I just bought a 2019 is300 and I was driving on some long straight roads and noticed the steering wheel kind of locked up. I think it’s some type of steering assistance. Not sure if it’s a common thing or what. I checked some other forums and went through all the steering option my car has and it doesn’t seem to stop it. Power steering is good, tires are also good. It happens frequently but only while going straight. Any help would greatly appreciated

 

Could it be the infamous "notchy" steering issue in our cars? See prior threads below:

• https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...ease-help.html
• https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...long-post.html

 

Try check your LDA settings again. There was a setting that locks up the steering wheel if the car detects you are going into another lane.

It happened to me while bringing the car back home after I bought it from the dealership (no warning of this feature) and was trying to merge on the highway. Using the turn signals seems to stops the feature, it did take me sometime to find that setting, turn it off and forget about it for good.

 

Both my 2016 and 2019 do this. It takes a little breakaway force from driving straight, to initiate a turn or a correction to stay in the lane. Once the turn is made, the steering wheel stays there, almost masking the feeling of oversteer. I think it is a function of EPS and it is probably some stability function that prevents big steering changes, but what it really does, is make us have to make corrections using lots of steering wheel breakout force from center.