Have not had this problem before this. Started truck this morning after driving to work around lunch time. Temp was maybe 65 degrees and no rain. When started at lunch for about 3 seconds it was fine. Then the power steering quit and the dash flagged an error for Power Assist Error (or maybe it said failure). I could man-handle the steering as you would expect when the steering assist failed. Stopped, turned off and popped the hood. No visual issues apparent. Restarted and same sequence occurred a second time. Worked for a few seconds and then errored out. Popped hood allowing engine to run so I could inspect the belts and flywheels. No issues or vibrations. Realized it was not a hydraulic system and closed the hood. Engine idled for about 5 minutes and I cautiously tested the truck in the parking lot. Power assist seemed functioning.

Decided to drive to independent auto repair business I use. They are assessing. No confidence now in the safety as if that had occurred while at speed the outcome could have been bad. I expect it to reoccur. Things like this do not just disappear after they start, and I expect it to get worse. Pretty disappointed in Ford for this kind of error. I use this as a light duty vehicle and planned to keep it a few more years. Now thinking my next vehicle will be something less fragile.

Update from Feb 11, 2023: Repair replaced the power steering rack assembly for $2550. That worked for 2 days and then another issue appeared (Service AdvanceTrac) but with the same symptoms - loss of power steering and no blinker. Then for no reason it just started working. Six weeks later it failed again 3 days in a row. Ford dealer assessed, could not find anything wrong, found previous code (C1287), updated the firmware on the ABS module and told me it is fixed (for now). Chalk up another $200 for basically nothing. So far I am in this for 3 months and out $2,700, with a hope that it might be fixed (until it fails again - maybe??). Not feeling the love.

Bought the new-to-me truck this year. Got an annoying message in the dash saying, "Low Battery Features Turned Off" -- as annoying as this was, it was just seat warmers. But then it started cutting out my power steering when I'm going slow... I cleaned the battery terminals and it ended up being fine for a bit.

This morning, I got a message on the dash saying "Power Steering Assist Fault". Turned the vehicle off and started it again. The message went away and the steering went back.

I've been researching and reading and it seems like tons of people have this problem and Ford hasn't issued a recall on it yet.

FORD - GET YOUR ACT TOGETHER!

Glad to see I am not the only one with this issue. It started out as an Advance Track system error. Little did I know that was a masking to the real problem. The EPAS (electronic power assisted steering) was going out in the vehicle. Ford is well aware of this problem. The same EPAS system that is in the trucks is also in the Explorers and Escapes. Somehow the SUV have a higher failure rate so Ford stepped up to the plate and issued a recall on that system for the SUV's. When my system went out Ford dealership said it would cost 2200 dollars to fix. I contacted Ford Corporate on 07/292019 to try and figure out why the trucks which have the same system were not recalled. Ford told me that even though they have the same system and were manufactured at the same time does not necessarily mean that mine will fail like they did in the SUV's. I laughed and told them that I know it will fail because it did and it is currently at one of their dealerships getting repaired. Ford told me that there is nothing they can do and did not know why I was so upset. Ford continues to shy away from this problem and not step up and issue the recall for this terrible system. This is what happens when we go to all these bullshit electronic systems. Ford ended the call by telling me to hold on to my receipt so "when" they do issue the recall I can get reimbursed. So maybe there is some light at the end of the tunnel, but for now I'm selling my left kidney to pay for Ford's f*ck up.

I bought this truck used in May with high miles. It's only 7 years old, so I figured I had a while before anything major needed attention. I don't drive the truck often, just weekends to haul things. I haven't driven the truck for the past 2 weekends. Today when I got in the truck the steering was VERY stiff. My first thought was I need to check the power steering fluid. I was running late, so just drove and was bothered by the tight steering. As I continued running my errands, the steering loosened up and felt normal again. I got home and when I went to check the power steering, it was then I learned that the V6 has the electric power steering. Anyway, this is my first issue with it, and it went away. I wanted to register the complaint in case it gets bad. I hope it doesn't!

Pulling out of a tight parking space, my power steering decides to go out. It screeched as I was backing out, then it went out. It was sooo hard to turn the wheel, so I had to go forward and backwards about 6 times to get it out from behind another car (where power steering went out). Luckily I found 2 parking spots that were open right down from where I was. I barely turned it in there and stopped it and called tow truck to take to dealership. Ford of Franklin, TN said bad rack and pinion whole set.$ 2000.00 for the part, $1006.00 to install. Caused by electronic failure. Not covered under lifetime warranty that FORD dealership gave out when I bought the truck.

I was on a 220 mile trip when the power steering started sticking on the highway doing about 60 mph. I simply got off the highway and stayed on county roads to see if slower speeds would help. Within 30 miles after the original sticking, it was full on locking up and making a horrible screeching sound during any slight turn. The "Service AdvancTrac" light came on, and was shortly followed by "Electric Power Steering Assist Fault" light. If this system locked up like it did any sooner than it had, my four family members and I could have been crosses on the side of the road. I eventually decided to get towed to the nearest mechanic where they said it was the Electric Power steering that needed to be replaced totaling about $2000. I have not gotten it fixed, and towed it home, hoping that there was a recall for such a terrible failure. This should be recalled immediately, and truck owners should not be liable for this failure since it is such a safety issue.

While driving down the road with my family in the car, I got a "service advance trac" light on my dash and immediately lost power steering. Luckily, I was driving and not my wife, she said she would've had an accident for sure. I was able to nurse the truck off of the road and into a gas station until the power steering just eventually came back on. The traction control light stayed on until I turned the car off and then back on. The Ford dealership wants to charge me at least $140 to bring it in and have it tested, then they'll tell me what's wrong and how much all of that will cost. I can see why the average price for this fix is around $2000. I can't believe that Ford hasn't addressed this issue with all of the posts on this website alone that are identical to mine.

I recently returned from a 2000 mile trip and had just unloaded my vehicle and parked it. The next morning, I went to start my vehicle. It started fine, but there was an advance trac warning on the dash. I had no steering. I did not drive it that morning as there was no way to turn the wheel. I had the vehicle towed to a Ford repair shop. They told me that it was a gear in the steering that had broke. This vehicle was no longer under warranty. I had to pay to get it repaired. I called FORD and they took down my information and told me to save the receipt in case there was a recall and I may get reimbursed.

Live in Fargo, ND and it's starting to get cold. Autotrac warning light comes on and lose power steering and turn signals. Didn't happen during warm periods and doesn't happen when I park in the garage. Once I'm driving and it seems like the truck is more warmed up, I can turn the vehicle off, like at a stop light, and turn on again and the warning goes off and the steering/turn signals work again. Have an appointment with the dealer tomorrow. Only 29K and my 3/36 warranty expired already. Very frustrating.