OBD-II trouble code
U0158: Lost Communication With Head-Up Display
The head-up display module has gone silent on the vehicle network — a dark or frozen HUD with the rest of the car working normally.
Quick facts
- System
- Network
- Category
- Network Communication
- Severity
- Low severity
- Drivable
- Usually safe to drive short-term
- Repair cost range
- $30 – $1,200
- DIY difficulty
- Intermediate DIY
What does U0158 mean?
The head-up display (HUD) projects speed and driver information onto the windshield from a module and projector unit in the dash top. U0158 sets when other modules stop receiving the HUD's network messages — the module is offline: no power, no ground, broken network wiring, or a dead unit.
The presentation is usually obvious — a dark HUD while gauges and everything else work — though partial faults (flicker, garbled graphics) can also accompany the code. The fault hierarchy is the standard one: fuse and power feed first, grounds, then the connector (HUD units are frequently disturbed during windshield replacement and dash-top work — a strong diagnostic clue if the timing lines up), then CAN wiring, and finally the module itself. Transient low-voltage events can also log this code spuriously.
Nothing about a silent HUD affects driveability; the same information remains on the instrument cluster. Replacement units on modern vehicles often need configuration, and some HUDs are calibrated to the specific windshield glass — worth knowing before parts get ordered.
Common causes
- Blown fuse or lost power/ground to the HUD module
- Connector disturbed during windshield replacement or dash work
- Damaged CAN wiring to the HUD
- Failed HUD module/projector unit
- Transient low-voltage event logging the code spuriously
Symptoms
- HUD dark, flickering, or frozen
- Code stored in other modules
- All other displays and gauges normal
- No driveability symptoms whatsoever
Diagnostic steps
- 1.Ask what happened recently — windshield replacement or dash work immediately before the fault points at the connector.
- 2.Clear the code and check for return; single events after battery/voltage dips are common.
- 3.Check HUD fuses and power/ground feeds.
- 4.Inspect the HUD connector and harness at the dash top.
- 5.Attempt direct scan-tool communication with the HUD module.
- 6.Replace and configure the HUD unit only after feeds and network wiring prove good; note windshield-compatibility requirements.
Repair cost
$30 – $1,200
Fuses and connectors cost almost nothing. HUD modules are the expensive tail: $300-$1,200 depending on the vehicle, sometimes plus configuration. If a windshield was just replaced, the answer is usually a $0 reconnected plug.
Estimate your repair
Run the numbers for your vehicle
Open the Repair Cost Estimator with control module replacement & programming preselected. Adjust labor rate and vehicle category to fit your situation.
DIY vs shop
This is an intermediate DIY job. It usually involves diagnostic steps, specialty parts, and some careful work in tight spaces. If you have the tools and a service manual or trustworthy video for your specific vehicle, it is achievable in a weekend. Otherwise, a competent independent shop will be faster.