I have a new 2012 SX4 Crossover. I just started driving it because of a major knee surgery. It has 2,000 miles on it. The car want to pull to the left no matter which lane I am in. It is very noticeable around 55-60 Mph. If you do not continually hold the wheel to the right, every .1 of a mile the car will be in the next lane. Just had an alignment down yesterday and it still did it on my way home from work today. I also notice the steering wheel does not return to center on its own and when you come to a stop the wheel automatically goes a few degrees to the left. I am not sure if this is normal or not. Any help or feed back would be great.
Get the garage to test drive,check you don't have a soft tyre,if tyres are not directional swap the front wheels over to opposite sides in case of a slightly heavier balance,check that a brake maybe gripping a little,also was it front wheel alignment or all four wheels,possible tight steering joint or strut top bearing coiling up spring, electric steering may need geometry ecu reprogrammed,but I don't know about this if this has that only guessing, my car is a 2007 and had that stiffness also but no pulling,steering must vary stiffness when driving at different speed and have that slight steering left/ right free play feel when car is idling, new car get tech to observe your concerns.
THIs steering is electrically "assisted" (of course one can steer the vehicle manually) ......so.....in the same situation, I would manage to disconnect the assist motor and see if it will still pull to one side...of course I would need more for "arm power" but it would definitely tell if the problem comes from the steering sensor (which is a position potentiometer)....I am quite suspicious of this as potentiometers ARE definitely subject to wear and tear....and CAN be off-calibrated either from construction defect or faulty installation.
Well..an after thought.....a different test for the same....surely less involving....would be to jack up the front end, manually position the steering dead center.....then turn the key on.....(I did not test if the electric assist works with just the key ON...I will)....eventually start the engine ....if the problem is with pot calibration, it should steer the wheels a little just by itself. if this is the case, the problem is with the power assist, not with alignment. ...(this is in relation with peegee's "free play" ...free play should be symetrical on both sides. lack of symetry will pull to one side...)..
Hi cboyd1974. Hope you resolve your issue, LMP helped me also understand how the electric steering operated. If you we're to unplug your power steering you may possibly put a steering fault code on your dashboard and your standard obd2 code reader won't pickup and clear code.help ?
Hi ..... If you we're to unplug your power steering you may possibly put a steering fault code on your dashboard and your standard obd2 code reader won't pickup and clear code....
Check tire pressure, if that is ok then swap the front tires side to side. You could have a bad belt in the tire that is causing the problem if the tire pressures are the same.
Check tire pressure, if that is ok then swap the front tires side to side. You could have a bad belt in the tire that is causing the problem if the tire pressures are the same.Toby
Definitely to be checked out...the most basic things must be tested first. Notice if the tire type is directional, they will have to be put back where they belong..but for a test there is no objection running the tires the wrong way....
The dealer had an alignment done. It does goes straight about half of the time. When its pulling now, the wheel wants to center itself a few degrees to the left. I will be calling the dealership again today to see what the next step they want to do.
Long time observer, 1st time poster. I had the same problem on my 2011 crossover. After 3 alignments they found the front left tire had a radial pull to the left. Tire was put on the rear right and Voila the problem is gone. These tires that come on the Sx4 are not great. Lots of poor reviews on tirerack.com.
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2012 SX4 Crossover steering pulls
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