What happens if the electric power steering wheel does not return to center?
4 Answers
If the electric power steering wheel does not return to center, it can cause damage to rubber seals, shock-absorbing pads, and tires, shortening their service life. When parking without centering the electric power steering wheel, it can cause the vehicle's suspension system components, such as elastic struts, rubber seals, and shock-absorbing rubber pads, to tilt, resulting in uneven force distribution. This increases pressure on the compressed side, leading to deformation of the suspension system and accelerating its aging process. In addition to the suspension system, the vehicle's tires may also tilt along with the suspension system, changing the tire's stress points. This makes it very easy to compress the tire sidewalls, which are relatively thin and more prone to deformation and blowouts. Since mechanical hydraulic power steering consumes a significant amount of engine power, improvements were made on this basis to develop the more energy-efficient electro-hydraulic power steering system.
I remember last year my car had an issue with the steering wheel not returning to center. While driving, I always felt like I had to manually pull it back after turning, especially during high-speed corners where the steering felt unstable and the car tended to drift, increasing driving fatigue. What made it worse was that when parked, the wheels were misaligned, making it easy to scrape the curb or cause uneven tire wear. Later, when I got it checked, it turned out to be a minor fault with the electronic power steering system's sensor. After the repair, everything worked perfectly again. I suggest that if you encounter this problem, don't delay—get it diagnosed at a professional shop promptly to avoid potential safety hazards. After all, comfort and safety are top priorities in daily driving. Replacing a small component can solve the issue—don't risk compromising your entire driving experience or road safety over a minor problem.
As someone who has been working in auto repair shops for years and dealing with various malfunctions, I've seen many cases where the electric power steering wheel fails to return to center. This is usually caused by a stuck control module in the power assist motor or sensor failure, which weakens the steering assist function. You have to manually force it back to center, which is not only laborious but also causes premature tire wear. If neglected for a long time, it may affect the precision of the entire steering system, such as accelerating the damage to universal joints. I recommend checking the EPS system regularly during vehicle maintenance, especially cleaning the sensor connection ports. When encountering unresponsive symptoms, use diagnostic tools to read error codes immediately - minor repairs can save you big money.
If your steering wheel fails to return to center automatically, be extremely cautious. This condition leads to unstable driving dynamics—such as the wheel not self-correcting after turns—making the vehicle prone to loss of control at moderate speeds, particularly on rainy or slippery surfaces where risks multiply. I recall an acquaintance who narrowly avoided a collision due to this issue, later traced to a degraded electric power steering control module. For safety, never ignore it; pull over immediately for inspection or seek professional assistance. Regular system health checks can effectively prevent such hazards.
