If you’re dealing with a locked steering wheel in your Subaru, start by jiggling the wheel and the car key until the steering wheel unlocks. If that doesn’t do the trick, you may be looking at a mechanical failure.

From the rugged

Forester

to the plucky

Impreza

, Subarus are built for practical fun—and for safety. That’s why every Subaru is equipped with an anti-theft device that will lock the steering wheel if it’s turned without the key in the ignition. While this helps to prevent automotive theft, it can be a source of stress when you get into the car and find you can’t turn the wheel.

Don’t panic—

Jerry

, the

car insurance

super app, is here to show you how to unlock your Subaru steering wheel. We’ll go over common causes for this problem and even throw in some tips to help you save on

Subaru insurance costs

How to unlock your Subaru steering wheel

If your Subaru steering wheel is locked, the most likely cause is that you or someone else inadvertently triggered a locking mechanism installed in Subarus as an anti-theft measure. Turning the wheel too far while parking or turning it while the ignition key is out can both make the steering wheel lock up.

To fix this problem, push down on the brake pedal and wiggle the wheel and key forcefully in both directions until the lock eases up. Be careful not to use too much force—you don’t want the key to snap in your hand!—but don’t worry about being super gentle, either. The wheel should have a little more give in one direction, so lean harder into that direction to loosen things up.

The Subaru steering wheel lock is designed to release when you follow this procedure. If it doesn’t, there’s likely a more serious mechanical problem at the root of your wheel’s locked position.

MORE:

A complete guide to Subaru safety ratings

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Why your Subaru steering wheel lock might engage

There are a number of problems that can cause a Subaru steering wheel to lock outside of its proper functioning. You might be dealing with anything from a bad ignition lock cylinder and frozen tumblers to a major power steering failure. Let’s go over a few of the most common causes.

If your steering wheel locks while parked

If your steering wheel doesn't turn your car while the vehicle is parked and won’t respond to the key-and-wheel-jiggling trick, the most likely source of the problem is ignition failure. The steering wheel lock works directly with the ignition system, so you might need to replace the ignition cylinder or the ignition switch to resolve the issue.

If your steering wheel locks while driving

It’s (thankfully) rare, but it’s possible for your Subaru’s steering wheel to lock while you’re driving at speed. If this happens, it’s likely a sign of a major malfunction of the steering column, power steering system,

steering rack

, or suspension.

If this happens, do your best not to panic. Instead, keep your hands on the wheel and apply the brakes as soon as it’s safe to do so. Your wheel should still have a little give, so use as much steering power as you have to pull the car to the side of the road. Once you’re safely stopped, call for help. Roadside assistance or towing and labor insurance coverage are both major benefits in a situation like this.

MORE:

Brakes, steering, and suspension inspection cost

If your steering wheel is usable but stiff

Maybe your steering wheel hasn’t locked up entirely, but it's getting harder and harder to turn, especially in one direction. If that’s the case, you’re probably dealing with a failure of the power steering system.

A faulty

power steering pump

, contaminated

power steering fluid

, or a leak in the steering system are a few possible culprits behind your Subaru’s stiff steering. In order to identify the exact cause of the problem, you’ll likely need to take the vehicle to a mechanic or the service center at your local dealership.

How to save on Subaru insurance

Subarus have their mechanical quirks, but the good news is that overall ownership costs for most Subaru vehicles are very low. In fact,

Subaru Outback insurance costs

are some of the lowest of any vehicle!

But that doesn’t mean you can’t save—and saving money on insurance is a great way to free up funds if you’re looking at an expensive fix for your Subaru’s steering system. To find competitive real-time quotes without spending hours on hold with insurance companies, just download the

Jerry

app.

Here’s how it works: when you download the app, you’ll have to answer a few simple questions about yourself and your car. By providing Jerry with some basic information (such as your phone number, accident history, and vehicle identification number), you’ll unlock access to customized quotes from a pool of over 55 top insurance providers. And don’t worry—Jerry cares about security as much as Subaru does, so we won’t ever sell or share your personal information.

Ready to see how much you could save? On average, Jerry users save over $800 a year on car insurance. But don’t just take our word for it: download the app today.

“All of the insurance quotes I saw were over $600 a month because of my age. Then I stumbled upon Jerry, and they sliced my price in half! They found me the lowest rate, thank goodness.” —Will V.

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