What does an exclamation mark on the steering wheel mean?
2 Answers
An exclamation mark on the steering wheel is the warning light for the electric power steering system. If the indicator light stays on after the vehicle's ignition switch is turned on or during driving, it indicates a fault in the electric power steering system, and you should promptly go to a repair shop for inspection and repair. If the yellow indicator light is on, it means that part of the steering system has failed, resulting in increased steering effort and difficulty in turning. If the red indicator light is on, it indicates a complete failure of the steering system. The electric power system fault light may come on under the following circumstances: it lights up briefly for five to ten minutes and then turns off. This is because the electric power steering motor is overheated, and the system enters an overheating protection mode, reducing or pausing the motor assistance. The assistance will resume once the motor temperature decreases.
When I saw the exclamation mark light on the steering wheel, my heart skipped a beat. This is usually a signal of a problem with the electric power steering system. Without power steering, the steering wheel becomes as heavy as an iron plate, making driving very strenuous, especially when making U-turns on overpasses or in parking lots—it feels like a workout. My car had the same light come on last year, and it turned out to be caused by unstable voltage due to an aging battery, which triggered a false alarm in the module. I recommend pulling over immediately and not forcing yourself to keep driving, as this could easily lead to an accident or damage the steering column. Try turning off the engine and restarting it later; if the light remains on, head to a professional repair shop right away to avoid bigger troubles. After replacing the battery, the problem was resolved, so maintaining battery health is crucial for daily upkeep.
