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Hello,

I am looking to buy a used car and test drove it this morning. Most things were in order (as advertised), except I noticed that the steering wheel was pointing at around 10 o'clock when the wheels were going straight (on the motorway).

This is the first car I am looking to buy, and I have had a reasonable look around to find an explanation. I sounds like a realignment is on the cards, but I just wanted to know if I should be concerned as to the reason for the misalignment? Would it indicate the car had been in an accident and that I should be checking for other signs? Or is it fairly common and I should mention it to the dealer (which I didn't at the time) and not worry too much.

The wheel didn't shake and the car ran smoothly.

Thanks for your time!

Will

There are many causes for steering misalignment and the most common cause is a wheel alignment problem. Sometimes a fix is as easy as removing the steering wheel and re-centring it but on modern vehicles this isn't always possible and therefore the vehicle will need to have the wheel alignment carried out - the w/a technician needs to ensure that the steering wheel is straight when making any adjustments otherwise the vehicle will have the same problem you experienced.

I suggest that you get a Pre-Purchase Inspection carried on the vehicle as well as request the seller to rectify the problem. There are many possibilities as to why the w/a is necessary (such as previous accident damage or a small pothole knock) but if you have any serious concerns then it’s best to walk away from this vehicle and look for a better one.