OBD-II trouble code
U0461: Invalid Data Received From Audible Alert Control Module
A module is receiving messages from the audible alert (chime/warning-sound) control module, but the data inside them is implausible or out of range. The link is alive; the content is wrong. The main risk is missed or false warning chimes — the car drives normally.
Quick facts
- System
- Network
- Category
- Network Communication
- Severity
- Low severity
- Drivable
- Usually safe to drive short-term
- Repair cost range
- $80 – $700
- DIY difficulty
- Intermediate DIY
What does U0461 mean?
The audible alert control module — sometimes called the chime or warning-tone module — generates the vehicle's warning sounds: the seat belt reminder, key-in-ignition or door-ajar chime, turn signal click, headlights-on reminder, low-fuel and other cautionary tones. It listens to the network for the conditions that should trigger a sound and plays the right one through a speaker or buzzer. U0461 sets when a receiving module is still hearing from the audible alert control module, but the data in its messages is invalid — a value out of range, implausible, or in conflict with what other modules see. The link is alive; the content simply can't be trusted, which is the defining difference from a lost-communication code, where the module has gone completely silent.
This is a comfort/notification fault rather than a driveability or core-safety fault. The engine, transmission, brakes, and steering are unaffected. What can misbehave is the chime system itself: warning tones that don't sound when they should, sound when they shouldn't, or are wrong for the condition. The practical concern is subtle but real — a driver who relies on the seat belt or lights-on chime could miss it, so it's worth fixing even though nothing about the way the car drives changes. Visual warnings in the cluster generally continue independently of this module.
Causes cluster around whatever corrupts the module's data or its network link: low system voltage or a poor ground; corroded, loose, or damaged connectors; chafed or damaged bus wiring; and software or configuration problems after a module replacement or a body-electrical update. Because the module simply reacts to network conditions, an invalid-data code here is sometimes secondary to another fault feeding it implausible status information, so companion codes are worth reading first.
Common causes
- Low system voltage, a weak battery, or a poor ground at the module
- Corroded, loose, or damaged connectors at the module
- Chafed or damaged bus wiring corrupting messages in transit
- Upstream fault feeding the module implausible status data
- Audible alert module replaced without correct configuration
- Outdated, corrupted, or mismatched module software
- Recent body-electrical work or a low battery during a software update
- Internal audible alert control module fault
Symptoms
- Warning chimes missing when they should sound (seat belt, door ajar, lights on)
- Chimes sounding when they shouldn't, or the wrong tone for the condition
- Turn signal or reminder tones intermittent or absent
- Companion body-electrical or network-communication codes stored alongside U0461
- No change in how the vehicle starts, runs, or drives
Diagnostic steps
- 1.Read all stored codes and note any companion body-electrical or network codes — the fault may be upstream.
- 2.Load-test the battery and verify charging voltage and the module's grounds — low voltage is a common cause.
- 3.Inspect the connectors at the module for corrosion, looseness, and bent pins.
- 4.Check bus wiring to the module for chafing and damage.
- 5.Confirm whether the module was recently replaced or the body electronics updated — a missing configuration can cause invalid data.
- 6.Check for available software updates for the affected module.
- 7.If inputs and wiring check out, suspect an internal module fault and verify with manufacturer service data.
Repair cost
$80 – $700
Cost depends on the cause. Repairing a connector, ground, or wiring fault is often $80-$300. A software update/reconfiguration is usually $100-$250. Audible alert / chime module replacement with programming is the higher end at roughly $250-$700 depending on the vehicle and whether the function is built into a larger body control module. Because this is a notification fault, confirm a 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
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.