How long does the steering angle sensor last?

Once upon a time, your car's steering system was pretty simple. Today, this is not the case at all. As more and more electronic systems are being added to our vehicles to improve stability, control and agility,…

Once upon a time, your car's steering system was pretty simple. Today, this is not the case at all. As more and more electronic systems are added to our vehicles to improve stability, control and agility, these systems inevitably become more complex. This is especially true for driving.

Many cars today are equipped with a stability control system. Essentially, this is intended to help you maintain control of the vehicle when an instability issue occurs. For example, this could come into play if you were in an uncontrolled skid or approaching a rollover situation.

The steering angle sensor is part of the stability control system. Two types are used - analog and digital. Analog systems are becoming increasingly rare due to the fact that they are less reliable than digital systems and subject to more wear and tear. In an analog system, the sensor measures the voltage changes generated by the steering wheel and sends this information to the car's computer. In a digital system, an LED measures the angle of the steering wheel and transmits this information to the computer.

The computer receives information from the steering angle sensor and compares it with the position of the two front wheels. If the steering angle is not correct in relation to the wheels (steering wheel is turned to the left and the wheels are straight or turned to the right), a corrective action is taken. For example, the stability control system can apply the rear brake to bring the car back into the correct position.

The steering angle sensor on your vehicle is used all the time while you are driving. However, there is no specified lifespan for this component - it could conceivably last the lifetime of the vehicle. With that said, they fail. If your sensor fails, the stability control system will not work and you will see a warning light on the dashboard (the stability control indicator will either turn on or flash, depending on the vehicle in question). However, these sensors can also be thrown off if they are not reset after the wheel alignment.

The following symptoms may indicate that the steering angle sensor in your vehicle has either failed or is about to fail:

• You can see that the stabilization system indicator (or similar indicator, depending on the make and model in question) is lit on the dashboard
• Your steering wheel has too much play (you can turn it left and right without turning the wheels)
• You have recently had an alignment and the warning light on the dashboard is on (indicates the need to reset the sensor)

If you suspect a problem with your steering angle sensor, it might be time to check it out. Have a mechanic check the system and replace the steering angle sensor if necessary.