My fiat is an X reg 1.2 model (im sure you can tell l know very little about cars!) Today the steering has become very juddery when doing manouveres and sometimes feels like l am losing control of the wheels. The steering light did come on on the way to my first meeting but on the way back it was not on. l am very worried it will fail completely as I am 4 months pregnant. Can anybody tell me how much this will cost to fix or if there is anything l can do to make the problem go away? l know the car has electric power steering and you definatley cant put fluid in it anywhere! im sure about that much! please help me! Worried my baby will have to sleep in a drawer so l can fix my bloody punto!!

l would get shot of any fiat, l was a fiat owner for the last 2 years. They are a pile of shit. Sell it in the condition you have it, or do an insurance scam.

The say fiat stands for 'fix it again tomorrow' because no matter what you get fixed you will be back at the garage bent over touching your ankles again within a few weeks.

Get shot!

If it has power steering you need to check the power steering fluid level, having done that if it is empty then you may have a leak. You will need a replacement rack. The steering pump drive belt may be loose. Have you had squealing noises as you turn the steering wheel?
If you do not have power steering then it could be the front suspension bearings seizing. What ever it is you will have to get a professional opinion.Get it checked before it fails on you.

All l know is that similar thing happened to my punto - would be trying to park in car park and the power steering would stop, after re starting a few times wit would work fine.

Ignore the above answer saying to check the level as it is electric not hydraulic - as you have actually stated in the question!!

Best bet is either take it to your local garage and pay up or do what l did and trade it in and buy newer car!

X Reg is mk2 punto.which as u correctly stated is electric power steering.

Mk2 use 'dual-drive' steering iirc..which is a fiat term meaning that u have a button somewhere on the dash to make the steering extra light to make manoeuvring easier.

Unfortunately a lot of people do not realise that this was not designed to be turn on constantly.and it is common for the power steering to basically wear out due to over use.

There is an article with a list of possible problems & some solution on fiatforum...I've put the link as a source for you.

Im afraid it will need to be changed. its a design fault that was put in the cars for years(discrace l know!) could be up to £500. the lads at fiatforum.com will know (or be) somewhere trustworthy you can get it done near you.

edit. just saw crabbos answer, sorry to repeat.