Xpeng P7+ steering failure (2024—2025)
Diagnostic code reference
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Reported symptoms
- Steering fault warning light illuminated on the instrument cluster
- Sudden loss of power steering assist while driving — steering wheel becomes notably heavier
- Inconsistent steering response, with effort varying within the same maneuver
- Unexpected steering wheel movement reported after a lane change
- Repeated illumination of the steering warning followed by self-clearing during ignition cycles
- Steering assist failure shortly after a previous steering-related service visit
Questions to ask
- Has the steering assist motor sensor wiring harness been inspected for the poor-contact pattern documented in the September 2025 recall?
- If a sealant application was performed during a prior visit, was the wiring harness itself inspected or replaced, and is the recall remedy now being performed as a separate step?
- Will any work be performed under recall, warranty, or goodwill — and which classification will appear on the repair order?
Documents to request
- Diagnostic report listing all stored, pending, and historical fault codes related to the electric power steering system
- Written warranty determination distinguishing recall coverage, warranty, and goodwill
- Part numbers of any wiring harness, connector, or steering component installed during the visit
Pre-service evidence
- Photograph any steering warning light on the cluster before drop-off
- Document any prior steering-related service visits, including dates and descriptions of work performed, even if classified as 'no problem found'
- If unexpected steering wheel movement was experienced, document the speed, road condition, and driving scenario in writing
Service advisor interaction
- Record the full name of the service advisor handling the visit and the date and time of each conversation
- Note whether the visit is being classified as recall, warranty, or goodwill — each carries distinct downstream consequences
- If verbal statements about coverage differ from the written repair order, request written clarification before authorizing any work
- Document any reference to the September 2025 SAMR recall and how the dealership characterizes its applicability in the local market
Repair authorization
- Do not authorize paid diagnostic work until warranty classification has been clarified in writing
- If a diagnostic fee is presented, request written confirmation of whether the fee is refundable should the issue later be classified as recall- or warranty-covered
- Repair authorization forms often include language permitting additional related work — read carefully and decline blanket scope additions
- If the dealership proposes sealant application or partial repair in lieu of the recall procedure, request written documentation of why the full recall remedy is not being performed
Post-service verification
- Verify steering effort and on-center feel before leaving the service location
- Confirm no warning lights illuminate after a short test drive including stops, turns, and parking maneuvers
- Verify the cluster does not display intermittent steering, stability-control, or related warnings after a full ignition cycle
- Confirm the repair order matches the work performed and references the correct recall or campaign number
- Note odometer reading at pickup and any test-drive distance attributed by the dealership
Email templates
Warranty notes
- The September 2025 SAMR-filed recall covers specific production-date ranges and was issued for the Chinese market. Coverage in other markets is determined by the local distributor and is not automatically transferable from the China campaign.
- Reports preceding the recall indicated that some workshops applied sealant to steering components as a partial remedy. Records showing prior sealant application can be relevant to determining whether the full recall procedure has been performed.
- Repairs performed under goodwill do not extend the warranty period. Confirm in writing whether the work is classified as warranty, recall, or goodwill.
Observational patterns
The EPS wiring harness defect was formally acknowledged by the manufacturer via SAMR physical recall filed in September 2025. The recall was preceded by media reporting of owner complaints, including reports of replacement steering components experiencing repeat failures.
Reports prior to the recall described workshop-level sealant application at the steering gear interface as a remedy. The recall procedure is distinct and involves physical inspection of the wiring harness, not sealant application.
Where dealers offer a partial remedy in lieu of the recall procedure, written documentation of the reasoning has, in some service interactions, prompted re-examination and adoption of the recall procedure.
Owners who have had replacement steering components installed prior to the September 2025 recall have, in some cases, reported recurrence of symptoms. Written documentation of prior repair history can be relevant to subsequent service visits.
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