yes it caan .
i had the same problem recently with my 92 topaz, the cause of the problem was a leak in my power steering line . the fluid was dripping on my exhaust manifold causing the smoke .
A front suspension system has excessive steering effort and rapid steering wheel return. The most likely cause of this problem is
Check your power steering fluid
Yes, something wrong in the rack and pinion can cause a loss of power steering fluid. The failure of seals in any part of the steering system can cause leaks. Further diagnosis is recommended to isolate the problem.
Figuring out what the cause of the problem is would be the place to start.
If you have the four way flashers on and the flasher is not working this will cause all four lights to come on. If you are sure the four ways are off then the problem is in the signal light switch in the steering column.
If the steering wheel has radio controls on the wheel, there could be a problem in the wiring. When the wires connect electrically it will cause stations to change.
You will need to have the codes checked for your steering system but most of the time the problem is a bad steering position sensor which is located at the bottom of the steering column on the inside of the car. I have seen defective YAW Rate sensors cause this problem but very very rare.
It could be an electric problem, IMMEDIATLY GET IT LOOKED AT!!!!
Steering wheel vibration when applying brakes is usually caused by warped disc brake rotors
The front suspension may have excessive positive camber
You may want to check this with your dealer, but not too recently the cav and sunfire had a recall on the power steering. Something about a bad gear and power failure when making left hand turns. They would either replace the faulty gear or the whole rack and pinion assembly. Either way have it checked out. A steering problem is not a nice problem. It may cause accidents or death.