UK Car Recalls For Steering Faults: Affected Models, Warning Signs And The Free Fix

Steering recalls fix faults in the steering column, rack, power steering motor or its software. DVSA lists 472 UK car steering recalls, 99 of them since 2020, and 6 with stop-drive wording. Check your registration, and stop driving if the steering becomes heavy, loose or notchy.

Latest Steering Recalls

These are the newest UK car recalls affecting steering, newest first.

Open any reference for the full DVSA wording, the build dates covered and the fix. Steering recalls are graded urgent unless the manufacturer says do not drive, when they are marked stop-drive. See how we grade recalls.

Steering Warning Signs

Stop somewhere safe if the power steering warning lights up, the steering suddenly becomes heavy, there is play or a clunk, or the wheel doesn't return to centre.

If the steering goes heavy, the car can still be steered, but it takes much more effort, especially at low speed. Don't keep driving to see if it clears. See car recall symptoms and can you drive a car with a recall?.

Electric Power Steering And Software Recalls

Most modern cars use electric power steering, so a growing share of steering recalls are software updates. The largest UK steering recall, for about 314,515 Mercedes-Benz compact cars, updated the steering's backup function.

Electric power steering uses a motor and a control unit to add assistance, instead of the hydraulic pump used on older cars. The software decides how much help to give and what happens if a sensor fails. A software fault can mean the assistance drops out, which is why many recent steering recalls are fixed at the dealer in under an hour, or over the air on some cars. Lane-keeping and parking systems also use the steering motor, so some driver assistance recalls are steering-related too. See software recalls.

Mechanical Steering Recalls

Older recalls mainly replaced shafts, joints, bolts and racks, such as BMW's 3 Series lower steering shaft recall of 2000.

1. 1
   Steering wheelAnd the airbag and switches in it.
2. 2
   ColumnIncluding the lock and the adjustment.
3. 3
   Intermediate shaft and jointsJoints that can wear or come loose.
4. 4
   RackTurns the shaft into the movement that steers the wheels.
5. 5
   Power steering motor or pumpFaults can make the steering suddenly heavy.

Mechanical faults usually come from a batch of parts made or fitted wrongly, or from corrosion over time. They are less common on new cars than they were, but recalls for older cars still apply to any car that was never fixed. See do car recalls expire?.

Stop-drive Steering Recalls

6 UK steering recalls have told keepers not to drive, including the Vauxhall Adam and Corsa D in 2014 and the Dacia Spring in 2025.

Other stop-drive steering recalls include a 2018 recall of the steering column joint on Vauxhall Movano, Renault Master and Nissan NV400 vans. If your car is in a stop-drive recall, don't use it until the repair is done, and ask the manufacturer to collect it. See do not drive recalls.

How Soon Steering Problems Lead To A Recall

Half of UK steering recalls arrive within 18.3 months of the first affected car being built, and 17% arrive five or more years later.

Early recalls usually follow a batch of parts made or fitted wrongly, which shows up in the first months of use. Later ones often involve corrosion of shafts and joints, or software problems found only after many cars have covered high mileages. A steering recall can therefore reach a car that has changed hands several times, so check your registration every few months, and always before buying a used car. See buying a used car with an outstanding recall.

Which Makes Have The Most Steering Recalls?

Since 2020, Mercedes-Benz, Ford, BMW and Vauxhall have the most UK steering recalls.

Mercedes-Benz

17

Ford

12

BMW

9

Vauxhall

7

Fiat

6

Jeep

5

RAM

5

Nissan

5

Citroën

4

Peugeot

4

Audi

3

Renault

3

Mazda

3

DS

2

Tesla

2

These are raw counts and include vans. For rates adjusted for cars on the road, see which car makes have the most recalls.

Getting The Fix

Steering recall repairs are normally free at a franchised dealer.¹ Book promptly, say if you've noticed any symptom, and ask for collection if the letter says not to drive. A software update can often be done while you wait, while a new rack or column may need parts ordered. See manufacturer recall helplines and how long a recall repair takes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does A Steering Recall Fail The MOT?

The recall line itself doesn't, as an outstanding recall is shown for information only.² But excess play or a steering defect found at the test can fail it. See recalls and the MOT.

Is Lane-keeping Assist A Steering Recall?

Some are. Lane-keeping and parking systems use the steering motor, so some driver assistance software recalls are steering-related. See software recalls.

My Steering Is Heavy When Cold. Is That A Recall?

Not necessarily. It can be a fault with the power steering or simply wear. Get it checked, and run your registration through our checker in case a recall applies.

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Data: DVSA vehicle recall data (Open Government Licence v3.0), updated 15 October 2026. Fault groups are our classification (methodology).