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.
If your car flashes an “EPS” or “Electronic Power Steering” warning, it can be alarming—and for good reason. Steering assistance problems can affect safety, drivability, and value. Under California’s Lemon Law (the Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act), persistent EPS issues under warranty may qualify your vehicle for legal remedies, depending on the facts. Below, we explain what the EPS light can mean in everyday terms and outline practical next steps to protect your rights and your paper trail.
What an EPS warning means under CA Lemon Law
An EPS warning generally indicates a problem within the electric power steering system—anything from a failing steering torque sensor or control module to wiring faults, a rack-and-pinion issue, or a software glitch. Symptoms can include a heavy steering wheel, intermittent loss of assist, steering that pulls or wanders, or warning lights that appear only in certain conditions (heat, after long drives, tight turns). Even if steering assist returns after a restart, the underlying fault may still be stored in the vehicle’s computer.
Under the California Lemon Law, a vehicle may qualify for relief if a defect covered by the manufacturer’s warranty substantially impairs the car’s use, value, or safety and the manufacturer (through its dealer) cannot repair it after a reasonable number of attempts. EPS problems often involve safety because steering is core to control of the vehicle. While the law doesn’t set a one-size-fits-all number, patterns like multiple repair attempts for the same EPS concern or a vehicle being out of service for extended days can be important indicators.
Timing and context matter. Some EPS issues surface within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, which can trigger additional lemon law presumptions, while others appear later but still within warranty. Factors such as software updates, technical service bulletins (TSBs), recalls, and parts availability can affect how the repair process unfolds. The key is thorough documentation and consistent communication with an authorized dealership so you can show what happened, when, and how it affected your use of the car.
Steps to take: document, repair, and call ZapLemon
Document everything. Take clear photos of the dash when the EPS light appears, note the date, mileage, weather, speed, and what you were doing (parking, highway lane change, tight turn). If steering felt heavy or the wheel tugged or vibrated, write that down. Keep a simple log in your phone or a notebook and save any videos that capture the warning or the steering behavior. Don’t clear codes or disconnect the battery before service—those digital breadcrumbs help technicians (and can help your claim later).
Get the car to an authorized dealer and ask for a detailed repair order every time. When you drop it off, describe the symptoms in your own words, ask the advisor to include your complaint verbatim, and request that they check for stored fault codes, TSBs, or software updates related to EPS. When you pick up the vehicle, review the paperwork to ensure it lists your concern, the diagnosis, the tests performed, and any parts replaced or software reprogramming. Track how many days the vehicle is out of service and keep all communications (texts, emails) with the dealer and manufacturer.
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.