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 that suddenly turns heavy, warning lights that flash “Steering Assist Reduced,” or a wheel that intermittently fights you can turn any drive into a safety scare. If your vehicle keeps losing power steering assist and the dealer can’t fix it under warranty after multiple tries, California’s lemon law may offer remedies, including a potential buyback. Below, ZapLemon explains how steering assist failures are viewed under California law, what buyback options can look like, and practical steps you can take to protect your rights.
Steering Assist Failures Under California Lemon Law
Modern vehicles often rely on electric power steering (EPS) to provide steering assist. When EPS or related components act up, you might feel sudden stiffness in the wheel, see warning messages, or experience intermittent loss of assist after startup or while driving. Common causes include faulty steering racks, torque sensors, control modules, software glitches, wiring issues, and low-voltage conditions. Because steering is a core safety function, recurring assist problems can substantially affect a vehicle’s use, value, or safety.
California’s Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (the “lemon law”) generally applies to new vehicles—and in many cases used or certified pre-owned vehicles—sold or leased with a manufacturer’s warranty in California. If a covered defect arises and the manufacturer (through an authorized dealer) can’t repair it after a reasonable number of attempts, the law may require the manufacturer to offer a remedy. The key questions are whether the defect is covered by the warranty, whether it substantially impairs use, value, or safety, and whether the manufacturer had a fair opportunity to fix it.
California also has a “lemon law presumption” that can help consumers within the first 18 months or 18,000 miles, whichever comes first. While not required to prove a lemon law claim, the presumption may apply if, for example, the vehicle has been subject to multiple repair attempts (often two for a serious safety issue or four for a non-safety issue) or out of service for 30 or more cumulative days for warranty repairs. Steering assist failures can be considered safety-related, but every situation is fact-specific. A consultation is necessary to evaluate your particular facts and warranty history.
Buyback Options, Evidence to Gather, and Next Steps
If your vehicle qualifies, potential remedies can include repurchase (buyback), replacement, or sometimes a negotiated “cash-and-keep” settlement. A repurchase typically includes the return of the vehicle in exchange for a refund of the purchase price and certain associated charges, minus a mileage offset calculated from the miles driven before the first repair attempt for the defect. Replacement is another option in some cases, subject to availability and other conditions. Which remedy may be appropriate depends on your facts, warranty coverage, and the manufacturer’s response.
Strong documentation is crucial. Keep a complete file that includes: repair orders and invoices from every visit, even when the dealer says “no problem found”; photos or videos of warning messages; dates and mileage when the issue occurs; tow and rental receipts; loaner car agreements; communications with the dealer or manufacturer; recall or service campaign notices; and any technical service bulletins (TSBs) you receive or the dealer references. Ask the service advisor to note all symptoms you report—such as “steering heavy at low speeds,” “EPS light on after cold start,” or “assist cuts out after turning”—and to attach any diagnostic trouble codes pulled by the technician.
As general next steps, consider promptly scheduling service whenever the problem occurs and keep using the manufacturer’s authorized dealer during the warranty. If the vehicle feels unsafe to drive when assist fails, arrange a tow rather than risking the road. Do not stop making loan or lease payments while pursuing a claim. You can also provide written notice of the ongoing issue to the manufacturer and request a final repair opportunity. Deadlines can apply to lemon law claims, so it’s wise to speak with a professional about your timeline. ZapLemon can review your repair history, explain your options, and discuss whether a buyback, replacement, or other resolution may be available based on your situation.
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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.