OBD-II trouble code
U0160: Lost Communication With Audible Alert / Chime Control Module
Another module on the network has stopped receiving messages from the audible alert (chime) control module — the unit that produces warning chimes and buzzers. Usually a power, ground, wiring, or module fault.
Quick facts
- System
- Network
- Category
- Network Communication
- Severity
- Low severity
- Drivable
- Usually safe to drive short-term
- Repair cost range
- $100 – $600
- DIY difficulty
- Advanced DIY
What does U0160 mean?
U0160 is a module-specific network code that sets when a control module stops hearing from the audible alert control module — the unit responsible for the vehicle's warning chimes and buzzers — on the communication bus. On many vehicles the chime function is built into the instrument cluster or body control module; on others it is a standalone unit. Whatever its form, this module is what produces the seatbelt reminder, key-in-ignition or key-left-in warnings, door-ajar chime, turn-signal reminder, and other audible alerts. When its messages disappear from the bus, the listening module logs U0160.
Unlike a generic bus fault, U0160 names the missing component: the network reports that the chime/alert module specifically has gone silent. That can occur because the module lost power or ground, because the CAN wiring to it is damaged, or because the module itself has failed. It can also be a downstream symptom of a wider bus problem, in which case other U-codes are usually stored at the same time.
In practice, U0160 typically shows up as missing or dead warning chimes — no seatbelt reminder, no door-ajar tone, no turn-signal click — even though the visual warning lights still work. The vehicle drives normally and the underlying safety systems are intact, so this is generally a low-urgency code. The main risk is that you lose the audible cues that prompt you to buckle up, remove your key, or close a door, so it's still worth repairing.
Common causes
- Blown fuse or lost power feed to the chime/alert control module
- Poor or corroded ground at the module
- Damaged, chafed, or corroded CAN wiring between the module and the bus
- Corroded or backed-out terminals at the module connector
- Water intrusion at the module or its connector
- Internally failed audible alert / chime control module (or host module such as the cluster)
- A wider CAN bus fault dragging this module off the network
Symptoms
- No seatbelt reminder, door-ajar, or key-in-ignition chime
- Turn-signal audible click missing while indicators still flash
- Other warning chimes and buzzers silent though warning lights still work
- Possible warning message about a system fault on the dash
- Additional lost-communication U-codes if a wider bus fault is present
Diagnostic steps
- 1.Scan all modules and record every stored code; several U-codes suggest a bus-wide fault rather than just the chime module.
- 2.Confirm power and ground at the audible alert / chime module (or host module) with the key on — check the feed fuse and verify a clean, tight ground.
- 3.Inspect the module connector and harness for corrosion, water intrusion, backed-out terminals, and chafing.
- 4.Check the CAN wiring from the module to the bus for continuity and for shorts to power or ground.
- 5.Clear the codes and recheck whether U0160 returns and whether the module reappears on the scan tool.
- 6.If power, ground, and wiring are good but communication is still lost, suspect an internally failed module.
Repair cost
$100 – $600
Diagnosis usually runs $100-$200. A power, ground, or wiring repair is often $120-$350. If the chime function lives in the instrument cluster or body control module, replacement and programming of that host unit can run $300-$600+ depending on the vehicle.
Estimate your repair
Run the numbers for your vehicle
Open the Repair Cost Estimator with module communication / can bus diagnosis preselected. Adjust labor rate and vehicle category to fit your situation.
DIY vs shop
This is an advanced DIY job. It typically requires specialty tools, scan-tool access, lifting equipment, or careful sequencing to avoid causing new failures. Plan for extended downtime and have a backup vehicle. Most owners are better served by a shop that has done this repair before.