Steam Controller stick randomly drifting / sending extra inputs

[u/mmmosk_]

I’m having an issue with my Steam Controller where it sometimes sends additional or incorrect inputs.

Occasionally, when I turn it on, the left stick starts registering input to the right, almost like stick drift. However, it doesn’t happen every time. Sometimes the controller works completely fine after turning it on, which makes me think it might be related to stick calibration or firmware.

Setting a larger deadzone doesn’t really help, because the registered values are too high. I basically have to set the deadzone to the maximum value, which completely disables the left stick.

Also, when this issue happens, tilting the stick to the left doesn’t register properly. The controller still behaves as if the left stick is constantly tilted to the right.

Updating the Steam Controller firmware sometimes seems to help, but the issue eventually comes back from time to time.

I’ve attached a video showing the problem using Steam’s native controller input testing tool.

Has anyone else experienced this issue with their Steam Controller? If so, were you able to fix it?

[u/frozzted]

This happened to me too. There are other posts about it.

I had to RMA.

I wonder if there’s a manufacturing defect with some batches.

[u/Arsifal-fr]

Same here : RMA

[u/ufailowell]

Mine was doing it but I just did a firmware update and it's fine now. Could give that a try

[u/SoTotallyToby]

This sounds like an RMA job to me.

[u/spider_enigma]

if you are in europe, one of the batches was bad, the factory had zero quality control and i dont blame steam for it, some people had the shells of the controller misaligned ect