You'll end up needing a new electronic power steering rack....or front tires. One of the two...maybe both...

 

You'll end up needing a new electronic power steering rack....or front tires. One of the two...maybe both...

Why would a power steering failure cause front tires to wear out?

 

I totally disagree---I've posted this issue before--apparently the main junction wires cause this to happen--my trans has been out for clutch packs--a diligent tech told me the fit is tight & causes connections problems---Id go there first before replacing unnecessary parts---I think this should be a recall along with the trans & horn-& AC -all electrical issues--

 

You're free to disagree. However, I didn't tell him to replace anything. He needs to see if the issue reoccurs and if so, he needs to find out what code is being set when the issue occurs. For some people, it's a 1 time occurrence. For others, it's a repeating problem.

Issues with the wiring harness and horn are not as wide spread as you think. Problems with the transmission are not electrical. They're software and design. Tom has explained the software issues numerous times. As a former Ford technician, I have experience with Focus and Fiesta clutch replacement. I also have experience with the electronic power steering system on these cars. Clutch problems aside, forums make issues appear more widespread than they really are. Those that have issues with the harness, tend to ignore the problem until the power steering control module finally fails. Since 2012, I only know of 3 Focus customers that showed up complaining about horn problems. In the case of 2, there were 2 faulty horns as a result of an accident and 1 broken horn connector. The other never came back because she was told it would take more than 30 minutes to diagnose since she could only bring the car in at lunch time when nobody was available to look at it.

There is no reason to issue a recall for a problem that only affects a small fraction of vehicle owners. If these issues affected a considerable number of owners, Ford would have been forced to issue a recall.

Sent from my moto x4 using Tapatalk

 

That makes it sound like our power steering is pretty fragile.

sykozis, do you know whether any damage can be done to the steering rack or control unit by driving the car with either of the two fuses for the power steering (or both) removed?

 

My '14 SE 5-speed is giving me this fault message, except the car won't crank over at all. The battery is about a year old, all electrical works perfectly (lights, stereo, windows, door locks, HVAC), but the car will not attempt to start whatsoever.

I last drove the car Monday night, 2/25, and the next morning I went out to start it to leave for work and it gave one small crank and then nothing. Every attempt to start the car since has been the same: "steering assist fault", and no attempts at cranking over.

I looked in the fuse panel in the engine bay and all the fuses appear fine, but just in case, I swapped the starter fuse with a good one from another feature and nothing happened. Same thing with the big starter relay: swapped it with one I knew was still good from a working feature, and nothing still.

It's too damn cold for me to stay out and mess with the car long to diagnose anything in or under the engine bay, and I can't get the car into the garage to get it on stands to get underneath it because it's parked in the driveway which is at a decent incline, so it's not like the car could be pushed into the garage.

Thankfully I have other vehicles to drive in the meantime, but my Focus is my work commuter (80 miles round trip per day) so I'd really like to get it sorted ASAP. However, I really dd NOT want to piss the money away on a tow and shop diagnosis (if they even CAN diagnose anything) if it's something I can do myself (I'm handy with a wrench and have no problem replacing any parts, but tracking down electrical problems is my worst nightmare and this car has so many goddamn electrical systems and contact points that could be the culprit).

What do you think? It's a manual 2014 with 115k miles, the battery is an OEM Ford battery and only one year old, and everything electrical works perfectly, but the car will not attempt to start at all, throws the "steering assist fault" message each time the key is first put in to start, and it showed no signs of starting or steering issues at all leading up to the morning I tried to start it.

 

My '14 SE 5-speed is giving me this fault message, except the car won't crank over at all. The battery is about a year old, all electrical works perfectly (lights, stereo, windows, door locks, HVAC), but the car will not attempt to start whatsoever.

I last drove the car Monday night, 2/25, and the next morning I went out to start it to leave for work and it gave one small crank and then nothing. Every attempt to start the car since has been the same: "steering assist fault", and no attempts at cranking over.

I looked in the fuse panel in the engine bay and all the fuses appear fine, but just in case, I swapped the starter fuse with a good one from another feature and nothing happened. Same thing with the big starter relay: swapped it with one I knew was still good from a working feature, and nothing still.

It's too damn cold for me to stay out and mess with the car long to diagnose anything in or under the engine bay, and I can't get the car into the garage to get it on stands to get underneath it because it's parked in the driveway which is at a decent incline, so it's not like the car could be pushed into the garage.

Thankfully I have other vehicles to drive in the meantime, but my Focus is my work commuter (80 miles round trip per day) so I'd really like to get it sorted ASAP. However, I really dd NOT want to piss the money away on a tow and shop diagnosis (if they even CAN diagnose anything) if it's something I can do myself (I'm handy with a wrench and have no problem replacing any parts, but tracking down electrical problems is my worst nightmare and this car has so many goddamn electrical systems and contact points that could be the culprit).

What do you think? It's a manual 2014 with 115k miles, the battery is an OEM Ford battery and only one year old, and everything electrical works perfectly, but the car will not attempt to start at all, throws the "steering assist fault" message each time the key is first put in to start, and it showed no signs of starting or steering issues at all leading up to the morning I tried to start it.

I'm having the same problem what did you do to fix it
Please help

 

I again think its all related to the main POWER CONTROL MODULE --it has issues in the junction connection of some -corrodes -- ( they will try & sell you needless parts) I hope this helps

 

Same problem here with a 16 SE. Did you get it fixed?

 

Did you ever see resolve on this, we are having the same issue with a 16 SE

 

I'd be interested to see new info here also. My car does this, but usually on startup from time to time, then is fine after turning it off and back on.

 

I know it was a big problem with the electric steering Fusion around '10-'12. Maybe check their forums for possible solutions, other than a new rack?

 

Maybe I just need to plan on saving up for this. Car X said it would cost between 1000-1500 to fix. Ford dealer says 1700 worst case. I may check fuses. But I did see that there was apparently a recall for 2014 models. So they apparently know there's an issue with power steering.

 

Anyone have any further info on a recall or luck with solutions to this? I fear I may have the beginning signs of problems and Im not sure if they are related to connection corrosion, power steering motor or something else.

 

This steering assist fault has happened to my Ford explorer 2014 at least 5 times and after parking it for some hours and start the ignition the info disappeared and steering became ok but now it never returned to normal. I called a auto electrician who told me it may be steering control module that needs replacement. Your opinion pls

 

I have a 2013 Ford Focus and every now and then when starting the car there wouldn’t be power steering. So I’d shut it off and turn it back on again and then it would work again. However now it seems to have permanently stopped working with the “assist steering fault” message. What was everyone’s outcome? Did you have to put a new power steering rod or did a control module fix it?

 

Also, Colley Ford in Glendora is quoting me $3k to put in a new power steering rack...

 

2014 Ford Focus power steering assist failure. I can’t tell from these posts if it’s the power control module or not? Power steering assist failure message came on now car won’t turn over. Just had clutch replaced 60 days ago. Need help this is my commuter car, thx

 

Might even check with a local shop. It’s been a couple of years now, but I seem to remember a car x location quoting me about 1700 to replace the steering rack I think. So you may be able to save money that way.

 

My 2012 Focus pops the message every couple months, goes away when I turn off ignition and turn it back on. Never popped up when I'm driving. Has been happening for past 4 years. The car has 178k miles. Had no issues what so ever so far.

 

Same with mine. Turn off the car for a few seconds then turn back on and it’s usually find for a while.

 

My 2012 Focus was showing the fault error intermittently over the past few months, with a restart clearing it. Then that stopped working. I replaced the 2 steering fuses and it did not fix it. Took it to goodyear yesterday and, at first, they said it would be $2600 to fix it. Said the steering was electric, and that the module was tied into the motor in such a way that to replace it, they would need to lift the engine and they don't have the right equipment to do that, so they ended up telling me to take it to the dealership. Looks like that's the next stop. I'll update later.

 

May check other places as well. I think one time I had my car at a car x and asked them about it, I think they said 1200-1500 to replace the steering rack.

 

Same issue just happened to my 2012 Ford focus. It happened a few times a year. Shut off car and turn back on, gone. Now it is permanent. Have not heard of any solutions

 

... Have not heard of any solutions

When mine failed under warranty I was told by the dealer that the whole steering rack had to be replaced. That was their solution. Even though the cause was most likely in the "electric power assisted steering" (EPAS) control unit, they said that it and the mechanical part of the rack were matched at the factory and they could not be replaced separately in the field.

That sounds like a dumb design to me, since replacing an electronic module should be really easy but the rack requires the whole front subframe to be removed and replaced. That's a bigger job than I would have taken on DIY so I'm glad it was under warranty. I also saw where a tiny bit of fluid had seeped from the rack housing, so maybe it was good that they replaced that too. The new one has worked fine and stayed clean since then.

Since it was close to the end of the warranty period I decided to wait and see if anything else would fail so I could get everything fixed at the same time, so my temporary "solution" was to drive with no power steering for a few months, Parking was a strain (great shoulder workout though), but anywhere above 25 MPH or so I actually liked the steering feel better unassisted. I wish I could tune it to assist only below 10 MPH, but I don't know of any way to do that.

 

My 14 SE with only 39K on the odometer, which has already gone through 5 automatic transmission repairs, just showed the steering problem. Happened twice and have called the dealer. They'll be looking at it.

 

Have you heard anything back. My wife’s car just permanently had the power steering malfunction. Let me know what ends up happening, Oorah

 

me too， first time steering error， any solution？thanks

 

Usually if I get the steering message turning the car off and back on usually resolves it. I think a shop told me you’d basically have to change the steering rack.

As far as the transmission, how are you driving it? You basically need to drive it the same way you would a stick shift. Look on YouTube on how to do a transmission reset, then basically drive the car aggressively similar to a stick. You might be surprised. My 13 Focus se is closing in on 187,000 now. Mostly highway but still driving great after they swapped out the tcm around 97k a few years back.

 

Did you end up going to dealership and fixed? How