Steering System Pull, Drift or Wander

WARNING: This page is about a different car, the 2015 Lincoln MKS. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

NOTE: The EPAS system is designed to compensate for some steering issues (drift, pull, wander, etc.). If the steering issue is severe enough the steering wheel may become off center due to system compensation.

A vehicle-related drift or pull, on a flat road, can cause a consistent deviation from the straight-ahead path and require constant steering input in the opposite direction to counteract the effect.

Drift or pull can be induced by conditions external to the vehicle, such as wind or road camber.
Drift describes what a vehicle with this condition does with the hands off the steering wheel.
Pull is described as a tugging sensation on the steering wheel felt by the driver, which must be overcome to keep the vehicle going straight.

Wander is the tendency of the vehicle to require frequent, random left and right steering wheel corrections to maintain a straight path down a level road.

Possible Source	Action
Alignment Tire(s) Suspension components Steering column shaft/U-joints Steering column Steering gear mounts Steering gear	Go to PINPOINT TEST H

Steering Wheel Vibrates or Resists Turning

The steering wheel can vibrate or shake as well as resist turning into the next lane when the turn signals are not used to change lanes. This may be a normal operation of the Lane Keeping Assist feature. Determine if the vehicle is equipped with the Lane Keeping Assist feature and educate the customer how the feature is activated, de-activated and properly used. Verify the vibration and turning resistance is no longer present when the Lane Keeping Assist feature is de-activated.

Refer to the following documents online in the Professional Technician Society web site.

Possible Source	Action
Owner's Literature	SEE DRIVING AIDS information. READ about Lane Keeping System.
Owner's Literature: Quick Reference Guide	SEE FUNCTION information. READ about Lane Keeping System.
Lane Keeping Reference Guide (all vehicles)	Released for sales and service on January 2015.