Car pulls to one side or steering wheel is not straight: causes and the faults that trigger it

1. 1. Alignment (tracking) out of adjustment

   Common cause

   RACE places it after impacts with kerbs, deep potholes or small knocks, and as a result of wear over time. The symptoms are the car drifting and forcing you to correct, an off-centre steering wheel, uneven tyre wear and, sometimes, vibrations. Autofácil lists drifting off course among the symptoms of geometry outside its limits.^[1][2][5]

   Faults with with tyres and wheels

2. 2. Uneven tyre pressure or badly distributed load

   Common cause

   RACE links the drift to parking against the kerb, to incorrect tyre pressures or to an uneven load, and recommends checking the pressure at least once a month.^[4][6]

   Faults with with tyres and wheels

3. 3. Ball joints and silentblocks with play

   Possible cause

   RACE lists pulling to one side among the symptoms of a worn ball joint and explains that ball joints and silentblocks (suspension bushes) that have lost their firmness shift the wheel angles. Autofácil recommends checking the ball joints first because with excessive play a good alignment is pointless.^[1][7][8]

   Faults with with control arms, ball joints and bushes

4. 4. Brake caliper that doesn't release

   Possible cause

   RACE says that a caliper seized by a split dust boot, ungreased guides or old fluid keeps the disc clamped, brakes unevenly and heats up the assembly. For RACE, pulling when braking or noticing one wheel that is hotter should lead to a brake check.^[3][6]

   Faults with with brake calipers and discs

5. 5. Unevenly worn tyres

   Possible cause

   RACE and Autofácil link wear on just one edge with incorrect alignment, and RACE advises checking it when the car drifts or the steering wheel sits crooked in a straight line.^[5][6]

   Faults with with tyres and wheels

1. Check the pressure of all four tyres when cold against the manufacturer's values and that the load is evenly distributed.^[4][6]
2. Look at the tyre wear, including the inner side: wear on a single edge points to the geometry.^[2][6]
3. After braking normally, carefully check whether one wheel is much hotter than the others or whether the car pulls when braking.^[3][6]
4. Ask a garage to check the ball joints and silentblocks before aligning, because with play the alignment won't hold.^[1][8]
5. Have the alignment done to the manufacturer's angles; RACE specifies that at a garage only the tracking is adjusted.^[2][5]

Urgency: Garage soon

RACE does not say the drift stops you driving, but warns that driving out of alignment lengthens braking distances, slows emergency manoeuvres, increases the risk of aquaplaning and wears tyres and fuel; if there is also play in the steering or a dragging caliper, go to the garage sooner. A completely seized caliper keeps a wheel braked and the car cannot move forward. The sources do not set a kilometre limit.^[1][3]

1. • High severityFrequency: CommonOpel Zafira ASeized rear brakes and brake pipe corrosionThe car may pull to one side when braking if a rear caliper is partially seized.

   Source for the symptom in the Opel Zafira A^[9]

2. • Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalAudi TT IInstability in corners at high speed: suspension and rear spoiler recallLoss of stability and oversteer in fast corners when lifting off the accelerator.

   Source for the symptom in the Audi TT I^[10]

3. • Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalLand Rover Range Rover Evoque IFront lower arm to knuckle bolt incorrectly tightened (2016 recall)Crooked or misaligned steering wheel when the joint has worked loose.

   Source for the symptom in the Land Rover Range Rover Evoque I^[11]

4. • Critical severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel Insignia ACorroded and possibly broken rear track rods (2022 recall)Loss of stability at the rear if a track rod breaks; Safety Gate refers to a risk of accident.

   Source for the symptom in the Opel Insignia A^[12][13]

5. • Medium severityFrequency: CommonDacia Sandero IIPlay in the steering and a faulty power steering pumpThe car pulls to one side in a straight line or the steering wheel sits crooked.

   Source for the symptom in the Dacia Sandero II^[14]

6. • Medium severityFrequency: CommonFord Mondeo IIISeized rear brake calipersThe car may pull to one side under braking if only one of the rear calipers has seized.

   Source for the symptom in the Ford Mondeo III^[15]

7. • High severityFrequency: OccasionalInfiniti Q50Direct adaptive steering (DAS) unit software: off-centre steering wheel and larger turning circleThe steering wheel is off-centre and the driver may interpret this as the car pulling to one side; the turning circle may increase.

   Source for the symptom in the Infiniti Q50^[11][16]

8. • Medium severityFrequency: CommonKia Sportage IVPremature wear of the steering ball jointsIn advanced cases, play in the steering may be felt as a loss of precision or a less firm steering wheel in a straight line.

   Source for the symptom in the Kia Sportage IV^[17]

9. • High severityFrequency: OccasionalLand Rover Freelander IRear suspension arm weld fracture (1998 recall)If an arm weld fractures, the car can drift from a straight line during normal driving.

   Source for the symptom in the Land Rover Freelander I^[11]

10. • Medium severityFrequency: CommonMercedes-Benz Clase C W205Tie rod wear and play in the steeringIn more advanced cases, play in the steering can be felt as a loss of precision when driving in a straight line.

    Source for the symptom in the Mercedes-Benz Clase C W205^[18]

11. • Medium severityFrequency: CommonPeugeot 206Wear of the rear axle and suspension ball jointsThe steering feels vague or the car pulls to one side because of worn front ball joints.

    Source for the symptom in the Peugeot 206^[19]

12. • High severityFrequency: OccasionalPorsche Panamera IILower axle tie rod breakagePossible alteration of the car's behaviour if the tie rod breaks; the notice does not describe any prior symptoms.Repair: €0

    Source for the symptom in the Porsche Panamera II^[20]

13. • High severityFrequency: OccasionalVolkswagen Caddy VDefective wheel control arm on the CaddyThe wheel bends to one side and the steering becomes much more difficult.

    Source for the symptom in the Volkswagen Caddy V^[21]

14. • Medium severityFrequency: CommonVolkswagen Touareg IPremature wear of the front bushes and tyresChanges in the geometry and difficulty adjusting the tracking.

    Source for the symptom in the Volkswagen Touareg I^[22]

15. • High severityFrequency: OccasionalVolvo V60 IIRecall for wheelbase out of specification (R69955)Safety Gate does not describe symptoms; it refers to affected manoeuvrability.

    Source for the symptom in the Volvo V60 II^[23]

16. • Critical severityFrequency: RareAudi A5 IIRear axle arm nuts with stress corrosion on the A5The alert describes a possible uncontrolled movement of the rear axle at high speed; no prior warnings to the user are cited.

    Source for the symptom in the Audi A5 II^[24]

17. • Critical severityFrequency: RareAudi A6 C8Rear axle arm bolt nuts with stress corrosion in the A6The alert describes a possible uncontrolled movement of the rear axle at high speed; no prior warnings to the user are cited.

    Source for the symptom in the Audi A6 C8^[24]

18. • Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalHonda Civic VIISeized rear brake caliperWhen the rear caliper does not fully release, that wheel brakes harder than the others and the car may pull slightly to that side, as well as wearing out the pad and disc on that corner sooner.

    Source for the symptom in the Honda Civic VII^[25]

19. • Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda MX-5 IIISeized calipers and worn discs and brake padsIf a caliper seizes, the car pulls to one side when braking; scored discs and uneven pad wear are also seen.

    Source for the symptom in the Mazda MX-5 III^[26]

20. • Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalOpel Zafira Tourer CPremature wear of the front bearings and steering column faultsThe car pulls to one side.

    Source for the symptom in the Opel Zafira Tourer C^[27]

21. • Medium severityFrequency: OccasionalSeat Ibiza IIIThe rear brakes can seize and wear the discs out earlyThe car may pull to one side under braking, or you may notice that a rear wheel gets hotter than the others from the constant rubbing of a seized caliper.

    Source for the symptom in the Seat Ibiza III^[28]

22. • High severityFrequency: RareOpel Mokka BFaulty bolting of the suspension arm (built February 2021)No prior symptom described; the risk is loss of stability.

    Source for the symptom in the Opel Mokka B^[29]

23. • Low severityFrequency: OccasionalMazda 6 IPremature wear of the rear tyres and need for alignmentIn some reports the car constantly pulls to the right.

    Source for the symptom in the Mazda 6 I^[30]

24. • Medium severityFrequency: RareMercedes-Benz GLK X204Premature wear of suspension arms and ball jointsThe car pulls to one side, according to several reports on the page.

    Source for the symptom in the Mercedes-Benz GLK X204^[31]

25. • Low severityFrequency: OccasionalMG ZS ISuspension noises and instability in fast cornersOne owner describes the car pulling to the right when driving.

    Source for the symptom in the MG ZS I^[32]

26. • Medium severityFrequency: RareRenault KadjarNoise and premature wear of the front suspensionSome owners describe the car pulling to one side, which several testimonies associate with misaligned steering geometry.

    Source for the symptom in the Renault Kadjar^[33]

27. • Medium severityFrequency: RareRenault Scénic IVPremature, uneven wear of the front tyresSeveral testimonies associate the wear with front axle geometry or alignment that was out of adjustment from the factory.

    Source for the symptom in the Renault Scénic IV^[34]

28. • Low severityFrequency: RareBMW Serie 5 F10Car pulls to one side from the steering rack on the older 5 Series F10The car drifts to the right even after the geometry has been set.

    Source for the symptom in the BMW Serie 5 F10^[35]

• Audi
• Opel

• Knocks or creaks from the suspension over bumpsUrgency: Garage soon0 faults cause it
• Creaking or clicking when turning the steering wheelUrgency: Garage soon0 faults cause it
• Vibration in the steering wheel or pedal when brakingUrgency: Garage soon0 faults cause it
• Squealing or metallic grinding when brakingUrgency: Garage soon0 faults cause it
• Uneven tyre wearUrgency: Monitor0 faults cause it
• Heavy steering or power steering warningUrgency: Garage soon2 faults cause it in 2 engines
• Abnormal play in the steering or noises from the front axleUrgency: As soon as possible0 faults cause it
• Wheel bearing humUrgency: Garage soon0 faults cause it
• Steering wheel vibrates or shakes when drivingUrgency: Garage soon2 faults cause it in 2 engines