jonathandragon1

Viano heavy steering and vibration issues

My 2018 Mercedes Viano with a gasoline engine is acting up. The steering has become incredibly heavy, feels like the power steering is cutting out intermittently. And to add insult to injury, the steering wheel vibrates sometimes, especially at lower speeds. I suspect the steering angle sensor. Could be the coding? I've read about faulty automotive sensors messing with the whole system, even traction control. Has anyone else experienced similar symptoms? I am dreading the potential sensor replacement and wheel alignment costs. What am I looking at here?

4 comment(s)

That sounds incredibly frustrating, and not entirely unfamiliar. I have a Vito, though I am not certain of the exact year right now. I experienced similar steering issues a while back. Heavy steering, vibrations... it was a nightmare. The steering angle sensor was indeed the problem. It's all tied into the traction control and other safety systems. The automotive sensors are so sensitive! Did you notice any warning lights on the dashboard?

Yes, you are spot on! The ESP light comes on intermittently. So, if it was indeed the steering angle sensor, what was the exact fix? Was it just a simple sensor replacement, or did it involve some complex recalibration or steering column work? How much did the sensor replacement and wheel alignment end up costing you? I need to brace myself!

Alright, the ESP light is certainly a clue. My situation mirrored yours almost exactly. The root cause was the faulty coding of the steering angle sensor. A simple sensor replacement will likely not be enough. In my case, the workshop recalibrated the sensor and performed a wheel alignment. I am afraid you will need to go to a workshop to solve this issue. I would expect something in the region of 200€, depending on the workshop.

Thanks a million! Your experience has been super helpful. I took it to a local mechanic, and you were right on the money. It was the steering angle sensor. They recoded it and did a wheel alignment. Total cost was 195€. Steering is smooth now! I owe you one.

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