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I had a warning message in my 2013 Ford Fusion that the power steering assist failed. I have power steering capability now. Is it safe to drive?

I had a warning message in 2013 Ford Fusion that the power steering assist failed. I had no power steering. I went back out to my car about 30 minutes later and I had power steering. Is it safe to drive until I can get it to the dealer?

My car has 52350 miles.
My car has an automatic transmission.

Experienced mechanics share their insights in answering this question :
Some 2013 Ford Fusion models are part of a safety recall involving loss of steering assist. Contact your dealer with the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or check your VIN number on safercar.gov to verify if this recall applies to your vehicle. Loss of steering assist can be dangerous if you are caught off guard. It would be best to not drive the vehicle. Contact your dealer to have it towed to their location.

How to Identify and Fix Common car Problems ?

Our sources include academic articles, blog posts, and personal essays from experienced mechanics :

Ford is recalling 23 2013 Ford Fusions for a steering gear problem that could result in impaired steering or loss of steering control. The recall starts today and is one of three Ford recalls for 2013 models. Ford dealers will replace the steering gear in the Ford Fusions.
Affected vehicles were manufactured between April 19 and April 23, 2013. The steering gears may be missing an internal retaining clip, which could cause components inside the gear to become dislodged inside the gear assembly; this could result in impaired steering and loss of control, increasing the risk of a crash.
Ford has announced that 90644 vehicles have been affected by a Power Steering recall. If the bolts corrode, the steering gear motor may detach from the gear housing resulting in a loss of power steering assist, requiring a greater steering effort, especially at lower speeds, and increasing the risk of a crash.
Summary: Ford is recalling certain model year 2013 Fusion vehicles manufactured April 19, 2013, through April 23, 2013. The steering gears may be missing an internal retaining clip. If the clip is missing, components inside the steering gear may become dislodged inside the gear assembly.
Electronic failure is when the electrical systems keeping the power steering running stop functioning. This type of failure can be caused by a fuse issue, so you can easily check the fuse box to see if one of the fuses needs replacing.
This problem can be fixed on your own, but if you`re not sure how to fix electric power steering problems, take it to a certified mechanic.
Power Steering Warning Light Causes

Hydraulic Systems – For vehicles with hydraulic power steering, the warning light is most likely warning you that you`re low on power steering fluid. Feel free to bring your car to Dalton Automotive, so our technicians can check your fluid levels. We can also check for fluid leaks.

The average cost for a Ford Fusion Power Steering Pump Replacement is between $292 and $528. Labor costs are estimated between $123 and $155 while parts are priced between $169 and $373.
The fuse panel is located under the instrument panel to the left of the steering column.
Today`s electronic power steering systems may fail due to issues with the mounted electric motor. In particular, excessive heat on the motor is likely to cause the failure modes. Infiltration of the system environment by water, dirt, or other contaminants will also likely lead to EPS failure.
The bottom line: Do not attempt to drive a car without power steering. If your power steering fails while driving, pull over to the side of the road and have your car towed to a nearby mechanic.
Our research indicates that your vehicle has an electric power steering system (“EPS” or “EPAS”). These systems use an electric motor instead of a hydraulic system and therefore do not have any power steering fluid to leak.
All you need to do is turn off your engine, then restart it so the light can reset. In most cases, it should come back on, and this only indicates that it may have thought it suspected a problem due to a mistake in the computer system.
Having power steering is essential for driving. Not only can driving without it damage your car, but it can also endanger other drivers on the road. For this reason, it`s illegal in all 50 states to drive without power steering. Power steering enables you to turn your steering wheel easily and quickens reaction time.
There is no set lifespan for your car`s power steering control unit. In most instances, it should last for the life of the vehicle. However, electronics are subject to unanticipated failures.
It can sometimes be caused by a fault with the battery or alternator, so you can carefully check all connections to the battery and see if there`s any visible wear or damage. This issue with the EPS light can also be caused if you have recently had to jump-start your car, or you`ve disconnected the battery.
Is it Safe to Drive With the EPS Light On? It is possible to drive with the EPS light on, but that doesn`t mean it`s safe. An EPS light could indicate your power steering is failing, making steering, turning, and controlling the vehicle more difficult.
1. Low Power Steering Fluid. Low power steering fluid is one of the most common issues that you`ll have as a driver. Your car will need its power steering fluid topped-up every once in a while, to ensure that the hydraulic power steering system continues to function smoothly.
Power Steering feature is not available in Ford Fusion [2006-2010]. Check similar car details: Does Tata Altroz have power steering?
Driving with a faulty power steering does not only create discomfort and security risk but it also causes further damage to the steering system.
Fusion power steering pumps are responsible for effortlessly allowing you to turn the steering wheel while you are driving. This ensures that you are able to turn your car without trouble. If the power steering pump becomes broken, the tires are difficult to turn.
M-type fuse.
You can drive with a bad power steering pump, but it`s not recommended. The pump is responsible for transmitting power to the steering wheel, so if it`s not working properly, you won`t be able to steer the car. In some cases, you may even experience difficulty braking the car.

Relevant Questions and Answers :

the most relevant questions and answers related to your specific issue

I had a warning message in my 2013 Ford Fusion that the power steering assist failed. I have power steering capability now. Is it safe to drive?
ANSWER : Some 2013 Ford Fusion models are part of a safety recall involving loss of steering assist. Contact your dealer with the Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) or check your VIN number on safercar.gov to verify if this recall applies to your vehicle. Loss of steering assist can be dangerous if you are caught off guard. It would be best to not drive the vehicle. Contact your dealer to have it towed to their location.

can i temporally get power steering back from a power steering assist fault in a 2011 ford fusion. want to trade in and not fix
ANSWER : Hi there. The Power Steering system on your Ford Fusion includes both the normal hydraulic system used for many years now to make steering your car easier, as well as a Power Steering Assist system that augments the regular power steering. If a problem develops with the Power Steering Assist system, it will be deactivated. You’ll see a warning in the message center that reads “Power steering assist fault.” In order to resolve this issue, a warning light inspection would have to be completed to clear the code. However, if an actual fault exists in the system, it would re-trigger the warning light. Since this is a common problem with Fusions, repairing or not repairing the warning light would not impact the trade in value in most cases.

Steering wheel shakes, light came on power steering assist failure 2010 Ford Escape
ANSWER : Hi there – this behavior, sometimes called "phantom steering shake" is often due to a steering torque sensor in the steering column. This device sense how much effort is being put into the steering wheel to make a turn. This determines how much "power assist" the electronic steering adds to your own effort to turn the steering wheel. If you are getting the "shake" while idling and still, this can be the beginnings of failure of this sensor. I would first go back to Ford to discuss the Recall (#14V284000), because this appears to be precisely the problem you are having. Escalate to Ford Customer Service. If this is unsuccessful, I recommend a steering wheel shakes inspection performed by a mobile, professional mechanic, such as one from YourMechanic, who will come to your location, confirm this diagnosis, and give you an accurate assessment of damage and cost estimate for repairs.

What does the “Power steering assist fault” warning in the message center of a Ford Fusion mean?
ANSWER : Your car’s Power Steering system includes both the normal Hydraulic system used for many years now to make steering your car easier, as well as a Power Steering Assist system that augments the regular power steering. If a problem develops with the Power Steering Assist system, it will be deactivated. You’ll see a warning in the message center that reads “Power steering assist fault.” When this happens, you need to have your car inspected immediately.

Tip

If the Power Steering Assist system is deactivated, you will still have normal power steering capabilities. The only thing that’s been deactivated is the supplemental assist system.

Drive belt loose and power steering not working.
ANSWER : Hello, thank you for writing in. The vehicle’s drive belt is kept tight with an "auto-tensioner". This may be the pulley that has "popped" and released the tension. If that was the case, you would likely notice more issues than just the steering going out. The power steering pulley should still be inspected. If the vehicle runs, turn it on and watch the belt to see if anything is obviously wrong. Be careful, if the belt comes off or breaks it will fly off. The power steering pump pulley itself should not move. When the issue if found and corrected, make sure you replace the belt as well. Start by checking the auto-tensioner, and work your way to the power steering system.

power steering fluid is leaking
ANSWER : With a power steering fluid leak that big, you certainly should have the vehicle inspected as soon as possible to find the exact cause. Any of the components you listed can be the source of the leak. The power steering pump as well as the rack & pinion steering unit rely on the fluid for lubrication as well as cooling. The whining you hear is from the pump when the fluid runs low or empty. Your issue can be caused by something as simple as a fluid hose right now, but continued ’running dry" of the power steering fluid, can result in damage to both the pump and the rack & pinion unit. If that happens, you can take what may be a repair of a few hundred dollars and turn it into a repair of a couple of thousand dollars.

Very loud pop when turning sharp left leaking transmission or power steering fluid where steering column meet rack
ANSWER : Hi there. If everything else has already been installed from the donor vehicle then it sounds like the high pressure hose is all that you need to install. The hardest part of doing this is the routing. One thing you may also want to double check is that the donor vehicle and your 2003 Escape have the same rack. There are different models depending on the model and the size of your wheels. You need to install the pressure line first, but if it does not line up then you may have the wrong rack installed. If you would like some assistance installing this hose, consider YourMechanic, as a certified mechanic can come to you to [replace your high pressure steering hose] https://www.yourmechanic.com/services/power-steering-pressure-hose-replacement

Power steering pump on 2012 Acura TL needs to be replaced. Due to location a power bar also needs to be replaced. Cost over $3,000. Is this a good price?
ANSWER : Question sent to CS for a quote on replacing the power steering motor, programming, and replacing an electrical component attached to the motor. This is in comparison to a quote that was given for the parts and labor.