MajorCommonElectrical

Nissan Note: EPS column motor brush wear causing heavy steering

EPS column motor brush wear causing heavy steering is a common electrical fault on the Nissan Note on the 2005–2013 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $600 to $1,400 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 31 documented faults on the Nissan Note.

Vehicle: Nissan Note
Years: 2005–2013
Fuel: petrol
System: Electrical

This page covers the Nissan Note as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Nissan Note faults31 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the Steering rack yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The E11 Note uses a column-mounted electric power steering unit with a brushed DC motor. The carbon brushes wear progressively with age and mileage, increasing electrical resistance and reducing motor output torque. Owners experience intermittent episodes of heavy or unassisted steering, most noticeable at low speeds and during parking manoeuvres. The fault may clear temporarily as the motor warms up or the brushes shift in their holders, making diagnosis difficult without logging fault codes. A power steering warning lamp illuminates during fault events. The condition worsens over time and can result in complete loss of electric assist. Replacement requires a remanufactured or new EPS column assembly as the motor is not separately available in most markets.

What you would notice

Intermittent heavy or stiff steering especially at low speed or when parking
Orange power steering warning light on instrument cluster during heavy steering episodes
Steering assist returns to normal after a few minutes of driving or after restart
Occasional clicking, buzzing or whirring sound from steering column below dash

How to check it

Where to look. Steering column assembly, below the instrument cluster

With engine running, turn the steering wheel slowly lock to lock and note any variation or sudden increase in steering effort. Inspect the EPS motor wiring connector under the steering column shroud for corrosion or chafing. Ask the seller directly whether the steering warning lamp has ever come on. If a workshop inspection is possible: Check for stored EPS fault codes using an OBD-II scanner — code C1130 or equivalent EPS torque sensor or motor codes are typical.

Parts involved: Steering rack.

What it costs to put right

$600 to $1,400 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Have you ever experienced heavy or stiff steering, even briefly?”
“Has the power steering warning light ever appeared on the dashboard?”
“Has the steering column or EPS motor been inspected or replaced?”

Now check the Nissan Note 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.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Nissan Note buyer questions

Is eps column motor brush wear causing heavy steering serious on a Nissan Note?

We rate it major and common on the Nissan Note. The E11 Note uses a column-mounted electric power steering unit with a brushed DC motor. The carbon brushes wear progressively with age and mileage, increasing electrical resistance and reducing motor output torque. Owners experience intermittent episodes of heavy or unassisted steering, most noticeable at low speeds and during parking manoeuvres. The fault may clear temporarily as the motor warms up or the brushes shift in their holders, making diagnosis difficult without logging fault codes. A power steering warning lamp illuminates during fault events. The condition worsens over time and can result in complete loss of electric assist. Replacement requires a remanufactured or new EPS column assembly as the motor is not separately available in most markets.

How much does it cost to fix on a Nissan Note?

$600 to $1,400 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 Nissan Note years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2005–2013 Nissan Note. 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.