U0293: Lost Communication With Hybrid/EV Powertrain Control Module
A generic network and communication trouble code, same meaning on every brand.
If the car is in READY and driving normally - yes, gently, to a shop. If it will not wake up or shows turtle or reduced-power warnings, leave it parked; hybrids do nothing dangerous here, they simply refuse.
Symptoms
- Warning lights across the hybrid system
- Car refusing to enter READY
- Reduced power or turtle indicator
- 12-volt battery drama alongside
Likely causes, most common first
- Weak or dying 12-volt battery
- Poor grounds or corroded connectors
- CAN wiring fault to the hybrid control module
- Failed hybrid powertrain module
Read U0293 yourself before paying for diagnosis
A basic Bluetooth OBD-II scanner ($20-40) plugs into the port under the dashboard and shows this code with live sensor data on your phone - useful both for confirming the fix and for talking to a shop from an informed position.
What is going on and how it gets diagnosed
U0293 says the rest of the car lost contact with the hybrid or EV powertrain control module - the computer that orchestrates the high-voltage side. It sounds like the most expensive sentence a hybrid can utter, which is why the first fact matters so much: on hybrids, the great imitator of dead modules is the humble 12-volt battery.
Every hybrid still runs its computers and networks from a small 12-volt battery, and these are often smaller and shorter-lived than conventional ones. As theirs sags, modules brown out and drop off the network in exactly this pattern - a car full of communication codes, cured completely by a battery. Testing it is minutes and often free at parts stores. Only after clean 12-volt power and grounds does suspicion move to the network wiring and the hybrid module itself, whose replacement involves high-voltage safety procedures and belongs at a hybrid-literate shop by definition.
Repair options and cost
Typical US independent-shop ranges, parts and labor. Dealers run higher; regional labor rates vary.
Owner reports mentioning U0293
“While driving down the highway at speed, vehicle lost power and the a check engine light. I had to immediately exit the highway, shift to park, and shut down the vehicle. Once restarted, vehicle operated normally, but with the check engine light on. Computer scan shows code U0293 "Lost Communication with Power train Control Module".”2022 Jeep Wrangler · Oct 2024
“Hello! I bought a car in the USA, I live in another country. Errors that appear in the car are similar to these: [XXX] Ðrror appears then, the cogd I give more gas and let go of the pedal. When the engine is heated at different speeds. The scanner showed these errors: P1326 Ignition Control Module - Combustion Quality Input Signal; U0293 Lost Communication With Hybrid Powertrain Control Module; U1004; B2AAA. But the electricians do not know what the reason is and no one can help. So I go for one year with an error ((( Please help! INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)”2017 Hyundai Sonata · Jan 2024
“2014 Toyota Rav 4 EV with 30,898 miles, the vehicle has full power but no start. towed vehicle to Toyota Dealership for dianostic it was checked with a scan tool and found code U0293, this set the code for lost communication with the EV control system. A special cable was bought to communicate with the vehicle root cause of problem is Traction Motor bad need replaced and service plug at top of battery has blown fuse need replaced. Solution is engine replacement.”2014 Toyota RAV4 · Dec 2023
Show 1 more owner reports
“Vehicle loses power without warning. This has occurred numerous times, twice on a crowded freeway when I had to navigate across 5 lanes of traffic. Dealer was unable to isolate and repair the problem the first time. Vehicle is in for repair again. An internet search indicates this is not uncommon and at least two class action suits are pending. I'm shocked this life threatening fault has not already been reported to the NHTSA. Repair codes are : P1E1D control module improper wake up performance, U1817 Lost communication with hybrid powertrain control module on D-PT, U0293 confirmed, lost communication with hybrid control module.”2021 Jeep Wrangler · Sep 2022
Cars that report U0293 most often
Based on mentions of this code in NHTSA owner complaints.
Frequently asked questions
Can I drive with U0293?
If the car is in READY and driving normally - yes, gently, to a shop. If it will not wake up or shows turtle or reduced-power warnings, leave it parked; hybrids do nothing dangerous here, they simply refuse.
How much does it cost to fix U0293?
Typical US repair costs range from $60 for the simplest fix (12-volt battery test and replacement) to $400 in the worst case. The right number depends on which cause your car has - see the causes list.
Related codes
The codes closest to U0293. They often appear together, and telling them apart is usually what narrows the diagnosis.
Definition per SAE J2012 standard nomenclature. Symptoms, causes and costs are editorial guidance - always confirm with a diagnosis of your specific vehicle.