Captiva Steering Angle Sensor Issue

Sounds like it could indeed be the angle sensor. The symptoms you describe, the increased steering effort and vibrations, are consistent with that. A faulty sensor can mess with the car's stability control and even the traction control systems, leading to alignment problems. Is there any chance that the sensor coding might be faulty? That would be the first thing I'd check, since that's the most common failure mode for those sensors. But more info would be helpful - does the car pull to one side? Any warning lights?

Thanks for the quick reply. It doesn't really pull to one side, and no warning lights are on, surprisingly. Coding of the sensor... is that something I can easily check myself, or does it require specialized equipment? Any pointers on how to verify the coding?

Okay, no pulling and no lights is interesting, but doesn't exclude a faulty angle sensor. Unfortunately, checking the coding requires diagnostic equipment that can communicate with your car's computer. It involves reading the current sensor values and comparing them to the expected range. Without the proper tools, you, unfortunately, can’t do much. My best suggestion is to swing by a workshop so they can have a look, and hook it up to the diagnostic computer.

Appreciate the insight. Took it to the shop, and they confirmed it was the steering angle sensor. Faulty coding, just as you suspected. Repair cost was 195€ Thanks again!