2010 Ford Flex: loss of power steering

Filed Sep 20, 2025 · Steering · ID

Leaving home to go to the grocery store and as I exited my street a dash warning came on stating "Power Steering Assist" fault Steering wheel locked up making it impossible for me to steer. Fortunately this happened in a spot where there was no other traffic and I was able to just turn off the car and restart and the message was gone and my steering was restored. I am now terrified to drive my car because if this had happened in traffic there could have been a serious accident because steering capability was non existent. . In reading online this is a very common problem with my make and model and apparently there was a recall by Ford for 2011 and later cars but not 2010 even though it is a "known problem" at dealerships. For me this now seems intermittent but in calling the dealership they know of the issue. It would cost me about $2200 to fix. I am happy to provide my vehicle for inspection. Thank you so much for your help ... greatly appreciated

Filed Jun 22, 2025 · Steering · VA

On the road and power steering went out and was super hard to turn

Filed Mar 22, 2024 · Steering · NY

Vehicle loses power steering intermittently upon vehicle startup as well as in motion. Vehicle is then extremely hard to control without power steering. Message " POWER STEERING ASSIST FAULT" prints to the instrument cluster above the steering wheel. Turning the vehicle off and back on may resolve problem but it returns within a couple key cycles.

Filed Jan 11, 2022 · AZ

I was in a parking lot and i felt the steering wheel shake and I got a message about the power steering assist fault. If I was moving or driving in traffic my family and my self could have been killed.

Filed Apr 4, 2020 · Steering · 65,000 miles · CA

After starting the vehicle and while still stationary the vehicle displayed a 'power steering assist fault' and the power steering failed. The car is very had to steer after getting this error message. I was able to stop and re-start the car and the error message was not displayed again and I was able to drive the car. The error is now happening every 2-3 days depending on the frequency it is driven. If this happens while driving it is very dangerous.

Filed Feb 6, 2020 · Steering · 141,000 miles · KS

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 ford flex. While driving 20- 30 MPH the steering wheel became difficult to turn. The contact also stated that the steering wheel also pulled to the left and to the right. There were no warning lights illuminated. There was an abnormal rubbing sound detected in the steering wheel. The vehicle was taken to mel hambelton ford 11771 w kellogg ave, wichita, ks 67209 (316) 462-3673 where it was diagnosed as the rack and pinion and power steering assist failed to operate as designed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and informed of the failure. The contact was referred to the federal safety agency hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was 141,000.

Filed Apr 4, 2019 · Steering · 75,039 miles · CT

After starting the car, a message lit in the counsel stating power steering assist fault. I could not move the steering wheel and had to reset the system and restart the car. This happened once in my driveway and a second time in the wall-mart parking lot.feeling unsafe I drove my car directly to our mechanic and after diagnostic, it was determined a replacement of the power steering gear assembly. I have enclose the receipt for the work done.

Filed Sep 7, 2018 · Fuel system, Steering · 127,000 miles · KY

2010 ford flex limited ecoboost awd. Electrical power steering. Intermittent loss of power steering with no lights, notifications, or warning. Fixed short term by turning car off and back on again. Very dangerous at low speeds, especially with the weight of the vehicle and size of the tires, specifically for smaller people. Recall from ford for 2011, will not help at all with a 2010 flex. Has already caused one accident in a parking lot resulting in damage to rear driver side quarter panel after steering wheel became stuck while reversing. Fuel pump also not engaging, resulting in stalls and the car not starting (no ticks, humming, buzzing, lights and radio work). Overall, a very dangerous combination if they were to occur simultaneously, especially at speed. Car was purchased around 1 1/2- 2 months ago. Both issues are becoming more and more frequent.

Filed Mar 30, 2018 · Electrical · 103,000 miles · TN

I was driving at low speed, around 10 to 15 MPH, getting ready to make a turn and the car died. It was overcast and the lights were on. The whole dash went black and I had no power steering or brakes. I pulled into a parking lot without someone hitting me. After stopping, I put the car in park and was able to restart and drive home. Today, the day after the car died, I called my dealer. He stated they cannot repair it if the issue can't be duplicated. The car has 103,00 miles and this is the first time it has ever happened. We are afraid to drive the car now since we narrowly averted an accident yesterday. I went on the ford flex forum and this seems to be a common problem.

Filed Jan 12, 2018 · Engine · 150,000 miles · TX

The engine shut down during a long-distance drive returning from a vacation. The car was towed to a ford dealership. The techs at the dealership determined that the engine failed due to a faulty (leaking) water pump. This water pump is inside the engine block. Thus, the leak caused corruption of other parts of the engine and complete engine failure. This problem with the internal water pump has been the subject of a recall for other ford models, but not the ford flex. The national database of automotive technicians, identifix, reports leaking internal water pumps to be the number 1 problem with the flex. Here are the specifics of what happened: we had been driving for approximately 6 hours. I was at cruising speed of 75 MPH. As I approached lubbock tx, the temperature warning light came on and the temperature gauge had pegged all the way to 'hot'. I reduced speed and drove to the next exit (approximately 1-2 min away). As I exited the freeway, the engine light came on, and moments later the battery light came on. At that point, I lost power steering and the engine shut down. We were able to push the car into a parking lot on the frontage road. This incident is consistent with the claims that have LED to the safety recall for other ford models:escape suvs from the 2014 model year, plus the 2014 and 2015 compact fiesta st, the 2013 and 2014 fusion midsize car and the 2013 through 2015 transit connect small van (obtained from USA today, 1/3/2018). My insurance will not cover the damage which has resulted in the car being "totalled". This is a known problem for ford, and I believe my car should be covered under the recently announced safety recall. This problem in the ford flex has been discussed for years dating back to at least 2008 (https://www.fordflex.net/forums/viewtopic.php?t=17392)

Filed Dec 12, 2017 · Steering · 101,000 miles · PA

Power steering assist and advancetrac both failed at the same time. It is showing on the driver information screen. There are no codes with a code reader.

Filed Aug 29, 2017 · Steering · 144,200 miles · TN

Vehicle equipped with epas steering system that has been part of a recall for 2011-2013 ford flex vehicles with the exact same steering system but for some reason does not include 2010 models. Vehicle began having power steering failure upon cold start up in the last few weeks. It would resolve itself in a few seconds. This morning, 8/29/2017, the power steering would not recover and I received a "power steering assist fault" error on my message center screen. After a few minutes, I turned off the car and back on again and the steering worked fine. I turned it off and on yet again and the failure returned. I tried several times and got the failure more times than not. I called ford and was told recall #15s18 did not apply to my vehicle, even though it is the exact same issue with the exact same part as the 2011-2013 vehicles. The vehicle is unsafe to drive.