Fiat 500: Electric power-steering failure (torque sensor, fault C1002)
Electric power-steering failure (torque sensor, fault C1002) is a common electrical fault on the Fiat 500 on the 2008 onward cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $500 to $1,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 10 documented faults on the Fiat 500.
- Vehicle
- Fiat 500
- Years
- 2008 onward
- System
- Electrical
What you are looking at
No photograph available
What goes wrong
The 500's electric power steering commonly fails at the column torque sensor, logging fault code C1002, so the steering loses assistance – heaviest during slow manoeuvres like parking and reversing – usually with a steering warning light. It affects all years but especially cars over 8-10 years old. The fix is normally the power-steering motor/column unit. Heavy steering at low speed is tiring and, if it fails fully, a safety concern.
What you would notice
- Heavy steering when parking or reversing
- Steering warning light
- Assistance drops out then returns
- Steering feels inconsistent
How to check it
Where to look. Electric power-steering motor/torque sensor on the steering column
Do slow full-lock turns and parking manoeuvres and feel for the steering going heavy or the assistance cutting out.
Watch for a steering warning light on start-up or during the drive.
Ask if the power-steering motor/column has been replaced.
What it costs to put right
$500 to $1,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.
Ask the seller
- “Does the steering ever go heavy or show a warning light?”
- “Has the power-steering motor or column been replaced?”
Now check the Fiat 500 you are actually looking at
Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.
Where this comes from
- ECU Testing – Fiat 500 power steering fault (torque sensor C1002)
- Auto Gas Gaga (gaga.ba) – 'Fiat 500 1.2 8v common faults and tips'
Fiat 500 buyer questions
Is electric power-steering failure (torque sensor, fault c1002) serious on a Fiat 500?
We rate it major and common on the Fiat 500. The 500's electric power steering commonly fails at the column torque sensor, logging fault code C1002, so the steering loses assistance – heaviest during slow manoeuvres like parking and reversing – usually with a steering warning light. It affects all years but especially cars over 8-10 years old. The fix is normally the power-steering motor/column unit. Heavy steering at low speed is tiring and, if it fails fully, a safety concern.
How much does it cost to fix on a Fiat 500?
$500 to $1,200 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.
Which Fiat 500 years are affected?
Our research records this fault on the 2008 onward Fiat 500. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.
How do I check for it before I buy?
Do slow full-lock turns and parking manoeuvres and feel for the steering going heavy or the assistance cutting out. Watch for a steering warning light on start-up or during the drive. Ask if the power-steering motor/column has been replaced. Look here: Electric power-steering motor/torque sensor on the steering column