A method and system for detecting increased internal friction in a steering mechanism of a vehicle having a steering system including a steering linkage and a steering wheel. The method includes detecting a steering acceleration {umlaut over (φ)}L value of an element of the steering system and comparing the steering acceleration {umlaut over (φ)}L value with a stored maximum steering acceleration threshold value {umlaut over (φ)}n, max. Based on the comparison, if the steering acceleration {umlaut over (φ)}L value is greater than the maximum steering acceleration threshold value {umlaut over (φ)}n, max, the method generates at least one first signal r1 for further processing. The method may further include counting a number of events n occurring owning to the first signal r1 and comparing n with a possible maximum number of events nmax. If n is greater than nmax, the method generates a second signal r2.