RS3 Power Steering Failure Causes Heavy Steering & Shake

Had similar issues on my 2017 S3 last year. The symptoms you describe match exactly what happened, heavy steering and vibrations through the steering wheel. Initial diagnosis revealed the electric steering system had connection problems. The main culprit was a damaged wiring harness leading to the steering rack. Over time, the constant movement had worn through the protective covering, causing intermittent electrical faults. This is a serious issue that needs immediate attention, as it affects vehicle control and safety. The steering rack itself was fine, but the electrical connections needed complete replacement. The repair involved installing a new wiring harness and recalibrating the power steering system. A wheel alignment was also necessary after the repair to ensure everything tracked correctly. The whole job requires specialized diagnostic equipment to properly reset the electric steering system. Make sure to take it to a shop with experience in modern electric power steering systems. They should perform a full diagnostic scan before starting any repairs. Ask them to specifically check the wiring harness and electrical connections to the steering rack first, as this is a known weak point.

Thanks for that detailed reply. I went ahead and fixed mine a couple months back when I had those same steering wheel issues with my RS3. Sounds exactly like what I experienced, the electric steering system was causing problems and making the wheel feel really stiff. They ended up replacing the entire pressure hose assembly along with some wiring near the steering column. Just curious, do you remember roughly what you paid for your repair? Mine was quite expensive but wondering how it compares. Also, has everything been working smoothly since the fix? No more steering system warnings or anything?

After getting the steering system fixed at my mechanic, everything has been working perfectly in my S3. The electric steering now feels smooth and responsive again, with no more heavy spots or vibrations through the steering wheel. The repair was actually quite straightforward and much cheaper than expected. They found a faulty cable connection near the steering rack that was causing the electrical issues. Total cost was 95 Euro for fixing the damaged wiring, significantly less than a full steering system replacement. I think we got lucky catching it early before any major components were damaged. The steering system hasnt shown any warning lights or error codes since the repair. Getting these electric steering issues diagnosed correctly the first time really makes a difference in keeping repair costs down. Your repair sounds more extensive with the pressure hose replacement. The key is finding a mechanic who knows how to properly diagnose these modern electric steering systems rather than just replacing parts.

Since I had those steering problems, everything has been perfect with my RS3. The repair work they did on the pressure hose and steering column wiring totally fixed the issues. Cost me around 850 Euro for parts and labor, which was painful but worth it to have the power steering working properly again. Took it to a specialized Euro shop after that bad experience with my regular mechanic. These guys actually knew what they were doing with electric steering systems. They ran a full diagnostic first, found the exact problem, and fixed it right the first time. Really made me realize how important it is to find mechanics who understand modern vehicle electronics. The steering rack thankfully didnt need replacing, that would have been way more expensive. Just needed that pressure hose assembly and some electrical work. Been driving it for about 6 months now with zero steering issues or warning lights. Feels as good as new when cornering and parking.