Diagsheet

2016 Ford Focus · symptom sheet

Power steering cuts out or goes heavy

  • 27owner reports
  • 39,000median miles
  • 0involved a crash

Newest report Oct 10, 2024 · checked Sep 9, 2026

45 of the 1,180 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 27 of those describe power steering loss.

Tick what matches of 27 reports

1
14
8
1
15

What got replaced

Few of these reports name the part that was replaced.

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the steering system covers the 2016 model year as of Sep 9, 2026.

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 31,426 and 56,000 miles, from the 16 reports that gave a mileage.

317
518
219
220
521
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524

What owners wrote

“Electrical power steering goes in and out and the dash displays “steering assist fault” warning, and the power steering goes out entirely. You can still turn, but it takes a lot more physical effort to do so. Since it goes in and out, it can happen at any time and is very hard to get diagnosed through a diagnostic if the mechanic or dealer cannot replicate the issue.”

Filed Sep 25, 2024

“Power steering fault light came on and the vehicle is very hard to now drive because it is difficult to turn the steering wheel, which could cause an accident.”

Filed Jun 18, 2024

“No issues with steering at all and then stopped for gas and when restarting the car got multiple messages regarding steering assist fault resulting in an inability to properly be able to control/steer the vehicle. Left stranded 5 hours away from home.”

Filed Oct 13, 2023

“On my way to the gas station to fuel up. Turned off car and when turned back on power steering malfunction light came on making steering a lot harder. Ran codes to find out it was a water damage fault based off manufacture design after doing research”

Filed Jul 14, 2023

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 0 of 27 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.

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