What does this cost in your state?
California is the costliest state and Arkansas the cheapest; each square shows that state's midpoint of the estimate.
Lower-cost states ($326)MiddleHigher-cost states ($415)
What it shows: CA is the highest at $415 and AR the lowest at $326, across 51 states.
Counts below are complaints filed with NHTSA, not failure rates: a longer bar means more owners reported it.
Is your car affected?
What it shows: The most common band for complaints about this repair is under 50,000 (45%), against 60% for all complaints: the biggest difference between the two.
What it shows: The most common band for complaints about this repair is 3-5 years (36%). The biggest difference from all complaints is under 3 years old: 24% against 40%.
Is it urgent, and what do owners notice first?
6,014 owner complaints name this part.
Owners say the dealer could not fix or repeat the problem. If it comes back after a repair, ask what was tested before you pay again.
What do owners say it led to?
Among the 6,014 owner complaints naming this part, owners most often say lost steering or braking followed.
What owners say happened after the problem. Lost steering or braking: 62 (1%); Loss of power: 53 (1%); Stalled while driving: 6 (0%).
If your car shows the signs above, get it checked before it gets as far as lost steering or braking.
What did owners say they paid?
Half of the 37 owners who wrote a dollar amount gave $3,000 or less; one in ten wrote more than $4,100.
These are bills owners wrote down, often covering more than this one repair. They show how far a job can run; get written quotes for your own car.
How fast were owners driving when it happened?
55 mph or faster leads at 33%.
Owners reported it most often at highway speed. Tell the shop what speed it happens at, because that narrows the diagnosis.
How serious did it get for owners?
Among the 6,014 owner complaints naming this part, being towed is the outcome owners report most often.
What it shows: Towed is the largest at 301, followed by Crash reported at 129; the smallest shown is Fire reported at 12.
Which model years show up most in the complaints?
Among the 6,014 owner complaints naming this part that state a model year, complaints cluster in a few model years instead of spreading evenly.
What it shows: 2015 is the largest at 1,586 (26%), followed by 2016 at 1,458 (24%); the smallest shown is 2025 at 62 (1%).
How serious are the crashes where this part is cited?
In NHTSA's crash sample (CRSS, 2019–2022), 1.9% of police-reported crashes that cite steering ended in a serious or fatal injury, against 2.3% of all police-reported crashes. A crash that cites a system is not necessarily a crash that system caused.
What it shows: No Apparent Injury is the largest at 68.5%, followed by Possible Injury at 15.5%; the smallest shown is Suspected Serious Injury at 1.9%.
What do state inspectors fail cars for?
Among 8,738,476 initial safety inspections in North Carolina in 2017, steering mechanism caused 3.2 failed items per 1,000 inspections, the third most of the four components the state reports.
What it shows: Tires is the largest at 8.5, followed by Lights at 5.2; the smallest shown is Brake components at 1.9.
Do power steering repair problems track state safety inspection across states?
Across U.S. states, NHTSA owner complaints about power steering repair run higher where state safety inspection is higher, after adjusting for the makes sold in each state. This is an association across states, not proof that state safety inspection causes this repair.
How to read it: Each dot is a state. Further right means more state safety inspection (annual 2, biennial 1, none 0); higher up means more complaints for this repair than expected (1.0 is average). If the dots climb to the right, reports of this repair rise with state safety inspection (annual 2, biennial 1, none 0).
What it shows: States with more state safety inspection (annual 2, biennial 1, none 0) tend to sit higher on the chart across 51 states: a pattern in the data, not proof of cause.
- The 10 states with the most state safety inspection (Maine, Massachusetts, Vermont, New York, Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Virginia, Hawaii, Rhode Island, Missouri): reports of this repair run 16% above what the makes sold there would predict, and 10 of 10 are above expected. The 10 with the least (Washington, Oregon, California, Alaska, Wyoming, Utah, New Mexico, Nevada, Montana, Idaho): 13% below, and 3 of 10 are above expected.
- Exceptions: Alaska (62% above expected) is among the lowest but above expected.
- Split the states into thirds: the third with the least state safety inspection runs 4% above what the makes sold there would predict, the middle third 5% below, and the third with the most 7% above. Most of the state safety inspection effect sits in the third with the most.
- For state safety inspection, after allowing for the 1562 comparisons we ran, luck alone would produce a pattern this strong about 1 time in 96. Take out any single state and the state safety inspection pattern still holds.
- Weak spot: compare only states with similar days per year with a high of 100F or more, median station and the pattern keeps about 56% of its strength, so part of it may come from days per year with a high of 100F or more, median station instead of state safety inspection.
A state that inspects brakes, tires, lights and steering every year or two finds worn parts early.
Are the parts for this repair getting more expensive, or only the labor?
The federal producer price index for new steering and suspension parts rose 10.9% from December 2019 to August 2026, while the consumer price index for motor vehicle repair, labor and parts together, rose 55.2% (BLS, national).
Prices of new steering and suspension parts, as shops buy them from makers, since December 2019, against consumer prices for motor vehicle repair. New steering and suspension parts: +10.9%; All motor vehicle parts: +17.4%; Motor vehicle repair, labor and parts together: +55.2%.
Has the replacement part I am buying been recalled?
NHTSA lists 11 equipment recalls that name power steering since 2015 (suspension and steering), covering 571,839 items sold as parts rather than whole vehicles; the largest, by Robert Bosch Llc in 2018, covered 557,722.
| Year | Maker and product | NHTSA component | Defect | Items |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2018 | Robert Bosch Llc: Electric Power Steering | electric power assist system | Robert Bosch Automotive Steering (Bosch) has submitted a Defect Information Report based upon decisions by. | 557,722 |
| 2024 | Ford Motor Company: Service Steering Gear | steering control module | certain electronic power assist steering (EPAS) gears, sold as replacement service parts for certain. | 7,442 |
| 2024 | Mando America Corporation: Power Steering Control Un | steering control module | certain Motor Driven Power Steering (MDPS) Power Packs. | 3,946 |
| 2021 | Zf North America, Inc.: Power Steering Pump | hydraulic power assist pump | Certain PS ED power steering pumps manufactured by ZF North America are being recalled. | 1,018 |
| 2023 | Gillig, Llc: Suspension Torque Rod | rear | certain SAF Holland suspension torque rods sold as replacement parts, with part number 83-07738-000. | 487 |
| 2019 | Reyco Granning: Front Suspension | front | certain Fire Truck Independent Front Suspensions. | 426 |
| 2024 | Jtekt: Electronic Power Steering | steering | Filing lists the affected part numbers | 423 |
| 2015 | Gillig Llc: S26 Hydraulic Pump | hydraulic power assist pump | certain S26 Eaton-brand hydraulic pumps manufactured January 1, 2011, to November 1, 2014 that were sold. | 177 |
| 2021 | Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing: Tundra. | rack and pinion | certain JTEKT power steering gear assembly service parts for 2007-2021 Tundra and 2008-2022 Sequoia, part. | 151 |
| 2020 | Meritor, Inc.: P220 Pressure Assembly, P579 Pressure. | hydraulic power assist hose. | certain P220 and P579 Pressure Assemblies, part numbers 106533 and 107801. | 32 |
Has this part been recalled abroad on cars that may share it?
Manufacturers filed 45 foreign recall campaigns that name power steering with NHTSA since 2015 (matched by the filing text); the latest, from Subaru of America in 2026-02.
| Filed | Manufacturer | Foreign recall no. | What the filing says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-08 | Kia America. | 192 | Eileen Sullivan Associate Administrator for Enforcement National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Attn: Early Warning Division (NVS-217) 1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE, Washington, DC 20590 VIA EMAIL Re: TREAD Act Reporting of a Foreign Country Recall 2025MY. |
| 2024-06 | Chrysler (FCA US) | 149 | Date of Report: 06/27/2024 Determined by: Manufacturer's Name - Brand Name Stellantis Europe S.p.A � Alfa Romeo Report Type Quality Defect Identification of Affected Vehicles: Make(s) Model(s) Model Year(s) Inclusive Dates of Affected Start End Manufacture. |
| 2024-06 | Daimler Vans | 129 | Description of Issue MBAG has determined that on certain Sprinter (907, 910 platforms) vehicles, the electrical plug for the steering gear might not meet current specifications. |
| 2025-04 | Hyundai Motor America | 062 | A detached belt tensioner can lead to a complete loss of power steering assist, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 2024-02 | Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) | 046 | 573.6(c)(3) Total Number of Vehicles Potentially Affected: 407 573.6(c)(5) Defect Description: During production of the electric power steering's (EPS) torque sensor, the printed circuit board (PCB) may have received too much stress from the soldering nozzle. |
| 2024-02 | Bentley Motors. | 039 | The Porsche data set of the steering interface for driver assistance has too high characteristic curves. |
| 2024-02 | Volkswagen Group. | 036 | The Porsche data set of the steering interface for driver assistance has too high characteristic curves. |
| 2026-02 | Subaru. | 018 | Washington, DC 20590 RE: Foreign Safety Recall Campaign Report � Loss of Power Steering Assist for certain 2025MY Levorg, Layback and WRX vehicles Dear Mr. |
How many lives have energy-absorbing steering assemblies saved?
NHTSA estimates energy-absorbing steering assemblies (FMVSS 203 and 204) saved 1,323 car occupants and 1,084 light-truck occupants in 2012 alone, and 79,989 occupants from 1960 to 2012.
| Technology | Car occupants saved in 2012 | Light truck occupants saved in 2012 | Car occupants saved 1960 to 2012 | Light truck occupants saved 1960 to 2012 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| energy-absorbing steering assemblies (FMVSS 203 and 204) | 1,323 | 1,084 | 57,112 | 22,877 |
How many recalled cars are actually fixed, so should I check mine?
Across 20 NHTSA recalls that name power steering filed 2015 to 2024, 87.2% of the 705,538 recalled vehicles had been repaired after 8 quarters, against 66.2% for all recalls, which leaves about 90,318 vehicles still carrying the defect.
| Year | Vehicles | Recalled vehicles | Repaired | Component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | Honda Civic | 264,567 | 86.5% | rack and pinion |
| 2015 | Toyota Camry, Highlander | 110,085 | 93.0% | electric power assist system |
| 2021 | Chevrolet Colorado; Gmc Canyon | 60,681 | 68.1% | electric power assist system |
| 2020 | Freightliner Sprinter 3500, Sprinter 2500; | 47,667 | 80.5% | hydraulic power assist hose. |
| 2024 | Mazda Cx-90 | 43,454 | 99.1% | steering |
| 2022 | Tesla Model S, Model X | 40,168 | 100.0% | electric power assist system |
| 2021 | Chevrolet Suburban, Tahoe; | 26,847 | 96.1% | steering control module |
| 2021 | Toyota Tundra, Sequoia | 22,462 | 93.7% | hydraulic power assist system |
How bad are the streets in the biggest city, and does it show in suspension repairs?
New York City DOT's pavement inspections since 2021 rate 11.3% of inspected street length poor (1 to 3.99 on a 10-point scale), highest in Bronx (16.6%) and lowest in Brooklyn (8.6%); this is one city, not a national figure.
What it shows: Bronx is the largest at 16.6%, followed by Staten Island at 13.8%; the smallest shown is Brooklyn at 8.6%.
Which counties have the roughest roads?
FHWA's road-condition records show poor ride quality (above 170 inches per mile of roughness) on 89.1% of measured road miles in District of Columbia, DC, 74.1% in Baltimore city, MD and 65.4% in Marion County, WV, against 13.8% in the median county.
What it shows: District of Columbia, DC is the largest at 89.1%, followed by Baltimore city, MD at 74.1%; the smallest shown is New Castle County, DE at 51.9%.
Are the bridges and roads where I drive in poor condition?
FHWA's 2024 National Bridge Inventory rates 6.9% of an average state's highway bridges poor; the share is highest in IA (19.2%), WV and SD, against a median state of 6.0%.
What it shows: IA is the largest at 19.2%, followed by WV at 18.6%; the smallest shown is NY at 9.4%.
Which New York counties have the most bridges flagged poor?
New York State DOT flags 10.0% of the bridges in its inventory poor, and the share is highest in Ulster County (21.1%), Columbia (19.8%) and Rensselaer (19.6%); this is one state, not a national figure.
What it shows: Ulster is the largest at 21.1%, followed by Columbia at 19.8%; the smallest shown is Dutchess at 16.1%.
If this part was recalled, is the repair free?
Federal law (49 U.S.C. 30120) requires a maker to fix a recalled defect without charge for cars first bought within 15 calendar years (tires within 5), and NHTSA lists 41 recall campaigns for parts matched to a power steering repair since model year 2015, covering about 3,542,109 vehicles.
| Rule or count | What it says |
|---|---|
| Age limits | The free-remedy duty does not apply to a car first bought more than 15 calendar years, or a tire first bought more than 5 calendar years, before the recall notice. |
| Failure to fix | A repair not done adequately within 60 days of presentation is prima facie evidence of failure to repair within a reasonable time; the maker must then replace the vehicle or refund the purchase price less depreciation. |
| Free remedy | A maker must fix a recall defect without charge. |
| NHTSA recalls matched to a power steering repair since model year 2015 | 41 recall campaigns covering about 3,542,109 vehicles |
Is it recalled or covered?
| Recall number | Vehicles | Cars recalled | What the recall says |
|---|---|---|---|
| 26V-363 | Jeep Wrangler 4xe 2021–2025; Jeep Wrangler 2021–2025; Jeep Gladiator 2021–2025 | 1,076,999 | A vehicle fire increases the risk of injury. |
| 18V-586 | Chevrolet Suburban 2015; GMC Yukon 2015; Chevrolet Silverado 1500 2015 and 3 more | 1,015,918 | If EPS assist is lost and then suddenly returns, the driver may have difficulty steering the vehicle, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 25V-092 | Tesla Model 3 2023; Tesla Model Y 2023 | 376,241 | A loss of power steering assist can require greater steering effort, especially at low speeds, increasing the risk of a crash. |
| 23V-704 | Honda Civic 2022–2024 | 264,567 | A damaged tire can fail and increase the risk of a crash or injury. |
| 19V-020 | RAM 1500 2019 | 159,740 | A loss of power steering could vary the steering effort required, possibly causing vehicle oversteer or understeer, increasing the risk of crash. |
| 15V-144 | Toyota Camry 2015; Toyota Highlander 2015; Toyota RAV4 2015 | 110,085 | An unexpected loss of power steering increases the risk of a crash. |
| 18V-204 | Tesla Model S 2015–2016 | 70,421 | Loss of power steering assist would require a higher steering effort, especially at lower speeds, which may increase the risk of a crash. |
| 21V-213 | Chevrolet Colorado 2015; GMC Canyon 2015 | 60,681 | A loss of power steering, particularly at lower speeds increases the risk of a crash. |
32 more recalls name this part, on smaller fleets. The car finder at the top checks yours.
NHTSA defect investigations naming this part (4)
| Case number | Vehicles | Opened | Status | What NHTSA looked at |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PE26002 | RAM 3500 2022; RAM Promaster 2022–2023 | Mar 2, 2026 | Open | Loss of power steering. |
| PE25009 | Chrysler Pacifica 2017–2018; Chrysler Pacifica Plug-IN Hybrid 2017 | Sep 5, 2025 | Open | Intermittent loss of electric power. |
| RQ23003 | RAM 1500 2015–2016 | Aug 4, 2023 | Open | Intermittent/Comp loss of power. |
| RQ19001 | Chevrolet Colorado 2015; GMC Canyon 2015 | May 9, 2019 | Closed May 28, 2021 | Loss of power steering. |
A bulletin is a repair procedure a maker sends its dealers, not a safety defect: if your maker is listed, ask the dealer whether one covers your car and quote its number.
| Maker | Vehicles | Bulletin number | Date | What it says |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jeep | Grand Wagoneer 2022–2026; Wagoneer 2022–2025 | S2523000053 REV.C | Aug 3, 2026 | Service electric power steering (eps) message on instrument cluster. |
| Mazda | Mazda3 2019–2026; CX-30 2020–2026 | 06-001-26 | Jul 8, 2026 | DESCRIPTION Some customers may complain that the electric power steering warning light illuminates after engine start and DTC U2011:1C is stored. |
| Ford | Mustang Mach E 2021–2024 | SSM 54917 | Jun 11, 2026 | Some 2021-2024 Mustang Mach-E vehicles may exhibit only continuous memory diagnostic trouble code (DTC) U2016:47 stored in the power steering control module (PSCM) after a self test is performed with the Ford Diagnosis and Repair System (FDRS) scan tool. |
| Jeep | Compass 2023–2026 | S2623000043 | Jun 5, 2026 | Power steering system hot - performance may be limited Message And Or C2210-00 EPS ECU Overtemperature. |
| Jeep | Grand Cherokee 2021; Grand Cherokee L 2021 and 1 more | S2123000070 REV.A | May 18, 2026 | After electric power steering (eps) replacement, diagnostic trouble code (dtc) C221C-00 ECU not programmed/flash required. |
| Jeep | Wagoneer 2022–2026; Grand Wagoneer 2022–2026 | S2219000004 REV.A | Mar 18, 2026 | Service electric power steering message on cluster. |
72 more bulletins name this part; the car finder at the top checks yours, and the NHTSA bulletin file linked below lists them all.
Manufacturer warranty extensions naming this part (9)
| Maker | Vehicles | Date | Notice number | What the maker extended |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hyundai | Elantra 2007–2015; Sonata 2009–2014; Sonata Hybrid 2011–2014 | Aug 10, 2017 | 5NP-F8M5G | Motor driven power steering coupling. |
| Honda | Accord 2013 | May 24, 2017 | WE - A15-056 | Electronic power steering torque sensor failure with specific. |
| Buick | Enclave 2008–2011 | Feb 6, 2017 | 14329 | Power steering pump wear causing reduced or loss of hydraulic steering. |
| Chevrolet | Traverse 2009–2011 | Feb 6, 2017 | 14329 | Power steering pump wear causing reduced or loss of hydraulic steering. |
| GMC | Acadia 2007–2011 | Feb 6, 2017 | 14329 | Power steering pump wear causing reduced or loss of hydraulic steering. |
4 more extension notices name this part: Chevrolet, Honda. Ask the dealer whether one covers your car.
What do owners say?
4 complaints quoted word for word, each with its NHTSA number.
Within 30 mins I was told the power steering rack would need to be replaced at a cost of $3,110.
Managed to get it to dealership with no steering and am told it is a power steering module failure and the cost to fix is $1800.
Electric power steering module corrosion causing loss of steering ability while driving same issue as was reported on multiple vins for my year but my vin was not included just had repaired at a cost of $2000.
The dealer did say that the new electric power steering pump was problematic and that a $600 better steering stabilizer might help.
Check your car
Power steering repair cost depends on the part: $200–$550 for a pump, $600–$1,500 for a rack and pinion, and $55–$120 for a fluid flush. Those are our estimates for a midsize car, so treat a quote far outside them as a reason to ask what's on the ticket.
If your steering goes heavy or cuts out while you're moving, don't shop for a price first. 9,847 owners have told NHTSA about power steering, and 35% of the 6,340 who gave a speed were at 55 mph or faster when it happened. 56 recalls also cover this part, so check your VIN before you pay for anything.
Below: what each repair should cost, what owners say they paid, how urgent your symptom is, and why some repairs don't fix the problem. Run the calculator on this page for your car before you say yes to a quote.
How much does power steering repair cost?
The calculator's typical range is $200–$550 for a pump replacement on a midsize car at the default shop type: parts $100–$350 plus labor $100–$200. The price moves most with which repair you actually need.
| Repair | Estimate | Parts + labor |
|---|---|---|
| Fluid flush | $55–$120 | $15–$40 + $40–$80 |
| Hose replacement | $130–$310 | $50–$150 + $80–$160 |
| Pump replacement (default) | $200–$550 | $100–$350 + $100–$200 |
| Rack and pinion | $600–$1,500 | $300–$800 + $300–$700 |
Where you go matters too. An independent shop lands at $180–$495 for the pump, against $200–$550 at the default. We don't have a dealership figure from the calculator, so we won't guess one.
Ours are parts and labor ranges you can check on the calculator.
Before you compare, ask what repair your quote covers. A pump, a hose and a full rack are different jobs. See the rack and pinion replacement cost calculator if the quote names the rack.
Is it safe to drive with a power steering problem?
Not if the steering goes heavy or cuts out at speed. 35% of the 6,340 complaints that gave a speed were at 55 mph or faster, and 28% were at 25–44 mph. Only 3% were parked or under 5 mph.
The forms record what owners reported: 239 crashes, 51 fires, 113 injuries and 1 death, and 291 complaints (3% of 9,847) say steering or braking was lost. Most complaints describe none of that. But a wheel that fights you at 60 mph is a different problem from a squeal in a parking lot.
Here's a simple way to sort it:
- Stop driving and get a tow: steering suddenly heavy or gone at speed, a burning smell, smoke, or steering that cuts out and returns. A tow truck is cheaper than a crash.
- Get it checked this week: a warning light with steering that still works, whining on turns, or a fluid spot under the car.
- You have time to shop around: a slow fluid seep, a faint noise, or a quote you haven't compared.
The car still steers without assist, but it takes much more effort, especially at low speed. That's when people miss a turn.
Why didn't my power steering repair fix it?
19% of complaints say the repair failed or had to be repeated, which is the fourth most common thing owners report. One 2016 Honda Civic owner wrote: "dealer attempted to fix by changing out the electric power steering motor ($1550) but it did not fix the problem." (complaint #11266803)
One wrote: "I suspect they aren't properly flushing the power steering fluid when replacing the pump." Another: "replace the leaking pressure hose so it doesn't run low which will also damage the new pump." A shop technician in the thread said Honda systems need Honda fluid.
The pattern matters more than the guesses. A pump can die because something else is wrong: a leaking hose, dirty fluid, a failing rack. On an electric system, a wiring fault can look like a dead motor. One 2023 Civic owner posted that the repair was listed as "replacement of electrical wires in steering rack," not a new rack.
Ask one question before you approve a big repair: what test showed this part is the cause? A shop that can answer is worth trusting. A car diagnostic is often cheaper than a second wrong part.
How many miles until power steering problems show up?
The midpoint mileage is 49,985 miles across the 3,986 owners who gave one, and the middle half runs from 23,000 to 78,000 miles. Age tells a similar story: the midpoint is 4 years, and 30% of the complaints came from cars under 3 years old.
Only 3% were on cars 10 years or older. Newer cars don't escape this.
Model year changes the picture. The 2015 complaints have a 62,000-mile midpoint, while the 2019 complaints are at 18,000. That's not a service interval.
It's what owners reported, and it tells you a low-mileage car isn't safe from it. Several competitor guides say to service the system "every 30,000–50,000 miles" without saying where that number comes from.
Can you fix power steering yourself?
On a hydraulic system, parts for a fluid flush run $15–$40 in our calculator, and the pump job is $100–$350 in parts. If you're comfortable with belts and hoses, a pump swap is a common driveway job.
Watch: How to Replace a Power Steering Pump (ChrisFix)
Electric systems are another story. There's no fluid to flush, and the fix is a motor, module or rack. A Jeep bulletin for the 2021 Grand Cherokee notes that after an electric power steering replacement, a code can set saying the "ECU Not Programmed/Flash Required." That's a job for a shop with the software.
What should you do next?
Power steering repair cost runs $55–$1,500 by repair in our calculator, so the fair quote depends on which part is named. A pump near $200–$550 or a rack near $600–$1,500 is in range. Higher isn't automatically wrong, but it needs a reason you can see.
- Today: if the steering goes heavy or cuts out at speed, stop driving. Check your VIN for recalls.
- This week: use the calculator on this page with your year, make and model, and get one second quote.
- At the shop: ask which part is being replaced, what test showed it, and whether the old part comes back with you.
We don't sell parts, take shop referral fees or run lead forms. The number you see is the number we calculated.
Frequently asked questions
How much does a power steering pump cost to replace?
Our calculator puts a pump replacement at $200–$550 for a midsize car, with parts at $100–$350 and labor at $100–$200. An independent shop lands at $180–$495. Published guides list higher figures, so ask whether your quote includes the flush and hose.
How much does a rack and pinion cost to replace?
Our estimate is $600–$1,500: parts $300–$800 and labor $300–$700.
Can I drive with power steering that isn't working?
If it went heavy or cut out at speed, stop and get a tow. The car steers without assist, but it takes much more effort, especially slowly. If it's a slow fluid seep, you may have days. Check the level, and get it looked at this week.
Why did my power steering go out and come back?
An intermittent loss is a known pattern. A 2018 GM recall (2015 models) describes assist lost momentarily and then returning suddenly. It can be wiring, a module or a sensor. Check your VIN for recalls, then have it scanned before it happens on the highway.
Does a recall or warranty pay for power steering repair?
It can. NHTSA says recall repairs are done free of charge, but only for the affected vehicles. Check your VIN on NHTSA's recall page before you pay. Warranty extensions have time and mileage limits, so ask a dealer.
Sources
Data shown on this page
- NHTSA owner complaint file (2015-2019 · 2020-2024 · 2025-2026) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA recall file file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA defect investigation file file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA service bulletin file (2015-2019 · 2020-2024 · 2025-2026) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- CalcScrape calculator model scaled by BEA Regional Price Parities data from 2024
- NHTSA Crash Report Sampling System (CRSS), 2019–2022 pooled data from 2022
- North Carolina Division of Air Quality, Vehicle Safety and Emissions Inspection Frequency Study data from 2017
- State inspection programs, multi-state tables and each state agency page, joined to NHTSA owner complaints file downloaded 2026-10-06
- BLS Producer Price Index, commodity data for motor vehicle parts (series WPU14120502); BLS Consumer Price Index item SETD for the repair row file downloaded August 2026
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, Foreign Campaigns (filings under 49 CFR 579.11, public API) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NHTSA, Lives Saved by Vehicle Safety Technologies and Associated Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, 1960 to 2012 (DOT HS 812 069) data from 2015
- NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation, recall quarterly reports (basis of the Annual List of Recall Completion Rates) file downloaded 2026-10-05
- NYC DOT, Street Pavement Ratings (NYC Open Data 6yyb-pb25), SystemRating bands from the NYC DOT pavement rating metadata data from 2025
- FHWA Highway Performance Monitoring System (HPMS) national section data, roughness (IRI) by county; poor-ride cut from the FHWA Conditions and Performance Report data from 2026
- FHWA National Bridge Inventory, 2024 delimited state files (highway bridges, BRIDGE_CONDITION code P) data from 2024
- New York State DOT, Bridge Conditions (NYS Open Data wpyb-cjy8), poor_status flag data from 2025
- 49 U.S.C. 30120 (Remedies for defects and noncompliance), text via Cornell Legal Information Institute; NHTSA recall campaigns data from 2026
Terms: US government data, public domain.
Observed: records as filed; owner reports are unverified and are not failure rates. Modeled: our estimate, not a quote. Derived: computed from the records; an association, not a cause. Rule: a published legal rule, not a measurement; whether it covers a given repair depends on the car and the facts.
What is our own estimate
The price range comes from our calculator's formula. Its parts prices, labor hours per job and shop-rate tiers are CalcScrape estimates, not a published price dataset. Checked against RepairPal's range ($841–$940) on 2026-10-06: our default's midpoint is 58% below the middle of that range. Methodology