OBD-II Code · Network
U0167
Lost Communication with Vehicle Immobilizer Control Module
Severity
high
Left alone, this one tends to take other parts with it.
Can you drive it
Not for long
Driving on this one risks further damage. Get it to a shop rather than carrying on with it.
Indicative cost (USD)
$200–$1,000
Varies by vehicle, diagnosis, parts, and local labor. This is not a repair quote.
Immobilizer module comm lost.
How a shop works this
Work from evidence to part, not the other way round. A code names a circuit or a symptom; it does not name the part that failed.
Note every code that is set, not just this one.
Codes that appear together usually narrow the cause faster than any one of them read alone.
Read the freeze frame — the conditions the fault was recorded under.
Cold or warm, idle or load, road speed and engine speed. A fault that only appears cold is a different fault from one that only appears under load, even with the same code on the scanner.
Confirm the fault is current rather than history.
Clear the code and see whether it returns under those same conditions. A code that does not come back may have been logged during a repair, a flat battery, or a bad connection that has since been disturbed.
Then work the likely-causes list in the order shown.
That order is what a shop checks first for this code — wiring and connections before the component they run to, because a connector costs nothing to inspect and is a common answer.
If the code comes back after a repair, the underlying fault is still there. That is the point to bring in a scanner with live data and freeze-frame, or a shop that has one.
Common symptoms
- No start
- Security light
Likely causes
- Failed immobilizerMost common
- Wiring
Read the full diagnostic procedureU0167 means the PCM or BCM has lost communication with the immobilizer module (sometimes called SKIM, PATS, IMMO, or TDM depending on manufacturer).
U0167 means the PCM or BCM has lost communication with the immobilizer module (sometimes called SKIM, PATS, IMMO, or TDM depending on manufacturer). On most platforms the immobilizer is what authorizes the engine to start by validating the key transponder against a stored ID — when comms drop, the vehicle typically cranks but does not start, or starts and stalls within 2 seconds.
The diagnostic order
- Scan every module first to confirm whether U0167 is alone or part of a larger bus-comm fault — U0167 plus U0140/U0100 means CAN-bus issue, not immobilizer issue.
- Pull the steering-column shroud and inspect the antenna ring around the ignition lock cylinder — the antenna is a small coil that reads the transponder; broken solder joints on the antenna pigtail are common on 100k+ mile vehicles. The antenna typically tests at 5-25 ohms across the coil at key-off.
- Check power and ground at the immobilizer module connector before condemning the module; immobilizers typically pull constant 12V plus ignition-switched 12V and at least one ground. Critical misdiagnosis caveat: reflash the key/PCM before condemning either module — Ford PATS, GM PassLock, and Chrysler SKIM systems all support a re-pair procedure through the OEM scan tool (or capable aftermarket like Autel IM608, Topdon Phoenix), and a dealer re-pair runs $0-$150 vs. a $400-$800 immobilizer module replacement that still requires programming.
Vehicle-specific patterns2003-2008 Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep products with SKIM (Sentry Key Immobilizer Module) throw U0167 from SKIM-to-PCM CAN failure on the PCI bus — the SKIM l…
- 2003-2008Chrysler/Dodge/Jeep products with SKIM (Sentry Key Immobilizer Module) throw U0167 from SKIM-to-PCM CAN failure on the PCI bus — the SKIM lives in the steering column and dies from heat soak.
- 2005-2014Ford F-150/Mustang/Escape with PATS throws U0167 from the transceiver antenna ring around the ignition cylinder loosening or shorting; symptoms include theft-light flashing and no-start, and the fix is a $40-$120 antenna ring.
- 2007-2013GM trucks (Silverado, Tahoe, Suburban) running PassLock or Passkey III throw U0167 from BCM-to-PCM comm failure after aftermarket remote-start installation that tapped into the wrong wire.
- 2008-2014Hyundai/Kia Genesis, Sonata, and Sorento commonly throw U0167 from a known SMARTRA (Smart Transponder) module failure that requires dealer key re-coding.
Estimated repair$0 (key re-pair) to $1,000 (immobilizer module replacement plus key programming).
Look up another code
U0167 — frequently asked
What does a U0167 code mean?
Immobilizer module comm lost.
What causes a U0167 code?
Common causes: Failed immobilizer; Wiring.
What are the symptoms of a U0167 code?
Typical symptoms: No start; Security light.
Is it safe to drive with a U0167 code?
Not for long. Driving on this one risks further damage. Get it to a shop rather than carrying on with it. Estimated repair: $200-$1,000.
How do I diagnose a U0167 code?
Work from evidence to part, not the other way round. A code names a circuit or a symptom; it does not name the part that failed. 1. Note every code that is set, not just this one. 2. Read the freeze frame — the conditions the fault was recorded under. 3. Confirm the fault is current rather than history. 4. Then work the likely-causes list in the order shown.
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