Vehicle Communication Bus E (-) shorted to Bus E (+)
What it means
U0072 is a physical-layer fault on the vehicle communication bus E — the CAN-Low (-) and CAN-High (+) wires are shorted together. The bus is the shared wiring that lets control modules talk to each other, so a wiring fault here can silence one or many modules at once. What you notice depends on which modules ride this bus, but a short between the two bus wires usually knocks out the entire bus.
Can I keep driving? Do not rely on the vehicle until fixed — the two bus wires shorted together typically collapses the whole bus, so many modules can go dark at once, with warning lights, limp mode, or a no-start possible.
Common symptoms
What you'll notice
- Check-engine and/or several other warning lights on at once (ABS, airbag, traction)
- Multiple unrelated features stop working or behave erratically
- Communication or 'lost communication' codes stored in several modules
- Possible no-communication with a scan tool on the affected bus
- In some cases reduced power / limp mode or a no-start if powertrain modules share the bus
Common causes
Most likely first
- Damaged, chafed, or broken bus wiring (the most common cause)Likely
- Corroded, spread, or backed-out terminals at a connector or moduleCommon
- Water intrusion into a connector or harnessCommon
- A failed module pulling the bus voltage out of rangeLess often
- Wiring or terminating-resistor fault at the affected end of the busLess often
How to diagnose & fix
Work through it in order
- Scan every module and note which ones report communication faults — the pattern points to the break in the bus.
- Check battery voltage and grounds first; low voltage alone can trigger bus faults.
- Inspect the bus harness and connectors along the affected run for damage, corrosion, or water.
- Back-probe the bus wires and measure resistance/voltage against spec to locate the open or short.
- Repair the wiring or connector; if a single module is dragging the bus down, isolate and replace it. Clear and re-test.
FAQ
Quick answers
Is it safe to drive with U0072?+
Can I just clear U0072?+
Related codes
Often seen with U0072
Read & clear U0072 yourself
Scan your car, confirm the code, and clear it once it's fixed — with OBD DashX on your phone.