Start with the records. Repair orders, warranty documents, mileage, and days out of service are more useful than general assumptions about whether a vehicle qualifies.
Steering should feel solid and predictable. When it doesn’t—when the wheel clunks, sticks, drifts, or the car suddenly loses power steering assist—it’s more than an annoyance; it can be a real safety concern. If repeated trips to the dealer haven’t fixed a faulty steering column, California’s Lemon Law may offer consumer protections. This article explains how the law applies to steering column defects, what to document, and practical next steps—without legalese.
Faulty Steering Columns and California Lemon Law
A faulty steering column can show up in several ways: excessive play in the wheel, clicking or clunking noises when turning, intermittent loss of electronic power steering (EPS), a wheel that won’t return to center, vibration, or even sudden steering lock. These symptoms may appear after a software update, following suspension or airbag repairs, or with no clear trigger at all. Because steering affects your ability to control the vehicle, persistent issues are often treated as safety-related defects.
In California, the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act—commonly called the California Lemon Law—requires manufacturers to repair covered defects within a “reasonable number of attempts” while the vehicle is under the manufacturer’s warranty. When they can’t, the law may entitle the owner to a buyback (repurchase) or a replacement, plus certain incidental costs, subject to a mileage offset and other factors. The law covers many new vehicles and some used ones that are still under the original manufacturer’s warranty at the time the problem first appears.
California also has a legal “presumption” that helps consumers: if, within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles (whichever comes first), the car has (1) two or more repair attempts for a defect that could cause death or serious bodily injury, (2) four or more attempts for the same non-life-threatening problem, or (3) 30 or more total days out of service for warranty repairs, it’s presumed to be a lemon. You don’t need to meet the presumption to have a valid claim—it just makes the process more straightforward. Steering column defects often fall into the “serious safety” category, especially where loss of steering assist or unexpected steering behavior is documented.
What to Document, Repair Attempts, and Next Steps
Start by keeping meticulous records. Each time the steering acts up, note the date, mileage, driving conditions (speed, road surface, weather), dashboard warnings, and what you felt through the wheel. Save every repair order and invoice, even if the dealer “could not duplicate” the concern. Videos of the clunk, stiffness, or warning lights, and photos of dash messages can be persuasive. Also keep any recall or Technical Service Bulletin (TSB) notices and written communications with the dealer or manufacturer.
Make sure the dealer clearly writes your steering complaint on the repair order in your own words. If the issue is intermittent, ask for a joint test drive with a technician, and request that any related parts replaced (e.g., intermediate shaft, steering column assembly, rack-and-pinion, EPS module, clockspring) be listed on the invoice. If days without the vehicle are adding up, track them—California’s Lemon Law considers cumulative days out of service, not just days per visit. Confirm whether your vehicle is within the basic warranty, powertrain warranty, or an extended manufacturer-backed warranty when the defect started.
If multiple repair attempts have failed, consider your options. Some manufacturers offer informal dispute programs or arbitration; outcomes vary, and participation may or may not be required. Because steering defects can implicate safety, it’s wise to get a professional case evaluation before you make major decisions like stopping payments, trading in the vehicle, or accepting a final “goodwill” repair. A consultation with ZapLemon can help you understand potential remedies (repurchase or replacement), timing, and how the mileage offset and incidental expenses may be treated under California law, based on your specific facts.
Need a case-specific review?
Use the case-review form to share the warranty, repair orders, dates, mileage, and supporting facts an attorney would need to evaluate, or call (844) 927-5366.
Attorney advertising. General information is not legal advice and does not create an attorney-client relationship. No result is promised or guaranteed.