VW Golf 1.5 SE Nav 2018 - Golf - sudden loss of steering

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Thu 9 May 2019 20:16
VW Golf 1.5 SE Nav 2018 - Golf - sudden loss of steering - Tomart9
Hi all,

I’m looking for some guidance. While driving today at 30mph I suddenly lost control of the steering of my Golf, in the moment I thought a tyre had blown and I’d dealt with it really poorly. I couldn’t regain control and car veered to the right. Luckily I was on a dual garage way and only (I say only!) hit an HGV travelling in the same direction so whilst car is probably written off no injuries, which is the main thing.

Getting out of the car, there was no punctured tyre, and inspecting the road there was no oil. The only logical explanation myself, the hgv driver and a witness behind had was a mechanical fault with the car. (The car is less than 6 months old and has only done 7k miles).

VW are going to inspect the car tomorrow to try diagnose route cause but I was wondering if anyone has ever had anything like this happen before or has any theories has to what could have happened so I can be a bit more prepared for dealing with VW.

It’s unlikely a power steering failure, as I’d have thought the steering which just stiffen up and I’d struggle to turn, rather than car dramatically pulling to the right while driving straight.

I was wondering about axle snapping or steering column? The wheels ended up pointing the opposite way to steering wheel, but it was impossible to say at the time if that was the cause of or caused by the incident.

Any input would be greatly appreciated!
Tom
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Thu 9 May 2019 20:38
VW Golf 1.5 SE Nav 2018 - Golf - sudden loss of steering - Big John

Where is the car now? Isn't it wise to get the car initially inspected by someone OTHER than VW.

Where both front wheels pointing in the same direction?

Was the car sagging on either side front?

Edited by Big John on 09/05/2019 at 20:40

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Thu 9 May 2019 20:54
VW Golf 1.5 SE Nav 2018 - Golf - sudden loss of steering - Tomart9
Thanks for the quick response.

The car is with VW now and they’ll be looking at in the morning. You’re probably right, but for some reason Admiral didn’t want to know about looking into manufacture fault at their approved garage, and the only other option I had was to get VW to recover it.

Both wheels were pointing the same direction, yes.

It’s a little difficult to tell, but I’d say it was sagging to the right front side, which is the direction I got pulled in.

Edited by Tomart9 on 09/05/2019 at 21:03

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Tue 18 Jun 2019 02:44
VW Golf 1.5 SE Nav 2018 - Golf - sudden loss of steering - 3uga

Your steering should be elelecticaly asisted and not hydraulic like older generations. I think you had a fault in the steering rack

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Tue 18 Jun 2019 09:07
VW Golf 1.5 SE Nav 2018 - Golf - sudden loss of steering - SLO76
Is it possible you hit a patch of oil, a bad pothole or the kerb which caused you to veer or caused damage to the front suspension? It is a possibility that the electric rack lost power but as you say this should only have made the steering heavy. I’d be surprised if there was a serious suspension or steering failure on a car this age.

A friend of mine once bought a mint Toyota Corolla 1.3 GL from me, a few days later he was on the phone saying it had suffered a suspension failure that almost caused an accident. I went to see the car and a quick look underneath revealed a bent N/S front wishbone which could only have happened with a heavy impact. He later admitted to having slid across the road on a tight corner and striking a large kerb - just outside the police station. The car was fine (after he paid for the repair) but for some reason he’d got it into his head that the car was at fault and not the nasty kerb that jumped out in front of him.
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Tue 18 Jun 2019 13:48
VW Golf 1.5 SE Nav 2018 - Golf - sudden loss of steering - John F

Travelling at 30mph and veered right into an artic on a dual carriageway? The artic was presumably overtaking at possibly up to 30mph faster. Perhaps a combination of turbulence and inner lane 'rutting' caught the OP unawares. Sounds far more likely than a steering or suspension linkage fracture happening on such a road.

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Tue 18 Jun 2019 17:02
VW Golf 1.5 SE Nav 2018 - Golf - sudden loss of steering - SLO76
Good point John, I never even registered the detail there. 30mph on a dual carriageway? If this was one with a speed limit of 50mph or more than this was an inappropriately low speed. A truck passing at 56mph could’ve caused quite a strong wake which might have caused a nervous driver to swerve.

The car will be assessed and any fault or lack of will show where the blame lies.
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Tue 18 Jun 2019 18:12
VW Golf 1.5 SE Nav 2018 - Golf - sudden loss of steering - sammy1

I read this and thought I had seen a similar post and then I saw the original date it was posted ie the 9th May so what is the point in speculating what may have happened at this late date!

It is a pity that a large number of posters do not come back and give an outcome!

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Tue 18 Jun 2019 19:12
VW Golf 1.5 SE Nav 2018 - Golf - sudden loss of steering - SLO76

I read this and thought I had seen a similar post and then I saw the original date it was posted ie the 9th May so what is the point in speculating what may have happened at this late date!

It is a pity that a large number of posters do not come back and give an outcome!

Good point, I never even clocked the original date. Does bug me that people don’t reply after their first post but I suspect they come on here looking to back up their own ideas and don’t like the advice they get. Such as someone wanting a BMW 535d on a budget of three grand or someone who’s caused an accident but wants to excuse themselves from the blame. I always enjoy hearing from those who do buy a car using our advice though, a wee update on how well it’s doing for them always generates a smile.

Edited by SLO76 on 18/06/2019 at 19:15

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Tue 18 Jun 2019 21:33
VW Golf 1.5 SE Nav 2018 - Golf - sudden loss of steering - sammy1

Same here, I didn't clock the original date and even went into search as I knew I had seen it before and thought it was being re-posted! Would love to know, if unlikely, it was a mechanical failure.

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