Power steering warning light
A steering wheel, sometimes with an exclamation mark, amber or red
Do not keep driving it · Amber means get it checked
Power steering warning light
Pull over when you get the chance and check how heavy the steering feels. If the wheel is still turning normally, you don't need to stop in the road right now, but don't put off getting it looked at. If the steering has gone noticeably heavy, especially at low speed, drive gently to the nearest safe place and get it checked before you go any further.
This light means the car's power steering system has detected a fault. On most modern cars this is electric power steering, so it's a problem with the motor, the sensor, or the electrical circuit that assists your steering — not the steering mechanism itself. The steering doesn't stop working. What changes is how much effort it takes to turn the wheel, and that can happen suddenly, without warning. It matters most at low speed, in a parking lot, or anywhere you need to turn sharply — like backing out with someone walking behind you.
The common causes, roughly in order of how often we see them:
1. A fault in the electric power steering system itself — a sensor, the motor, or the control module.
2. A low battery voltage or charging system problem, which can trip the power steering system even though the actual steering parts are fine.
3. On older cars with hydraulic power steering, low fluid or a failing pump.
4. A wiring or connector issue, sometimes from corrosion or a loose ground.
What it takes to put right varies a lot depending on which of those it is. Sometimes it's a battery or charging problem, and fixing that clears the light with no work needed on the steering system at all. Other times it's a sensor or module that needs to be tested and replaced, which takes longer and costs more. We won't know which one it is until we plug in a scan tool and read what the car actually recorded, along with checking battery voltage and, if it's hydraulic, the fluid level.
Either way, this isn't something to guess at. Driving around with unassisted or partially assisted steering is manageable on the highway but can catch you off guard the moment you need to turn the wheel quickly at low speed. Bring it in and we'll diagnose it properly before telling you what it needs.