2001 Mitsubishi Challenger

Hi, I took a 2001 Mitsubishi Challenger for a test drive this morning and it went fine around corners and drove well except when I had to do a complete 360 and put the steering on full lock and it just stopped. I had to then put the car in park to start it again and it drove fine until once again I did a full lock and the same thing happened. Keeping in mind the fuel gage was reading almost empty and it was on a slight hill. The owner called his mechanic and was told it had something to do with disconnecting the battery earlier today and not starting I again to let the electrics reprogram itself. I don't know anything about cars, but this sounds fishy to me. What do you think? Cheers, Kandi