Electric steering lock device and method thereof

An electric steering lock device is configured with a control unit (20) to operate a steering column lock (1, 2, 3) between a steering locked state and a steering unlocked state. The electric steering lock device has a locking limit switch (4) that turns on when a locking member (2) reaches the locking stop position, and turns off when an unlocking command for the locking member (2) is outputted. An unlocking limit switch (5) of the electric steering lock device turns on when the locking member (2) reaches the unlocking stop position, and turns off when a locking command for the locking member (2) is outputted. The electric steering lock control unit (20) determines that the locking limit switch (4) or the unlocking limit switch (5) has malfunctioned based on the state of the locking member (2).