Hello,

I have been having this issue for a while where the car gives a "steering column locked notification" and refuses to start, while the steering wheel is actually not locked and can turn freely. closing the driver's door usually solves the problem or I have to get out lock and unlock the car. I am wondering if it could be the battery is just old.

Also, there is something else that I noticed, the center screen flickering, and sometimes the engine tries to start with a small "cough" from the starter but does not start, maybe those issues are related?

I am afraid on a morning the car won't start at all and I would have to tow it.

 

Could be a bad battery. You don't identify where you are, nor year and model of your car. To help us help you, you should create a signature block with that information. Then you will get more and better responses. In the mean time go get your battery tested if it shows below 12.6 volts when at rest, it is time for a new battery.

 

My bad, I forgot to mention the car info.

It's a 2016 XJL 3.0 sc, I live in the UAE.

A couple of weeks ago, when i changed the oil at the dealership, I asked the advisor if the battery needs replacement and he said no it's all good. I gotta check the battery again then.

 

Check the ground connections: Battery to the chassis and chassis to powertrain (engine/transmission).
In your area there is not roadsalt what usually cause ground connections to corrode in engine bay, but high temperature changes cause moist conditions what can cause corrosion as well. Then once the connection is poor the current cause heat on connection resulting rapid failure of it.