Steering kickback relates to the sharp and rapid movements of an automobile's steering wheel as the front wheels encounter a significant obstruction or imperfection in the road. The amount of kickback is dependent on a variety of factors, namely the angle of impact with the obstruction or imperfection, health and stiffness of the vehicle's shock absorbers, and the speed of the vehicle, as well as the type of steering mechanism used and its mechanical advantage.
Rack and pinion steering may be susceptible to kickback, as the steering rack transmits forces in either direction. A steering box design, such as worm and sector or recirculating ball, is much less sensitive. Despite this, the other advantages of rack and pinion steering have led to its almost universal adoption, at least for light automobiles.
Steering kickback should not be confused with torque steering, bump steer or roll steer. These are similar outside influences that affect the direction of travel, but they do not cause a movement at the driver's wheel.