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Suspension, steering, brakes and wheels

Problems with the power steering: symptoms, cost and affected models

We have documented 83 faults with the power steering in 81 cars. The most important by severity and frequency: corrosion of the steering rack bolt (Volkswagen Golf VII), power steering faults and recall for the steering rack pinion (2007 units) (Opel Meriva A) and electric power steering (EPS) and steering rack failure (BMW Serie 1 F20). At an independent garage, the repair costs from €850 to €850 depending on the engine or car.[1]

Documented faults
83
45 of high or critical severity
Cars analysed
81
with at least one fault on this part
Affected models
81
car generations in our database
Garage repair
€850
Depending on engine and car, including VAT

3 sourcesHow we work

How it works and why it fails

Power steering

Power steering reduces the effort needed to turn the wheel. Hydraulic systems use a pump and fluid; electric ones (EPS), increasingly common, use an electric motor and a control unit, with typical faults in the software, the sensors or the motor itself that leave the steering heavy.

What to do

If the steering suddenly becomes heavy, the steering warning light comes on or it makes noises when turning, take extreme care and get a diagnosis. On electric systems, check for a software update or a campaign; on hydraulic ones, the fluid level and leaks.

General explanation by MotorFiable. The specific faults of each engine and car, with their sources, are on the linked pages.

Common symptoms

The symptoms that come up most often in the documented faults with the power steering. Open each one to see what other faults cause it.

Problems with the power steering by car

Faults documented on specific cars, which occur with any engine. From most to least important.

  1. 1Critical severityVery frequentFrequency: Very frequentVolkswagen Golf VIICorrosion of the steering rack boltYes: in September 2026 Volkswagen recalled Golfs built between 24 September 2013 and 1 July 2024 because a bolt joining the steering rack can corrode from road salt and compromise control of the car. The inspection and part replacement are free.Repair: €0
  2. 2Critical severityCommonFrequency: CommonOpel Meriva APower steering faults and recall for the steering rack pinion (2007 units)Yes: fiches-auto.fr describes the power steering as 'a known problem of the brand' on the Meriva A, with pump failures and loss of assistance. In addition, the KBA recalled 748 units built in 2007 because the steering rack pinion might not be properly secured, with a risk of losing the ability to steer the car.
  3. 3High severityCommonFrequency: CommonBMW Serie 1 F20Electric power steering (EPS) and steering rack failureIt is a known fault: gebrauchtwagenberater.de says that electric power steering (EPS) problems are 'not rare' on the F20, and fiches-auto.fr collects owner reports of lost assistance (a worn cable) and steering rack replacement at around 110,000 km, plus a 2016 recall for a soldering defect in the control unit.
  4. 4High severityCommonFrequency: CommonBMW Serie 3 E90Steering rack and power steering pump failureIt is one of the faults owners cite most: fiches-auto.fr describes failures of the steering rack (sometimes locked) and of the power steering pump, mainly on the 318i and 320d, with steering columns replaced for €800-1,200 or a reprogramming for around €200-250 in France.
  5. 5High severityCommonFrequency: CommonFiat Punto IIElectric power steering motor and column failureYes: it is the most frequently cited non-mechanical fault on the fiches-auto.fr page (42 cases out of around 191 testimonials): the electric power steering motor or column fails and leaves the steering unassisted or intermittent.Appears at around 70,000 km
  6. 6High severityCommonFrequency: CommonMINI Cooper R50Power steering rack and pump failureAccording to the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr, the steering on the Mini R50 is one of its most repeated faults: 27 mentions of a fragile rack (mostly before 2004) and another 27 of the power steering pump, with one pump case at 72,000 km.
  7. 7Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalAudi Q3 ICorrosion of the steering rack bolt (2026 campaign)Yes, in part: the 2026 Volkswagen and Audi campaign for steering bolt corrosion covers Audi Q3 models built between 31 October 2017 and May 2024. As the Q3 I stopped being built in June 2018, only its last cars fall within the campaign; most of the affected Q3s are already second-generation.Repair: €0
  8. 8Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalBMW Serie 1 E87Electric power steering (EPS) control unit failure with loss of assistanceBMW recalled 1 Series E87 units with electric power steering (EPS): a fault in the control electronics can cause a sudden loss of steering assistance, according to a campaign by the German KBA reported by gebrauchtwagenberater.de.
  9. 9Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFiat Grande PandaElectric power steering wiring harness pinched between two bolts (2026 recall F60B)Yes: recall F60B (Safety Gate alert SR/00906/26, March 2026) covers Grande Pandas built between 14 August 2024 and 14 April 2025. The electric power steering harness runs between two bolts and vibration can damage it, with a risk of short circuit, loss of assistance and/or a fire in the passenger compartment.
  10. 10Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalHonda Civic VIIIRecall for electric power steering control unit faultYes: Honda recalled a series of Civics built between August 2005 and January 2006 because the electric power steering control unit could fail and cause a sudden loss of steering assistance.
  11. 11Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Sprinter 907Hydraulic power steering assistance failureAlert A12/00755/21 (RAPEX 22/2021) warns that the hydraulic steering assistance may be faulty and could fail, increasing the risk of an accident. It covers Sprinters built between January 2017 and March 2021.
  12. 12Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMercedes-Benz Vito W447Corrosion of the aluminium power steering bolts with loss of assistanceYes: a campaign covering 166,573 Vito and V-Class vehicles from 2013 to 2016 (74,634 in Germany) corrects aluminium power steering bolts that can corrode and cause a loss of assistance. They are replaced with steel bolts and the steering box is treated with wax.
  13. 13Critical severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot 207Electric power steering failureOn some cars the electric steering assistance can cut out and the steering suddenly becomes very heavy; in 2012 Peugeot recalled cars built between late January and February of that year because of a risk of steering failure.
  14. 14High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalAlfa Romeo MiToMiTo electric power steering fault: loss of assistance and heavy spotsThis is a recurring owner complaint: the electric power steering stops assisting, either randomly or completely, or has heavy spots with the warning light on. The fiches-auto.fr entry records 23 mentions out of 297 owner reports; we have not found an official campaign.
  15. 15High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalBMW Serie 3 F30Electrical fault affecting the power steeringYes: in October 2016 BMW recalled 3 Series F30 cars over an electrical fault that could affect the steering assistance. The British press also describes separate rack motor failures across the whole generation.
  16. 16High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalBMW X5 F15X5 F15 power steering control unit: recall for fire risk and loss of assistanceAccording to the owner reports collected by fiches-auto.fr (56 for the 2013-2018 X5), a December 2016 recall of the power steering electronic control unit is cited, with a risk of electrical fire and loss of assistance. The campaign is recorded only by the listing; we have not been able to cross-check it.
  17. 17High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C3 Aircross IIGW9 recall: electric power steering wiring harnessAccording to the fiches-auto.fr listing, campaign GW9 corrects the position of an electric power steering wiring harness trapped between two bolts, with a risk of short circuit and fire. We have not been able to confirm it in an official source.
  18. 18High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C3 IVGW9 recall: electric power steering wiring harnessAccording to the fiches-auto.fr file, the GW9 campaign corrects the position of an electric power steering wiring harness trapped between two screws, with a risk of short circuit and fire. We have not been able to confirm it from an official source.
  19. 19High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C3 PicassoPower steering failureThe page records 20 cases of power steering failure between 50,000 and 130,000 km.
  20. 20High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalHyundai i20 IThe electric power steering stiffens when parking and the rack or column can failThe i20's electric power steering can go into overheat protection during repeated parking manoeuvres, stiffening for several minutes until it cools; fiches-auto.fr also documents cases of the steering rack and the whole column being replaced, with noises and play as earlier symptoms.
  21. 21High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalNissan Micra IIIElectric power steering failureElectric power steering is one of the most frequently cited weak points of the Micra III: the assist motor, the torque sensor or the control unit can fail, leaving the steering heavier or causing intermittent loss of assistance.
  22. 22High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot 2008 IIVibrations, play or failure of the power steering columnSome Peugeot 2008 II models show vibrations, play in the steering wheel or abnormal noises from the power steering column, with documented cases of a failed column between about 11,500 and 23,500 km; in one of them, Peugeot covered only part of the cost outside warranty.Appears at around 11,500 km
  23. 23High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault Laguna IIILoss of power steering assistance from leaks in the circuitSeveral Laguna III owners describe a total or partial loss of power steering assistance from a fluid leak, sometimes in the steering rack itself, documented between 77,000 and 118,000 km.Appears at around 77,000 km
  24. 24High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault Master IIINo warning on the dashboard if the electric power steering pump fails (2017)A campaign notified in the EU in October 2018 affects Master IIIs built between March and November 2017: the instrument cluster parameters do not match and, if the electric power steering pump unit fails, no warning lights up, which could cause an accident.
  25. 25High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault ModusNoise, play or loss of assistance in the steeringThe rack and column of the Modus's electric power steering can produce noise or play, and in some cases lose assistance; Renault also recalled a batch of cars in 2005 over a problem in the steering column assembly.
  26. 26High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalSuzuki S-Cross IIElectric power steering cut-out due to a software faultOn cars built in 2024, a control unit software fault can detect a fault that does not exist and switch off the electric steering assistance. The German KBA and Suzuki recalled 15,890 vehicles (S-Cross and Vitara) to update the software.
  27. 27High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalSuzuki VitaraElectric power steering cutting out due to a software faultOn 2024 production units, a software fault in the control unit can detect a fault that does not exist and switch off the electric power steering assistance. The German KBA and Suzuki recalled 15,890 vehicles (Vitara and SX4 S-Cross) to update the software.
  28. 28High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalTesla Model SCorrosion of the power steering motor bolts on the Model SIn March 2018 Tesla recalled around 123,000 Model S cars built before April 2016 because the power steering motor bolts could corrode, especially in areas with road salt, and increase the effort needed to turn the steering wheel.
  29. 29High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalToyota Aygo IElectric power steering failure on the Toyota Aygo IThe fiches-auto.fr page lists 9 cases of power steering cutting out during low-speed manoeuvres, with a quote of more than 2,300 euros on a 2006 car with 58,600 km.
  30. 30High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalToyota Verso-SElectric power steering control module failure caused by a short circuitIn 2013 Toyota recalled some Verso-S built between August 2010 and August 2011 (together with the previous-generation Yaris) because water ingress could cause a short circuit in the electric power steering and suddenly make the steering wheel much heavier. The fix is to replace the control module.
  31. 31High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalVolvo S80 IIWater ingress into the Volvo S80's electro-hydraulic power steering pumpIn 2011 Volvo recalled (R/2011/053 in the UK) a batch of V70 and S80 cars because water could get into the electro-hydraulic power steering pump and affect its operation: warnings may appear and, in extreme cases, the engine could stall or the assistance fail. The remedy is to replace the pump.
  32. 32High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalVolvo S80 IIVolvo S80 upper power steering return hose: it can come loose and leak fluidIn 2011 Volvo recalled (R/2011/094 in the UK) a batch of S80, V70, V60 and S60 cars because the upper power steering return hose could come loose and leak fluid onto the road and into the engine bay, with heavier steering. The remedy is to replace the hose.
  33. 33High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalVolvo V70 IIIWater ingress into the Volvo V70's electro-hydraulic power steering pumpIn 2011 Volvo recalled (R/2011/053 in the UK) a batch of V70 and S80 cars because water could get into the electro-hydraulic power steering pump and affect its operation: warnings may appear and, in extreme cases, the engine could stall or the assistance fail. The remedy is to replace the pump.
  34. 34High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalVolvo V70 IIIVolvo V70 upper power steering return hose: it can come loose and leak fluidIn 2011 Volvo recalled (R/2011/094 in the UK) a batch of S80, V70, V60 and S60 cars because the upper power steering return hose could come loose and leak fluid onto the road and into the engine bay, with heavier steering. The remedy is to replace the hose.
  35. 35High severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalVolvo XC90 IPower steering hose badly secured or touching the fan: oil leak and loss of assistanceThe XC90 I had several recalls over the power steering hose. A 2015 European alert (A12/0885/15) covers cars built between September 2008 and October 2009, because of rubbing against the fan. A German guide adds the five-cylinder diesels from 2009-2010 and those from 2010-2011.
  36. 36Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonAlfa Romeo 159Premature wear of the power steering rackAccording to fiches-auto.fr, the power steering rack of the Alfa Romeo 159 is one of the faults owners cite most, with documented replacements from 60,000 to 148,000 km.Appears at around 60,000 km
  37. 37Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonDacia Sandero IIPlay in the steering and a faulty power steering pumpYes. Some Sandero IIs have vague steering that pulls to one side in a straight line, with play in the mechanism and, at times, a power steering pump that leaks oil or becomes heavy.
  38. 38Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonFiat Punto IIIStiffening and untimely cut-outs of the electric power steeringFiches-auto.fr describes the power steering as one of the most pronounced faults of the Fiat Punto (Grande Punto/Punto Evo/Punto): the steering wheel becomes heavy and, in some cases, the assistance cuts out unexpectedly.
  39. 39Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonOpel Astra GFragile power steering rackThe power steering rack on the Astra G appears as a systematic weak point in owner testimonials, with failures and leaks reported at around 115,000-150,000 km.Appears at around 115,000 km
  40. 40Medium severityCommonFrequency: CommonPeugeot RifterElectric power steering cut-outs and intermittent noisesThis is the most frequently cited non-engine fault in a reliability survey on the Rifter (15 of 71 reports): the electric power steering can suffer occasional cut-outs or make noises when manoeuvring, with cases involving the track rod, the ball joint or the steering rack itself.
  41. 41Critical severityRareFrequency: RareAudi A3 IIIIsolated failure of the electromechanical power steering moduleThe owner of a 2018 A3 Select 1.4 TSI documents a complete lock-up of the power steering at only 800 km, which the dealer acknowledged as a factory defect and repaired under warranty; there is no evidence that it is a widespread pattern, only one documented isolated case.Repair: €0
  42. 42Critical severityRareFrequency: RareJeep AvengerRisk of the electric power steering pinion breaking (April-May 2024 production)Yes: a 2024 campaign covers units built between 5 April and 6 May 2024 in which the pinion inside the electric power steering housing could break, causing very heavy or locked steering.
  43. 43Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalAudi A4 B7Power steering pump failure and rack wearfiches-auto.fr records power steering pump failures (with vibration in the steering wheel at idle) and the 2008 TÜV report cited by gebrauchtwagenberater.de occasionally found defective steering racks on the A4 B7.
  44. 44Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën Berlingo ILeaks and noise from the power steering pump and circuitAccording to the pages, the hydraulic power steering can lose fluid from the pump, hoses or rack, become noisy and get heavy at low speed; play in ball joints and links is also cited.
  45. 45Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalCitroën C3 IIntermittent loss or heaviness of the electric power steering assistance (up to late 2007)On first-generation Citroën C3s built mainly up to late 2007, the electric power steering can suddenly become heavy, cut out intermittently or make noises; fiches-auto.fr points to the torque sensor, the assist motor, the column and the electrical supply as the places to check.
  46. 46Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFiat Panda IIElectric power steering assistance faultsAccording to fiches-auto.fr, this is the most characteristic defect of the Fiat Panda II: the assistance motor, the torque sensor or the electronics of the electric steering can fail, especially with a weak battery or damp in the connectors.
  47. 47Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFiat StiloLoss of power steering assistanceThe Stilo's power steering can switch to a lower-assistance mode and become noticeably heavier, with cases reported at around 75,000 km.Appears at around 70,000 km
  48. 48Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFord C-Max IPower steering pump failure, with a recall on 2008 modelsThe C-Max I's power steering can fail because of the pump, the rack, the track rod ends or the hoses; the manufacturer also recalled certain 2008 models over a power steering problem.
  49. 49Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFord Focus IICorrosion of the hydraulic power steering hoseThe section of the hydraulic power steering hose behind the radiator and at the pump connection can corrode and end up dripping, which stiffens the steering as the circuit loses pressure.
  50. 50Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFord Mondeo IIIWorn power steering pumpThe power steering pump on the Mondeo III does not age especially well: over the years it loses efficiency and can start to make noise when you turn the wheel with the car stationary, according to fiches-auto.fr.
  51. 51Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalFord Mondeo IVPower steering faults (pump, rack and hoses)The Mondeo IV's power steering can fail because of the pump, the rack, the hoses or the reservoir: according to fiches-auto.fr, a pump working with metal filings from a worn rack ends up making noise and losing effectiveness; the German TÜV inspection report also lists the steering among the problem areas.
  52. 52Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalKia Rio IIINoises, a tight spot or play in the power steering columnFiches-auto.fr records accounts of clicking, a tight spot or play in the electric power steering column of the Kia Rio III, and gebrauchtwagenberater.de places the steering joints among the items that fail most often in German TÜV inspections (the equivalent of the Spanish ITV).
  53. 53Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMazda CX-3The electric power steering can become heavy or uneven, especially on the motorwaySome owners describe uneven power steering, with abnormally high resistance above a certain motorway speed; the manufacturer acknowledges the problem and covers it under warranty when it is detected.Appears at around 6,000 km
  54. 54Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalMINI Cooper R56Power steering faults: pump, play and electrical supplySeveral owners describe steering that becomes heavy or vague through wear of the power steering pump, play in the rack or occasional faults in its electrical supply.
  55. 55Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalOpel Corsa CLoss or reduction of power steering assistanceOwners and a German used-car guide describe power steering faults on the Opel Corsa C, with loss or reduction of assistance; the reports collected by fiches-auto.fr place it among the model's most repeated electrical faults (19 of 197 reviews).
  56. 56Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalOpel Insignia ALeak or disconnection of a hydraulic power steering hoseThe fiches-auto.fr page lists 18 testimonies about the Insignia A's power steering and notes that one of the hoses in the hydraulic circuit tends to drip or come loose; the page itself describes it as annoying but not very serious financially.
  57. 57Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalOpel Meriva BPower steering pump or column failureAccording to fiches-auto.fr, steering appears in 16 of the 238 testimonials about the Meriva B: a failed steering pump (one case at 61,342 km), a broken column (one case at 30,000 km), noises when turning and heavy steering. We have found no campaign or specialist press to confirm it.
  58. 58Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalOpel Zafira APower steering rack leak and wearThe Zafira A's power steering rack can develop a leak and lose effectiveness around 150,000 km; owners cite a repair of around €850 when it has to be replaced.Repair (garage): €850Appears at around 140,000 km
  59. 59Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot 5008 IIWear of the electric power steering and the steering rackSeveral Peugeot 5008 II owners describe wear of the electric power steering that forces replacement of the whole assembly from 29,000 km, and of the steering rack at around 92,000 km, according to a reliability survey with 157 reports.
  60. 60Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalPeugeot Partner ILeaks and noise from the power steering pump and circuitAccording to the pages, the hydraulic power steering can lose fluid from the pump, hoses or rack, become noisy and get heavy at low speed; play in ball joints and links is also cited.
  61. 61Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault Clio IILeaks and play in the power steeringThe Clio II's power steering can lose pressure through a leak in the pump, the hose or the steering rack, which makes manoeuvring heavier, along with play in the axial joints and track rod ends.
  62. 62Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault Kangoo IPower steering pump and hose failureSeveral owners cite power steering faults: a burst pipe on a 1.9 D diesel and pump failures between 60,000 and 100,000 km on a 1.5 dCi. One owner mentions €500 to €600 (in Spain) for the pump.
  63. 63Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault Kangoo IISteering column and power steering control unit faults on the first vehiclesThe first Kangoo II vehicles, built up to 2008-2009, had documented faults in the steering column and in the power steering control unit, the latter resolved with a reprogramming; one additional report describes a loss of assistance caused by an electrical earth problem at 77,000 km.
  64. 64Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault Laguna IILeaks in the hydraulic power steering circuitSeveral accounts collected by fiches-auto.fr describe the Laguna II's hydraulic power steering losing fluid from the pump supply circuit, which makes the steering heavy or gives it play.
  65. 65Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault Mégane IIPower steering faults: stiffness, play or a warning lightOn the Megane II the power steering can become stiff, develop play or light up a warning light because of a fault in the steering rack, the torque sensors or the electric or electro-hydraulic assistance itself.
  66. 66Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault Scénic IPower steering pump and rack leaksAccording to the testimonies collected by fiches-auto.fr, the power steering pump or rack leaks fluid, and the steering becomes heavy or imprecise. No official recall is recorded.
  67. 67Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalRenault Twingo IIILoss of power steering assistance in intense coldA French reliability guide describes a lack of electric power steering assistance when the outside temperature drops below 0°C in Twingo III cars built up to January 2018, along with creaking when turning the steering wheel in the older units.
  68. 68Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalŠkoda Fabia IPower steering pump failureThe power steering accounts for 7 of the 140 Fabia I owner responses in the fiches-auto.fr survey; gebrauchtwagenberater.de adds that, in most cases, the fault is due to a defective power steering pump.
  69. 69Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalToyota Auris IThe power steering can develop play or lose assistanceSeveral owners of the first-generation Auris describe play, knocking or progressive loss of steering assistance; fiches-auto.fr documents a case of total loss of assistance replaced at 180,000 km, as well as wear of the steering column joints from 59,000 km.
  70. 70Medium severityOccasionalFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Touareg IPower steering pump leaks and noiseAccording to the fiches-auto.fr page, 7 reports on the Touareg I cite leaks, a noisy pump or a worn steering rack; if the fluid level drops, the steering gets heavier and the pump can be damaged.
  71. 71High severityRareFrequency: RareAudi Q5 IAudi Q5 power steering and steering rack faultsSeven testimonies out of 322 on fiches-auto.fr talk about heavy or noisy steering, a replaced steering rack and loss of assistance. It is an uncommon problem, based only on testimonies.Appears at around 100 km
  72. 72High severityRareFrequency: RareBMW X6 E71Wear of the steering rack and power steering pump on the X6 E71According to fiches-auto.fr, the X6 E71's power steering appears in 2 mentions: heavy steering and play in the steering rack. One testimony cites €3,700 for replacing the rack at 110,000 km, and fatigue of the electric pump is mentioned.Appears at around 110,000 km
  73. 73High severityRareFrequency: RareKia Picanto IIPower steering electric motor failureAccording to the fiches-auto.fr reports, 2 of the 41 Picanto owners (2011-2017) report a defect in the electric power steering motor, in one case at 28,000 km. It is an isolated pattern with no official recall.
  74. 74High severityRareFrequency: RareMercedes-Benz Clase C W205Software fault that can disable the electric power steeringA German used-car test includes, among the most serious documented faults of the C-Class W205, a software fault capable of disabling the electric power steering. The source does not state the date or exact scope of the campaign.
  75. 75High severityRareFrequency: RareMercedes-Benz Clase E W213Power steering sensor that may switch off the assistanceA specialist reliability listing records a 2018 Mercedes-Benz recall for the E-Class W213 over a power steering sensor that could switch off the electric assistance.
  76. 76High severityRareFrequency: RareSeat ExeoPower steering pump failure and steering rack leaksAccording to the fiches-auto.fr reports, there are owners with a failed power steering pump at 120,000 km (the manufacturer paid 50%) and a steering rack leak at 48,900 km. These are isolated cases on 2.0 TDI cars.
  77. 77High severityRareFrequency: RareSeat Ibiza IVThe electric power steering can fail at low mileageA small number of owners report complete replacement of the electric power steering at very low mileage (34,000 km in one case) and creaking in the steering column from 70,000 km. It is not a manufacturer campaign, just an isolated pattern in owner testimonies.
  78. 78High severityRareFrequency: RareToyota Yaris IIIThe electric power steering can lose assistance because of moisture in a relayA 2013 campaign recalled Yaris models built between 2010 and 2012 because, in the electric power steering control unit, water droplets could condense between the terminals of the relay that feeds the steering motor and cause a short circuit.
  79. 79Medium severityRareFrequency: RareAudi A4 B8Power steering warning after driving through heavy rain or flooded areasSeveral A4 B8 owners report a power steering error warning, with reduced assistance, after driving through heavy rain or waterlogged areas; they point to water getting into an electrical component, although there is no independent source to confirm it.
  80. 80Medium severityRareFrequency: RareDacia Duster IPower steering pump failureFiches-auto.fr records cases of the Duster I's power steering pump failing at around 40,000 km, generally covered by the warranty, and a more serious case where the battery, alternator and pump had to be replaced at the same time.
  81. 81Medium severityRareFrequency: RareFord S-Max ITired power steering pump on the S-MaxThe S-Max I has 9 steering testimonials: the assist pump, hoses or rack deteriorate and the assistance drops, especially at idle.
  82. 82Medium severityRareFrequency: RareHonda CR-V IIIPower steering rack and hydraulic hose failureAccording to the testimonials on fiches-auto.fr, 5 of 123 CR-V III owners cite power steering problems: a replaced rack and a steering hose at 210,000 km (€300 for the part, according to the testimonial).Appears at around 210,000 km
  83. 83Medium severityRareFrequency: RareRenault Clio IIINoises and play in the electric power steeringThe Clio III's electric power steering column or rack can develop noises and abnormal play; Caradisiac describes it as a rare but abnormal fault that is worth claiming under warranty if it appears.

Problems with the power steering by make

Problems with the power steering in your car

2 cars have several documented faults with the power steering. Choose yours to see only the ones that affect them, by engine and by year.

Volvo 2

How much it costs to repair a fault with the power steering

Sorted from the most expensive repair to the cheapest. Prices in Spain including VAT (parts and labour); what each figure includes is on its page.

How we calculate costs · The most expensive repairs across all engines

Frequently asked questions

Which cars have problems with the power steering?

Among those we have analysed: Volkswagen Golf VII (corrosion of the steering rack bolt), Opel Meriva A (power steering faults and recall for the steering rack pinion (2007 units)), BMW Serie 1 F20 (electric power steering (EPS) and steering rack failure), BMW Serie 3 E90 (steering rack and power steering pump failure), Fiat Punto II (electric power steering motor and column failure), MINI Cooper R50 (power steering rack and pump failure), Audi Q3 I (corrosion of the steering rack bolt (2026 campaign)) and BMW Serie 1 E87 (electric power steering (EPS) control unit failure with loss of assistance). In total, 81 cars with documented faults with the power steering.

How much does it cost to repair a fault with the power steering?

It depends a lot on the engine or car. At an independent garage, from €850 to €850; at a dealer, from €0 to €0, including VAT, based on the 4 faults with a documented cost. The most expensive is power steering rack leak and wear (Opel Zafira A).

What symptoms does a fault with the power steering cause?

The most frequently cited in the documented faults: heavy steering or power steering warning, abnormal play in the steering or noises from the front axle, creaking or clicking when turning the steering wheel, power steering warning light on, intermittent electronic warnings or sensor faults and steering wheel vibrates or shakes when driving.

Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. 1.Fiabilité Opel Zafira (1999-2005) - pannes et problèmes recensésFiches-auto.fr · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in French
  2. 2.Volkswagen y Audi llaman a revisión a casi tres millones de vehículos por un posible fallo en la dirección: estos son los modelos afectadosInfobae · General press · published 25 September 2026 · consulted 26 September 2026 · in Spanish
  3. 3.Dirección Audi A3: fallas y solucionesOpinautos · Owners' forum · consulted 27 September 2026 · in Spanish