A car that drifts to one side or needs constant steering correction can be unsettling, but the cause is often ordinary. Before anyone names a part, you can narrow the possibilities with a few checks you can make yourself and write down.
Describe the Drift Under Set Conditions
Note exactly when the drift happens. Does it happen on a flat straight road, on a crowned road where the surface slopes toward the shoulder, in crosswind, or only when braking? Does the steering wheel sit off center when the car runs straight? Each pattern points to a different set of checks, and a shop will ask for the same description.
Check the Tires First
Tire pressure is the first check because it is easy to test and easy to change. Measure pressure when the tires are cold, and compare the readings with the placard on the driver's door frame or the owner's manual. Look across the tread. Uneven wear from one side to the other, or a feathered edge across the tread, is worth recording. Note the tire size fitted to each axle, since a mismatch can change how the car tracks.
Check the Road and the Load
Roads are built with a slope for drainage, and a car will tend to drift toward the lower side. Drive the same stretch in both directions and see whether the drift reverses. Check whether the car is carrying an uneven load or a roof rack, since either can shift the balance.
Record the Steering Play
With the car stopped and the wheels straight, move the steering wheel gently and note any free movement before the front wheels respond. Record the amount you can feel and whether it is the same in both directions. Then check the model-year record for recall notices and complaints on that model year. Read any federal count beside a figure as a count of reports, not a finding about your car.
What to Take to the Shop
Bring the written description, the tire readings, the tread notes, and the steering play record. Ask the shop to print the alignment readings before and after any work, and ask them to explain each reading in terms of your notes. A written record makes the visit shorter and lets you check the result against what you saw.