Do not drive vehicle, steering defective

[TheDonPulido]

So I went to start my car and got a msg saying "Do not drive vehicle, steering defective." I was like what the hell. any help here? going to do the reset now.

UPDATE* Still not working.

[NPuter]

So I went to start my car and got a msg saying "Do not drive vehicle, steering defective." I was like what the hell. any help here? going to do the reset now.

UPDATE* Still not working.

Sorry about that. Does it feel like you don't have power steering? Let us know what it turns out to be.

[rugbylion]

So I went to start my car and got a msg saying "Do not drive vehicle, steering defective." I was like what the hell. any help here? going to do the reset now.

UPDATE* Still not working.

Odd- the message i usually get is "Do not drive vehicle, driver is defective".

But I've never experienced the message you received....sorry man

[TheDonPulido]

It won't even let me start it. it gives me a msg Do not drive vehicle steering defective. and then shut off. I have to wait until tomorrow to call the audi shop here.

[NWS4Guy]

Does Germany not have Audi Roadside service? They will tow to the dealer for you - I have never heard of anyone getting a message not to drive it, but sounds serious.

[TheDonPulido]

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1842555436256.2085699.1611701550[/QUOTE]
Does Germany not have Audi Roadside service? They will tow to the dealer for you - I have never heard of anyone getting a message not to drive it, but sounds serious.

I wish they did, but thats just a North America Audi deal. At least they do Warranty work on my car here. will post a pic of the msg soon. this is what I got so far. see below.

VAGCOM readings below.

4 Fault Codes:

02768 - Activation Steering Column Lock 014 - Defective - MIL ON Freeze Frame: Fault Status: 11101110 Fault Priority: 2 Fault Frequency: 56 Reset counter: 70 Mileage: 25330 km Time Indication: 0 Date: 2009.06.26 Time: 02:39:16

00288 - Steering Column Lock Actuator (N360) 014 - Defective - MIL ON Freeze Frame: Fault Status: 11101110 Fault Priority: 2 Fault Frequency: 1 Reset counter: 70 Mileage: 25330 km Time Indication: 0 Date: 2011.07.31 Time: 11:35:02

02811 - Control Module for Electronic Steering Column Lock (J764) 008 - Implausible Signal Freeze Frame: Fault Status: 01101000 Fault Priority: 2 Fault Frequency: 1 Reset counter: 70 Mileage: 25330 km Time Indication: 0 Date: 2011.07.31 Time: 11:35:19

02823 - Requirements for Locking the Steering Column Lock not met 000 - - Freeze Frame: Fault Status: 01100000 Fault Priority: 5 Fault Frequency: 1 Reset counter: 70 Mileage: 25330 km Time Indication: 0 Date: 2011.07.31 Time: 11:40:11

[NWS4Guy]

Seems like the issue is with the locking mechanism that prevents the steering from moving when the ignition is off. Maybe put the car into accessory, and try to turn the wheel one way then the other as you try to start it to see if the lock will disengage?

[TheDonPulido]

Seems like the issue is with the locking mechanism that prevents the steering from moving when the ignition is off. Maybe put the car into accessory, and try to turn the wheel one way then the other as you try to start it to see if the lock will disengage?

Going to try that now. I posted a pic in my Albums.

Update: didn't work. :-( going to have to wait until tomorrow.

[NWS4Guy]

Sorry to hear, will be interested to see what the dealership says upon diagnosis.

[morski]

I recently repaired an S5 with the same problem. Steering defective- do not drive etc. total shutdown of the vehicle. the steering lock had already been replaced, but the steering coloumn was totally buggered and not allowing the lock to engage in the correct position. anyway replaced column and car came back from the dead.

In your case its clear that the steering lock is defective and will need replacing. Dealer job as they will need to code the new unit to the car so you can start it.

No way of bypassing it either so dont bother trying various combinations.

[TheDonPulido]

Damn, and all i was trying to do yesterday was to get some coffee with the wife. She was like it worked last night what the hell wrong with it now. Game plan for today is to figure a way to get it out of my house since a tow truck is not going to fit where I parked my car.

[NPuter]

Damn, and all i was trying to do yesterday was to get some coffee with the wife. She was like it worked last night what the hell wrong with it now. Game plan for today is to figure a way to get it out of my house since a tow truck is not going to fit where I parked my car.

They will probably have wheel jacks to move the car...

[ENV²]

I hppe they rectify this for you. I would be quite upset.

[TheDonPulido]

So I don't speak german that well.....This is what I got, Two Audi Tech's and a tow guy from Audi at my door. (five min later my car is on the road, to my surprise the audi wasn't on the flat bed, somehow they got ECU to reset and moving again.) So I called later that day to find out the status on my car, they total me they had to reprogram the car and hold the car overnight to test it in the morning. So I guess I will find out what happens next tomorrow.....

[Ciscokidz]

Hmmm, had the same issue on my daughter's Passat off and on for a couple of months (If you put the key in and out several times it would eventually go away and let the car start), finally died and VW replaced the steering column interlock, no charge even though the car was out of warranty. I was told it was a known defect for the platform, but hers is last gen, not the current platform.

[TheDonPulido]

Got the Car back lastnight, They told me that it was a software issue. they they had to reprogram and updated the software and did some crazy ass testing on it all day. At the end you have to give it up to the germans, they helped me on the spot and total cost was "FREE" I guess if you need Audi help here, you have to call a nearby Audi shop to save the day.

[TheDonPulido]

So it happen to me again, and finally found out it was the steering column that was bad. They replaced it and washed my car. the only other part that got me was, that it would work after it sat for 10 hours after the error.

[FourRingRider]

So I went to start my car and got a msg saying "Do not drive vehicle, steering defective." I was like what the hell. any help here? going to do the reset now.

What year is your S4?

[TheDonPulido]

2010

[giovanni0330]

I hppe they rectify this for you. I would be quite upset.

Everyone is always ready to jump the gun and get "upset"...

[ilspazzaneve]

Everyone is always ready to jump the gun and get "upset"...

It seems yes, esp when you post. What you may not realize is this is a good resource, it will become a useful archive down the road into the problems people have and how it was rectified. Please understand this, and why people don't like your posts - reread your posts before you send them and imagine you're the one receiving condescending drivel...

[yannb]

Just happened to me tonight. I have a 2010 a4 avant. Waiting for tow truck.

[LeadToRome]

That could be a rough one if it happened at the wrong place or time, no warning and then bam, no go. Good luck with your car yannb.

[pompeius]

Hey guys, I'm from Trinidad and own a 2011 A4 B8. Had the same problem(Do not drive vehicle, steering defective) 3 weeks ago while trying to leave work. Since then, my car is still at the dealer and their techs don't know how to solve the problem. They said they are not getting any power on the vehicle therefore cannot release the handbrakes, or run more detailed diagnostics on the vehicle. I am way passed worried now. Any suggestions?

[darecy]

Just happened to me as well [=(] did you sort the problem out?

[csowban]

Just happened to my brother's 2010 Audi A5 which is in a country where there are no Audi dealers, might sound a little weird to many of you. My brother is really stressed and his mechanic gave up on it. Now he can not just scrape the car for this problem so he's looking for a solution. I thought you guys here will be the best ones to ask for any kind of technical or maybe any kind of solution. So the problem is every time he puts the key in, all the systems works but the car won't start. The mechanic tried to connect his computer to the car (ignore me if I'm not using the right words to describe it), but it doesn't work. Please help me out this. Thanks to all of you in advance.

[hirzelch]

any update on the resolution for this error/issue?

[BUMBEE]

any update on the resolution for this error/issue?

07-31-2011 06:16 AM....old ass thread bro 1

[kaptacular]

FWIW: I recently had a friends A8 throw this fault. Audi quoted them for a new column, around $6K.

Not saying this is definite to the above noted problem - but that’s the info I do have.

[hirzelch]

thanks @kaptacular. Doesn't seem to be a lot of info out there on this one. I'll post once I resolve my issue. I will likely try to replace the lock mechanism first.

[stoked_S4]

I saw this recently when I was looking for answers to my defective steering issue.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujxQLU_rw3I