Audi Power Steering Causes Heavy & Vibrating Wheel

Had a similar issue with my 2013 A6 last winter. I have some experience working on cars, mainly basic maintenance and troubleshooting electronic systems. The symptoms you describe match what I experienced, heavy steering and vibrations. The electronic stability system warning light also came on intermittently in my case. The steering angle sensor was indeed the culprit, causing both the power steering and traction control systems to act up. Took it to a specialized workshop where they ran a full diagnostic. The steering sensor needed recoding and recalibration. Total repair cost was 195 Euro, which included the diagnostic and programming work. After the fix, the steering returned to normal and the stability control worked perfectly again. Before suggesting more specific solutions, could you share: Are there any warning lights on your dashboard? Does the steering feel heavier at different speeds? When did you last have a wheel alignment done? Have you noticed any unusual tire wear patterns? The steering angle sensor is crucial for both power steering and electronic stability systems, so getting an accurate diagnosis is important. If its similar to what I experienced, its likely fixable without major parts replacement.

Just had the car serviced at 66131 KM and wanted to share my experience with the sensor replacement, which completely fixed my steering issues. The steering angle sensor failure was confirmed after running diagnostics. The alignment was double-checked during the repair since the steering column needed to be accessed. My warning lights did come on, both the traction control and power steering warnings were showing up intermittently. The fix cost 450 Euro including labor and parts. The steering now feels normal again with no vibration. Definitely worth checking the sensor if youre experiencing similar symptoms with your A4. The workshop mentioned these sensor issues are fairly common on this model and can affect multiple systems. They had to recalibrate everything after the replacement.

Really glad to hear you got it sorted out! Thanks for sharing the details. Your experience sounds nearly identical to what I had with my A6, though your repair cost was higher, likely due to the full sensor replacement versus my recalibration. The interconnected nature of these automotive sensors makes diagnosis tricky, but the warning lights you mentioned are definitely a telltale sign of steering sensor issues. The fact that both traction control and power steering warnings appeared matches the typical behavior when the steering angle sensor starts failing. Since my recalibration work, I haven't had any alignment problems or steering issues for over 15000 km. Its worth noting that keeping an eye on any steering column related warnings early on can help catch these problems before they worsen. The stability control system is particularly sensitive to steering sensor accuracy. Good point about the sensor issues being common on these models. After my experience, I learned to pay more attention to any changes in steering feel or unusual warning light patterns. Regular diagnostic checks during service intervals can help catch these steering sensor problems early.

Thanks everyone for your input. Following up on my original post now that everything is fixed, I can confirm the steering angle sensor was indeed the problem. The early warning signs were exactly as described, heavy steering, vibrations, and those intermittent warning lights for both traction control and power steering. The total repair came to 450 Euro which covered the sensor replacement, labor, and a wheel alignment check. The electronic stability system is now working perfectly and the steering feels normal again. They had to recalibrate several systems after installing the new steering sensor, but it was worth every cent. For anyone else facing similar steering issues with their A4, definitely get the sensor checked early. The workshop confirmed these sensor failures are a known issue. The alignment was fine in my case, it was purely an electronic problem affecting multiple systems. Really grateful for all the advice here which helped me pinpoint the issue before taking it to the shop. The repair process was straightforward once they identified the problem. Been driving for about a week now and the car handles like new. No more heavy steering or warning lights, and the electronic stability system is back to normal.