P0553 Fault Code: What It Means and What To Do
Power Steering Pressure Sensor/Switch Circuit High Input
What does P0553 mean?
P0553 is logged when your car's control module detects: Power Steering Pressure Sensor/Switch Circuit High Input. It's classed as a steering fault.
P (powertrain) codes relate to the engine, gearbox and emissions systems. The P0 prefix means it's a generic code, so it means the same thing on every make of car.
The steering system includes electric or hydraulic power assistance and the sensors that measure steering angle. Faults here can make the steering heavy or inconsistent and may also disable stability control.
Is it safe to drive with P0553?
Yes, in most cases. This is unlikely to be a safety issue, but it's worth fixing — a warning light that stays on can hide newer faults and may fail your MOT.
This is a general rating for the code. The real risk depends on your car and the symptoms you're getting — a tailored explanation will take your make, model, engine and MOT history into account.
What to do next
- Note any symptoms — when the light came on, and whether the car feels, sounds or smells different. It helps a garage narrow down the cause quickly.
- Check for other codes — faults often log several related codes at once, and the first one is usually closest to the root cause.
- Don't just clear it — the code will usually come back if the fault is still there, and clearing it wipes the freeze-frame data a garage uses to diagnose it.
- Get it diagnosed — a garage diagnostic check typically costs £50–£100 in the UK, and is often deducted from the repair if you go ahead with them.
A dashboard warning light that stays on — such as the engine management or ABS light — is an MOT failure, so get it fixed before your next test.
Enter your registration plate and Motorclue will factor in your vehicle's make, model, year, engine, and MOT history to explain P0553 in plain English — with likely causes and UK repair costs.
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