VW Sharan Power Steering Issue + Stability Control Woes

I had a similar issue with my VW Touran 2010 diesel last year, so I have some experience with steering angle sensor failures. The symptoms you describe match exactly what I encountered, heavy steering, vibrations, and ESP system acting up. The workshop diagnosed a faulty coding in the steering angle sensor, which was causing misalignment problems between the actual wheel position and what the sensor was reporting. The sensor replacement and recalibration fixed all issues completely. Total cost was 195€ for the sensor replacement, coding, and calibration work. The repair took about 2 hours, and the difference was immediately noticeable, smooth steering returned and the ESP warning disappeared. Before suggesting anything specific, could you share: Are there any warning lights on your dashboard? Did the problem start suddenly or develop gradually? Have you had any recent wheel alignment work done? These details would help determine if your angle sensor issue matches what I experienced or if there might be other factors involved. Best to get it checked soon, as driving with incorrect sensor readings can affect multiple safety systems and potentially lead to more serious steering problems.

Last service was done at 118000km and they performed basic maintenance with oil change and filters. I really appreciate the detailed response about the steering angle sensor issue. This has actually been happening gradually over the past month. No warning lights appeared initially, but last week the ESP light started flashing intermittently during turns. Just had the wheel alignment done 3 months ago during tire replacement, and all seemed fine until these steering issues started. Based on your repair experience, the cost seems reasonable compared to potentially bigger steering problems developing. Going to schedule a diagnostic check to verify if sensor replacement will resolve these alignment problems. Would you recommend having additional electronic stability components checked while they inspect the angle sensor?

Thanks for those additional details. Since my sensor replacement on the Touran, I learned that the electronic stability system relies on several interconnected sensors that work together, so getting them all checked is smart. When the workshop did my steering sensor replacement, they performed a full diagnostic scan of the related systems. This helped confirm no other sensors were affected. The gradually worsening symptoms and ESP light behavior you describe match my experience exactly before the repair. Given that your wheel alignment is recent, and the ESP light started after, this strongly points to a steering sensor issue rather than mechanical alignment problems. The electronic stability warning usually triggers when the steering angle sensor sends incorrect data to the system. The complete diagnostic check on my car included testing the: Steering angle sensor communication, Yaw rate sensor function, Wheel speed sensors, ABS module response Total diagnostic time was about 1 hour before they confirmed the steering sensor needed replacement. Worth having them check these components since theyre all part of the same stability control network. Post-repair, make sure they perform a proper sensor calibration. My mechanic explained this step is crucial for restoring correct steering response and ESP function.

The symptoms in your car sound very similar to my situation. Since my recently performed wheel alignment didnt resolve the steering issues, a faulty sensor seems the likely culprit. Given how the traction control system has started acting up, getting the full diagnostic scan makes a lot of sense. Will book the car in next week and request them to check all those stability control components you mentioned. The gradual development of the steering problems matches what you experienced, which gives me more confidence about the potential diagnosis. Looking at around 300€ total then, assuming they find similar issues with the steering sensor. Much rather get this sorted now than risk more severe steering column problems developing. Really helpful to know the calibration part is crucial, will make sure to specifically ask them about that when booking it in. First step will be confirming the automotive sensors are the root cause through their diagnostic testing. The fact that you had such a clear improvement after the repair is encouraging. Many thanks for sharing your repair experience, helps a lot with knowing what to expect at the workshop.