C0051
Power Steering Position Sensor Performance
The chassis or power steering control module has detected that the steering position signal is implausible compared to vehicle motion. Stability control may be limited because correct yaw and slip-angle calculation depends on a valid steering angle.
- Check engine light: Not always
- Emissions related: No
- Repair difficulty: medium
Symptoms
- ABS warning light on
- ESC/stability control deactivated
- Possible reduced brake assist
- Speedometer may behave erratically
Common causes
Ordered by how often each turns out to be the cause.
- Steering angle sensor not calibrated after alignment or repairCommon
- Steering angle sensor failedPossible
- Signal path through clock spring degradedLess likely
Parts involved
- Steering Angle Sensor
- Power Steering Module
- Chassis Control Module
C0051 is a generic OBD-II code defined by SAE J2012. Exact wording and diagnostic procedure vary by manufacturer and model. Code definitions are drawn from the public-domain OBDex dataset; the workshop notes are our own.