Car hard to steer after driving thru puddle. Loss of power steering?

Check to see if your serpentine belt is still on the pulleys. No belt,,no power steering and no alternator. You are probably driving on the battery only.

Priority Action Part Type Cause
1 Inspect Power Steering Fluid Low Power Steering Fluid Level.
2 Inspect Power Steering Pump Worn out or Damaged Power Steering Pump.
3 Inspect Power Steering Hose Leaking or Incorrectly Installed Power Steering Hose.
4 Inspect Belt Tension Incorrect Belt Tension Will Allow Belts to Slip.
5 Inspect Belt Incorrectly Routed, Adjusted(Tensioned), Missing or Worn Drive Belt(s).
7 Inspect Ball Joint-upper Worn, Damaged, or Faulty Ball Joint.
8 Inspect Ball Joint-Lower Malfunctioning Ball Joint.

What happes when a vehicle experiences a loss of power steering, is that the car reverts to a
manual steering car (like in the Model T days), making steering difficult, especially at low speeds,
and during low speed maneuvering.

bad power steering belt.

ABS/Trac Lights are often caused by dirty or broken Wheel Speed Sensor circuits.

The water can get into the power steering belt pulley causing slippage which can result in the power steering loss.

mcdevito75 here, Chances are your driveing too fast thru puddles, water is getting on the belt causeing it to slip and water also hittind electricall system, cils / Alternator etc. go slower thru puddles, better yet avoid them as you could get stuck.

I think you may have a problem with your electric assisted power steering motor. Is the loss in power only when your are making sharp turns to the right or left?
Do you hear any load noises or squeling sounds?
You should have it inspected, Don't want you to lose control while driving.

Might be a slipping serpentine belt. Did you happen to drive through a puddle of water just before this happened?

Could also be your steering rack going bad. This would be more money. Hopefully not. When was the last time you had your power steering fluid drained and replaced?

have you checked under the hood ? to check if the drivebelt/s for power steering pump is there and if your engine is diesel the power servo pump may be same belt ? hence loss of both these functions? as you say going thro puddles?? deep ? could have caused belt to come off it will be obvious to see if belt is not there ? hope this helps

It's the main serpentine belt, it runs everything, and it needs to be replaced.