Audi A5 ABS Warning + Heavy Steering Points to Failure

Having some experience with similar issues, I can share what happened with my 2006 Audi A4 2.0T. The symptoms you describe match almost exactly what I encountered. After getting a low tire warning and dealing with similar steering issues, I first checked all tire pressures with a reliable tire gauge. While the pressures appeared normal, the tire pressure monitoring system continued showing errors. The root cause turned out to be a faulty tire pressure sensor valve in one of the wheels. The workshop diagnosed that the valve was sending incorrect signals, triggering both the tire monitoring system and affecting other systems like ABS and power steering. The total repair cost was 280 Euro, which included replacing the defective valve and recalibrating the tire sensor system. Before suggesting this is definitely your issue, it would help to know: Have you noticed if the warning appears more frequently at certain temperatures? Did you recently have any tire work done? Are all your tires the same age and brand? Does the steering heaviness occur at specific speeds? This information would help determine if your issue matches what I experienced or if it might be something else. Remember to regularly check tire pressure manually even with a tire monitoring system installed, as these sensors can sometimes fail without warning.

Last service done at 115389 KM Thanks for sharing your experience. After reading about similar issues, I took my car to a trusted workshop. They confirmed the tire monitoring system was sending false signals, causing the ABS warning. The pressure loss in my front right tire was barely noticeable with manual checks, but continuous air leak was detected when submerged in water. Turned out the tire valve stem was cracked, leading to slow pressure loss. The mechanic also found that the power steering issues were actually a separate problem, a failing power steering pump. Got both fixed: new valve stem plus sensor calibration (180 Euro) and power steering pump replacement (420 Euro). The low tire warnings have stopped completely, and the steering feels normal again. Regular tire pressure checks are now part of my maintenance routine.

Thanks for the update on your A5. Interesting how the tire pressure monitoring system caught an air leak that was hard to spot manually. On my A4, I also learned that even minor pressure loss can trigger multiple warning systems. Your case shows why its important to have a proper diagnostic check when these symptoms appear together. While my issue was just the tire sensor valve, yours revealed both a tire pressure problem and a failing power steering pump. The workshop prices seem reasonable too, similar to what I paid for my sensor repair. Had almost forgotten to mention, after my sensor repair, I also made checking tire pressure part of my routine maintenance. Its saved me from potential issues twice now, catching slow leaks before they became serious problems. A tip for others reading: if your ABS warning appears along with steering issues, dont automatically assume its just a tire sensor problem like in my case. As seen here, these symptoms can point to multiple issues that need individual attention.

Your issue turned out to be more complex than mine, but thanks for the detailed follow-up. Every tire pressure problem seems to present differently, which makes diagnosis tricky. The air leak from the cracked valve stem was particularly interesting since it was so subtle during manual checks. The total repair cost of 600 Euro seems reasonable considering both issues needed fixing. Both the tire monitoring system repair and power steering pump replacement solved the symptoms completely. Really glad I didnt ignore those initial low tire warnings, as catching these issues early probably prevented more expensive repairs down the line. Great to know others face similar challenges with these cars. Will definitely keep monitoring my tire pressure regularly, even with the new sensor system in place. The whole experience has taught me not to assume ABS and steering issues are always connected, even when they appear simultaneously. Appreciate everyone sharing their knowledge here. Time for me to get back to my regular maintenance schedule at 115389 KM, with extra attention to those tire pressure checks.