What does it mean when the EPS light is on?

[VonGabriela]

EPS light on indicates a malfunction in the electric power steering system. If the EPS warning light suddenly flashes during normal driving, you should gradually reduce speed, adjust the steering wheel properly, turn on the hazard lights, and pull over to the roadside. Then proceed to a repair shop or 4S dealership for inspection, as issues with the electronic power steering system may cause the vehicle to lose power steering functionality. The working principle of EPS is: when the driver turns the steering wheel, the torque sensor records the movement and converts it into a voltage signal transmitted to the vehicle computer's control unit. The vehicle computer then controls the electric motor based on the voltage signal from the sensor, causing the motor to rotate and provide auxiliary steering power to the driver.

[VanSilas]

When I saw the EPS light on the dashboard, my first thought was that there's something wrong with the power steering system. Once this thing fails, the steering wheel immediately becomes extremely heavy, especially when parking in reverse—it takes all your strength. Common issues fall into four categories: sensor malfunction (like the torque sensor misreporting the driver's steering input), wiring problems (rats chewing wires or water ingress causing poor contact), control module failure (system software glitch or circuit board burnout), or the motor itself seizing up. The safest approach is not to tough it out and drive—hook up an OBD scanner to check the trouble codes immediately. Last week, my neighbor kept driving with the light on and nearly hit a guardrail while turning at an intersection—the towing fee ended up costing more than fixing the steering gear.

[SanLane]

Don't panic when the EPS warning light comes on, but you must reduce speed immediately. I've personally experienced this malfunction—the steering wheel suddenly felt like it was tied to an iron block, requiring both hands to muscle through turns. There are three main causes: hardware damage (stuck steering column gears or burned motor coils), system conflicts (such as unstable battery voltage triggering protection mechanisms), and sensor deception (wheel speed sensors misjudging vehicle speed, causing power assist failure). A simple self-rescue method is to pull over, turn off the engine, wait five minutes, and restart—sometimes the electronic system can self-repair. If the light remains on, be sure to check for abnormal tire pressure, as a difference exceeding 20% can also mislead the steering system. Remember to rinse the chassis when washing your car; mud covering the steering sensors will cause trouble sooner or later.

[HenryFitz]

The EPS warning light indicates a failure in the electric power steering system. Common causes include dust accumulation in the steering angle sensor, blown fuses, or even insufficient power supply from the alternator. I particularly hate encountering this issue, especially when driving on mountain roads—once the light comes on, you have to anticipate turns well in advance. Modern vehicles mostly use CAN bus communication, so a single module crash can trigger a chain reaction of error reports. In an emergency, avoid jerking the steering wheel sharply, as the loss of assistance can easily lead to oversteering. For prevention, develop good habits: always straighten the steering wheel when parking to reduce gear wear, and check the waterproof casings of underbody wiring after the rainy season. Repairs are cheaper than hydraulic power steering—replacing a sensor costs just a few hundred bucks—but replacing the entire motor assembly can run into thousands.