A vehicle's steering wheel is crooked with the vehicle sitting still and the front wheels straight ahead. What is the most likely cause?

When a vehicle's steering wheel is crooked while the front wheels are straight, it often indicates a misalignment issue with the steering mechanism. A bent pitman arm can significantly affect how the steering linkage operates. The pitman arm connects the steering gear to the rest of the steering system and plays a critical role in translating the driver's steering input into movement of the front wheels.

If the pitman arm is bent, it can cause an improper angle for the steering linkage, leading to a situation where the steering wheel must be turned at an awkward angle to keep the vehicle traveling straight. This misalignment manifests as a crooked steering wheel even when the vehicle is stationary with the wheels straight ahead.

The other options, while related to alignment, do not directly cause the steering wheel to be crooked when the vehicle is still. A bent rear axle would primarily affect rear-wheel alignment and handling rather than the steering geometry, while incorrect thrust line and thrust angle settings typically relate to how the rear axle is set in relation to the vehicle’s longitudinal centerline and the alignment of the front wheels. Thus, these would also not be the most direct cause of a crooked steering wheel in this scenario.