OBD-II trouble code
U045E: Invalid Data Received From Automated Driving System Control Module B
A module is receiving messages from the automated driving system (ADS) control module 'B', but the data inside them is implausible or out of range. The link is alive; the content is wrong. Automated and hands-free driving features are disabled as a precaution — you must drive manually until it's fixed.
Quick facts
- System
- Network
- Category
- Network Communication
- Severity
- Medium severity
- Drivable
- Usually safe to drive short-term
- Repair cost range
- $100 – $1,500
- DIY difficulty
- Shop recommended
What does U045E mean?
The automated driving system (ADS) control module runs a vehicle's advanced automated driving functions, steering, braking, and accelerating within the system's limits by fusing camera, radar, and other sensor data. Many vehicles that offer these features use two controllers so one can cross-check or back up the other; the 'B' designation identifies that second ADS controller. U045E sets when a receiving module is still hearing from ADS control module 'B', but the data in its messages is invalid — out of range, implausible, or in conflict with what other modules report. The module is talking; the content just can't be trusted. That is what separates it from a lost-communication code, where module 'B' would have gone completely silent.
Safety-critical automation is designed to fail conservative. When the network can't trust module 'B', the vehicle disables its automated and hands-free driving features and returns full control to the driver, typically with an explicit takeover warning. On a redundant setup, losing confidence in the backup controller can also disable the whole feature even if the primary controller is healthy, because the system won't operate without its full complement of trusted controllers. The car itself stays fully driveable under manual control — engine, transmission, brakes, and steering are unaffected — but you are responsible for all of the driving until the fault clears.
Causes mirror those of the primary controller. The ADS needs a clean, time-aligned view of its surroundings, so a misaligned, blocked, dirty, or failing camera or radar can push implausible data into the module, and those sensors often need recalibration after windshield, bumper, or grille work or an alignment. Low system voltage, corroded connectors, and chafed high-speed bus wiring can corrupt messages, and an interrupted or mismatched software update is a frequent trigger given how often these systems are updated. When both the 'A' and 'B' controllers set invalid-data codes together, a shared power, ground, or bus problem is more likely than two independent module failures. An internal module fault is the last suspect after inputs, wiring, and software are ruled out.
Common causes
- Misaligned, blocked, dirty, or failing camera or radar feeding implausible data
- Sensor calibration not performed after windshield, bumper, grille, or alignment work
- Low system voltage, a weak battery, or a poor ground at the module
- Corroded, loose, or damaged connectors at the module or its sensors
- Chafed or damaged high-speed bus wiring corrupting messages in transit
- Interrupted, mismatched, or corrupted ADS software update
- ADS control module 'B' replaced without correct configuration
- Internal ADS control module 'B' fault
Symptoms
- Automated / hands-free driving features unavailable with a warning message
- Takeover request handing control back to the driver
- Driver-assistance warning light or 'service driver assist' message
- Companion camera, radar, or driver-assist codes stored alongside U045E
- No change in how the vehicle starts, runs, or drives under manual control
Diagnostic steps
- 1.Read all stored codes and note any companion camera, radar, or driver-assistance codes, plus whether U045D ('A') is also set.
- 2.If both 'A' and 'B' are set, prioritize a shared cause — load-test the battery and check the modules' shared power, grounds, and bus wiring.
- 3.Inspect the forward camera and radar for blockage, dirt, misalignment, and physical damage.
- 4.Confirm whether the windshield, bumper, grille, or alignment was recently serviced — a missing sensor calibration is a common cause.
- 5.Perform the required ADS sensor calibration per the manufacturer's procedure.
- 6.Check for available software updates and confirm the last update completed successfully.
- 7.If inputs, calibration, wiring, and software check out, suspect an internal module fault and verify with service data.
Repair cost
$100 – $1,500
Cost depends on the cause. A software update/reflash is often $100-$300. Sensor calibration (camera/radar) after service typically runs $150-$400. Repairing a connector, ground, or wiring fault is usually $100-$400. A failed camera or radar sensor can run $300-$1,000 installed with calibration. ADS control module replacement with programming and calibration is the higher end at roughly $800-$1,500 or more. Confirm a calibration, sensor, wiring, or software fix before replacing the module.
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
Leave this one to a qualified shop. It typically involves emissions-critical components, refrigerant handling, or other work that requires manufacturer-grade tooling, training, or certification. DIY attempts often produce a more expensive problem than the original code.