A fault code doesn’t yet mean the unit or sensor itself is faulty: often it’s the plug and connector leading to it.
Possible causes
- The sensor connector under the steering wheel or the clock spring
- The sensor itself
- The steering column or power steering unit was replaced, or a wheel alignment was done
- Low voltage: a flat battery or corroded terminals
What you can do yourself
- ESP and traction control, and sometimes ABS, may not work. The brakes still work, but without electronic help — on slippery roads brake smoothly and don’t accelerate hard.
- Per GM bulletin PIC5257C, the steering angle sensor on the Cruze, Equinox, Camaro and SRX (2010–2013) sets this code instead of C0710 — it is checked the same way as C0710.
- If the wheel is straight and the car drives straight but the scan tool shows an angle well away from zero, the sensor is off and needs calibrating.
- After repairs the steering angle sensor often needs calibrating with a scan tool.
Stop and don’t drive on if:
- The instrument panel went dark or many warning lights came on at once
- Power steering is gone or the brakes don’t work as usual
OOleg’s tip: check the connector
Often the cause is simple — there is no contact in the connector (plug). Look at the connector from the back: remove the rubber seal and you will see whether a wire is corroded or has come off completely. Corrosion shows up as green deposits. Ideally, gently pull each wire towards you one at a time: a sound wire stays in place, while a corroded one simply comes off — it needs to be repaired.
Unplug and inspect connectors with the ignition off.
This is the GM meaning (Chevrolet, Cadillac, GMC). On other makes this number means something else: if your car isn’t made by GM, change the make at the top.
Source: GM PIC5257C (static.nhtsa.gov)
On Oleg’s website:Car wiring repair ↗
The explanation comes from the error code reference in the AvtoElektrik PRO app.