Mercedes Power Steering Malfunction See Operator’s Manual

Is your Mercedes-Benz’s electrical power steering system failing and triggering the warnings (Steering Malfunction See Operator’s Manual or Power Steering Malfunction – See the user’s manual) on your dashboard? If you get this warning, the steering wheel will be difficult to turn because the electric power steering motor is not assisting. Read the guidelines below to know the possible causes of why the warning light is on and learn possible solutions to fix the problem on your Mercedes-Benz.

The problem can range from a blown fuse to a faulty power steering motor.

Steering Malfunction See Operator’s Manual

If this message comes up while driving:

1. Pull over to a safe location and turn off the ignition.
2. Wait at least five minutes and restart the car. Keep ignition and lights off during this period.
3. In many cases, the error message may reset on its own.

Further troubleshooting is required if the message comes up when you start the car.

Is it safe to drive?

Even though newer Mercedes-Benz cars have electric power steering, they have a mechanical link to the steering rack. It is safe to drive only if you have enough strength to turn the steering wheel manually. Without the help of the steering motor, the steering wheel will be tough to turn.

Common Problems

The following problems are known to cause problems in Mercedes-Benz with an electrical power steering system.

Low Battery Voltage

The system can malfunction if the battery is partially discharged or the voltage regulator is not working correctly. Charge the battery using a smart trickle charger.

Blown Fuse

There is a 125 A pre-fuse that feeds the power steering motor. This fuse can blow, disabling the electric power steering assist. If the fuse blows, it indicates a problem or a lousy steering motor. The fuse is located in the pre-fuse box in the engine bay.

Steering Motor

The power steering motor can fail, making the steering very heavy to turn and triggering the Steering Malfunction. See Operator’s Manual error message on the dashboard. The steering motor is mounted on the steering rack and easily replaced.

Software Issue

The software for the electric steering may be the culprit and need to be updated. You must take the car to the dealer to update the module. Call your local dealer to check if there is an update available for your steering system.

Recall

Approximately 28,000 model-year 2015 Mercedes-Benz C300 and C400 4Matic sedans manufactured between Jan. 27 and Dec. 1, 2014, were recalled due to an error in the electric power steering control unit software.

Due to this problem, a loss of electric power steering assist could occur, necessitating extra steering effort, particularly at lower speeds, and increasing the crash risk. Check if there is an open recall for your car by going to the NHTSA website. Enter your VIN to see current recalls that apply to your car.

How to diagnose the Mercedes Steering Module

You will need a scanner such as the YOUCANIC Full System Scanner that can read and clear all your vehicle’s control modules.

1. Connect the scanner to the diagnostic port under the dashboard.
2. Turn on the ignition.
3. Go to Mercedes > Select Model > Control Units
4. Select Chassis, then Select ES – Electric Power Steering
5. Scroll down to read codes and press enter. Review all the codes. Write them down for future reference.
6. If you only have stored codes, select Clear Codes to erase them. If codes are present, fix the underlying problem.

Frequently Asked Questions

We hope you find the Mercedes Power Steering Malfunction See Operator’s Manual guide helpful. Check these troubleshooting and repair guides for more help on your Mercedes-Benz.