absent. Preserve the steering warning and the current or history status before clearing. If assist or directional control feels abnormal, the communication investigation must not become a road test. Use the exact vehicle procedure to prove the message path and system operation separately.
The module distinction also protects against a common wrong branch: a steering-angle message problem, a front power-steering problem and a steering-effort message problem can share warnings but are not the same endpoint. Record the exact reporting module and complete descriptor, then compare the module list with the VIN architecture.
If the steering-effort module is accessible, a stored receiver record may point to an earlier wake or bus event rather than a failed controller. If it is not accessible, test external conditions in the required state before considering programming or replacement. No Autel entry establishes a universal steering torque, CAN resistance or assist threshold. Also preserve the steering system’s actual operating state.
An assist warning with normal steering feel is different evidence from heavy steering, a stability warning or a controller that is absent from every approved scan path. Do not infer that one symptom defines the endpoint: U0130 names steering effort, while U0131 names power steering and U0126 names steering angle. This distinction helps prevent a generic U-code list from directing a technician to the wrong module.
The code table supplies no manufacturer-specific enabling condition or failure threshold. Use the vehicle’s own communication map, status suffix and supported functional checks. Record whether the warning is only stored or remains active, because that distinction changes urgency without proving the cause. Preserve status suffix and companion codes as evidence. Keep the steering-effort endpoint distinct in the final report. Preserve the suffix.
Record current access, status suffix and companion steering codes before clearing.
U0130’s endpoint differs from U0131 power-steering and U0126 steering-angle labels; do not collapse those module paths.
Autel AL519 PDF p.99 lists U0130 as Lost Communication with Steering Effort Control Module. The table supplies terminology only; it does not prove a steering module, angle sensor, or assist fault.
Check steering behavior and the reporting module before authorizing parts. Confirm the VIN’s named controller, then test approved supply, ground, wake, connector and bus evidence. If steering assist is abnormal, stop safely and use qualified inspection rather than driving to see whether the code returns.
Save the full module wording and suffix before clearing; they can change the test path.
Separate U0130 from adjacent fault families
| Code | General description | Key distinction |
|---|---|---|
| U0130 | Lost Communication with Steering Effort Control Module | The named message endpoint differs from the bus-off and body-module records below. |
| U0073 | Control Module Communication Bus A Off | A bus-off result is a different network condition; confirm the actual fault record. |
| U0140 | Lost Communication with Body Control Module | A body-network code is not interchangeable with this module-specific result. |
Record the complete U0130 description. The suffix, reporting module and companion faults can change the diagnostic path. Use the manufacturer's full wording and test procedure for the exact vehicle.
U0130 Symptoms and Likely Causes
Record U0130 symptoms and fault status; symptoms alone cannot identify a failed part.
Check whether companion faults share a proven cause.
Record the exact warning, when it appeared and which function changed; it is evidence, not proof of a failed controller.
Compare saved multi-module reports with supported live data; unavailable data does not identify the cause.
Preserve service history and inspect the disturbed branch first while treating timing as a clue.
Save every module's codes and status; a shared supply or network code can change the diagnostic order.
Practical cause-checking order
- Steering-effort controller supply, ground or wake unavailable: Use the steering-effort control module diagram to identify the required feed, ground and wake state. A missing response is a starting observation; the approved supply checks must determine whether the controller could operate in that state.
- Steering-effort CAN branch or connector fault: Inspect the connector and communication branch identified for this VIN, especially any area disturbed during recent work. Document the failed terminal or wiring test instead of attributing every network record to one visible connector.
- Gateway or configuration route for the steering-effort endpoint: Compare the fitted equipment, gateway route and current configuration with manufacturer information. A generic code label cannot show whether a route or software change is appropriate; use an applicable OEM instruction before changing either.
- Named controller asleep, absent or not responding: Compare the reporting receiver with direct access to the named controller. Record whether the condition is current, intermittent or stored, and repeat only the prescribed wake or verification sequence; do not use repeated battery resets as diagnosis.
- Internal controller fault only after external steering checks: Consider the named controller only after the applicable external checks support that conclusion. Save the evidence that excludes supply, connector, communication and configuration branches, and include required setup and functional verification in the proposed repair.
Did U0130 appear after recent battery, interior, module, harness or software work? Recheck the documented connections, parts and setup steps affected by that work. Record battery and software history; a post-repair code does not prove the new part is defective.
How Serious Is U0130, and Can You Drive?
The code alone cannot establish a safe driving distance. Follow the owner manual and vehicle warnings; stop safely and arrange qualified diagnosis if the affected function is abnormal.
Record warning messages, operating conditions and service history. Do not induce wheel slip, emergency braking or a handling event on public roads. A red stop warning or abnormal control overrides any verification plan.
Stop and arrange a tow if a safety-related function or the affected system behaves abnormally.
Follow the vehicle-specific electrical, steering, suspension or driveline safety precautions. Do not bypass interlocks or command powered safety components outside the approved procedure.
How to Diagnose U0130 in the Right Order
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Identify the reporting and named modules
Save the complete scan, reporting module, U0130 status, steering warnings and companion network codes before clearing.
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Preserve the application and status evidence
Confirm the VIN-specific steering-effort controller and distinguish it from power-steering or steering-angle modules.
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Inspect only the proven network branch
Enter the approved test state and inspect only permitted supply, ground, wake, connector and network branches.
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Separate communication from system performance
Compare module access and steering behavior without inducing a handling event on a public road.
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Choose repair only after external evidence
Use the OEM procedure to separate gateway, wiring, configuration and controller branches before parts.
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Verify the affected function and network state
Verify steering assist, stability warnings and final network status through the manufacturer functional check.
Specifications are vehicle-specific. Use the exact VIN specifications, approved test points and required operating state. No generic value or drive cycle can replace the applicable procedure. Manufacturer examples here do not establish specifications for other applications.
U0130 Repairs and Cost Planning
A U0130 repair must address the demonstrated failure. Do not replace an assembly from the code alone.
Recheck installation and required setup after repair. The Autel label gives no universal connector, resistance or wake value, so the VIN diagram and OEM test sequence control.
Ask the shop to name the failed branch and the measurement supporting each proposed repair.
Authorize diagnosis before parts while the cause remains uncertain.
| Possible path | Quote basis |
|---|---|
| Repair the demonstrated power, ground, connector, harness, gateway or network branch | VIN-specific quote |
| Restore configuration, software or required setup only through the VIN-specific procedure | VIN-specific quote |
| Replace the isolated controller or assembly only after external evidence and the OEM test support that path | VIN-specific quote |
These are alternative repair paths, not prices to add together. Request a VIN-specific quote separating diagnosis, parts, labor, fluids, taxes, required setup and verification. Ask which failed test supports the proposed repair and whether warranty coverage applies.
Using iCarsoft CR Pro S for U0130
On a supported vehicle, iCarsoft CR Pro S can save accessible faults, available freeze frame, live data and diagnostic reports. Preserve the U0130 evidence before clearing.
Compare the saved and final module records. Scan data supports diagnosis but does not replace the OEM reference, physical measurement or safety-system functional check.
Preserve the steering-effort control module evidence
iCarsoft CR Pro S
Review supported codes and relevant live data together. Confirm the exact VIN, controller access, PIDs and any requested active test with iCarsoft before purchase; generic product capabilities do not guarantee a U0130-specific function.
Check current CR Pro S price and availabilityCheck CR Pro S compatibility by VINThe official product page describes supported full-system diagnostics, available live data, freeze frame and diagnostic reports; exact controller coverage and active tests depend on the VIN and software. Confirm the requested function by VIN before purchase. Follow OEM prerequisites and stop for abnormal operation.
Know the measurement boundary. Scan data describes ECU-provided information; it does not directly prove the physical condition of the steering-effort control module. Where required, use approved multi-module scan access, wiring diagram, voltage-drop/continuity tools and the VIN-specific network procedure and compare reported values with the relevant measured evidence.
Verify the U0130 Repair
After repair, verify installation, clearance and required setup. Save the final findings and clear only erasable records as instructed. Battery disconnection is not a repair.
Run the manufacturer's applicable verification conditions in a safe workshop or route. Compare the original operating state with current data for the steering-effort control module, and check current and pending faults in related modules. A clean start or idle period does not prove the repair; use the OEM functional check for the affected system.
Compare the original and final fault status. Record the functional-check result and whether the original event returned.
If U0130 returns, compare its suffix, status, failure order and operating conditions with the saved baseline before replacing another part. Revisit the failed branch and inspect anything disturbed. Confirm the prescribed affected-system functional verification separately from code clearing.
Verification follows the system involved. After saving the original evidence, use the OEM procedure to clear erasable records, complete any required calibration or functional check, and compare the final module status with the original warning and fault conditions.
Related Steering-Effort Control Module Code Guides
Compare the related monitor families below. Shared symptoms or components do not make their repair procedures interchangeable.
U0130 Frequently Asked Questions
Does U0130 prove the named module is bad?
No. The Autel table provides the code label only. Prove the VIN-specific supply, ground, connector, network and controller evidence before replacing a part; a clear scan does not prove the affected system is ready.
What should I check first for U0130?
Save every module's codes and freeze frame before clearing. Confirm the full definition, suffix and VIN architecture. Then inspect recent battery, interior, module, harness or software work, connectors and shared supplies. Those facts determine whether the next test needs approved multi-module scan access, wiring diagram, voltage-drop/continuity tools and the VIN-specific network procedure or a manufacturer-specific functional procedure.
Can I drive with the U0130 code?
The code alone cannot establish a safe driving distance. Follow the owner manual and vehicle warnings; stop safely and arrange qualified diagnosis if the affected function is abnormal.
Why did U0130 return after a part was replaced?
Compare the new record with the original suffix, reporting module and operating state. A replacement may leave an external message-path fault, installation issue or required setup unresolved. Reopen the failed diagnostic branch instead of treating the returning code as proof that the new part is defective.
What should a U0130 repair estimate include?
Ask for the failed-test evidence and a VIN-specific breakdown of diagnosis, parts, labor, taxes, required setup and verification. A code alone cannot establish the repair price.
Can CR Pro S diagnose and clear U0130?
On a supported vehicle, CR Pro S can organize available faults, freeze frame, live data and reports, and can clear erasable records after repair. Confirm exact ECU coverage. It cannot replace the OEM functional procedure or physical measurements for the steering-effort control module.
The iCarsoft Official Store Technical Team maintains the store's fault-code library. This guide organizes published technical references and verified product information; it does not document a hands-on test of a particular vehicle or claim an individual engineer's review.
Technical and cost references
- Autel AL519 Diagnostic Trouble Code Definitions. Official code terminology, PDF p.99, exact U0130 entry; no vehicle-specific repair procedure.
- GM PIT5755 — module and bus mapping example. Manufacturer network context illustrating why module identity and application scope must be confirmed; not a universal U0130 procedure.
- Subaru Electrical Systems Operation & Diagnosis Module 602. General CAN no-message and safety context; not a U0130 wiring or threshold source.
Product information: Official iCarsoft CR Pro S page.
Editorial note: General diagnostic education, not a substitute for the owner's manual, current VIN-specific service information or professional inspection. Test limits, procedures, coverage and costs vary. Related articles provide context; apply only the specifications and repair procedures that match the vehicle. No universal failure rate, repair price or outcome is implied.
