Steering Assist Is Reduced Drive With Care: [How To Reset]

The illumination of the warning message “Steering assist is reduced: Drive with care” on the dashboard of your vehicle indicates a potential issue with the steering assist system, which can be more problematic and costlier to fix if not checked promptly.

Vehicles are evolving from time to time, and in modern ones, advanced driver-assistance systems are equipped to help drivers drive safely and efficiently and aim to improve their safety. 

Similarly, the power steering system in modern vehicles is changed from hydraulic to electric power steering assist (EPS), which provides additional benefits such as enhanced steering precision, reduced maintenance, improved fuel efficiency, eco-friendliness, and adjusted assistance level based on speed. The EPS uses electric motors to provide steering assistance, which helps the driver turn smoothly and improve their ride experience.

As an experienced automobile expert, I will assist you in understanding what steering assist reduced means, the common culprits that can cause warning flashing, and how you can fix & reset this error by following the provided solutions.

What Does “Steering Assist is Reduced: Drive with Care” Mean?

When you trigger the warning, your vehicle’s power steering system is reduced, which signifies it’s not operating at its full potential. You will start facing issues such as putting more effort on the steering to move, especially when driving at low speeds or parking the car. The main function of a hydraulic or electric power steering assist is to make the steering turning lighter and improve its responsiveness, which is crucial for optimal vehicle performance.

However, it is a critical issue that might lead to a complete loss of power assist, which results in difficulty controlling the vehicle and heavy effort needed to turn the steering. Although the steering assist is reduced, the warning does not mean that your vehicle’s power steering system has completely failed. It can be recovered by making instant repairs or diagnosing the cause of the issues.

Common Causes of “Steering Assist is reduced” warning.

Several factors can contribute to triggering the warning on the dashboard. Below is the breakdown of the most frequently reported causes that have more chances to be detected as the main culprits.

1. Low Power Steering Fluid (in Hydraulic Systems)

If you own a vehicle based on hydraulic power steering, the issue might be caused by the low fluid level, resulting in fluid leaks in the power steering system, damaged or cracked hose, faulty pump, and reservoir. When the fluid level becomes low, the hydraulic system will reduce its efficiency in generating the required force needed to assist the steering, which results in steering assist reduction.

2. Bad or Low Voltage Battery

A faulty or low-voltage battery can affect the complete electrical sy, especially if the car is equipped with an electric power steering assist (that system, which needs electric power to perform its function. A bad battery or alternator can impact the electric power supply to the EPS, leading to the warning “steering assist is reduce drive with care” on the dashboard.

3. Failed or Failing Steering Rack

The steering rack is a crucial component of the vehicle steering system, which is responsible for converting the rotational motion of the steering wheel into linear motion, which helps in rotating the steering smoothly. When a steering rack becomes damaged or worn out, it causes difficulty turning the steering and reduces the power steering assist capacity to assist the steering. 

4. Coolant Temperature Sensor Malfunction

The coolant temperature sensor function monitors the engine’s coolant temperature to protect the engine from overheating and other potential issues. It constantly transfers the gathered data to the electronic control unit (ECU), which adjusts the other systems’ power according to the received data. When this sensor starts malfunctioning, becomes faulty, or is damaged, it can send incorrect information that might force the ECU to reduce the power of the non-essential system, including steering assist.

5. Software or ECU Malfunction

In modern vehicles equipped with an electric steering assist system, the ECU (electronic control unit) regulates and controls the power of the steering assist. When it detects any issues or faults in the system, it can trigger the warning “Steering assist is reduced drive with Care” on the dashboard to inform the driver about the recurring issues. Sometimes, the ECU can also be a culprit due to bugs, software glitches, or corrupted firmware that can trigger error messages.

Here’s the video below, in which a Codilac XT5 owner has diagnosed the steering assist issue and the culprit found behind the error was invalid data delivery by the engine control module. However, the causes can vary with different vehicles.

6. Faulty Engine Thermostat

The thermostat performs a crucial function in maintaining the engine temperature by regulating the coolant from the engine to the radiator. An optimal engine operating temperature is needed for the vehicle to perform efficiently and is also crucial for other systems’ proper functioning. A faulty or damaged thermostat can lead to the engine overheating or running too cold. An overheated engine can reduce the efficiency of electric power steering (EPS) to assist steering as a protective measure.

7. Mechanical Issues

Improper wheel alignment, damaged suspension components, loose or damaged wiring, and steering linkage issues such as worn ball joints or tie rods can cause excess strain on the system, reducing the steering efficiency. These mechanical issues can contribute to triggering the warning message.

How to Reset “Steering Assist Is Reduced drive with care”

Resetting the error message is crucial as it can help you resolve the issue promptly without facing critical repairs or replacements. Here’s the breakdown of ways to reset or fix the warning “steering assist reduced drive with care”.

1. Turn Off and Restart the Vehicle

Sometimes, a simple vehicle restart can resolve the issue, especially when caused by a sensor miscommunication or sudden software glitches, which can be fixed by restarting the vehicle. Here is how to do this:

• Turn the ignition system off completely and plug out the key.
• Wait 30 seconds to 1 minute to allow the system to power down.
• Restart the vehicle and see whether the warning reappears on the dashboard.

If the error message is gone after the vehicle restart, take a test drive to check that the steering assist system is operating as it should. If you put extra effort into wheel turning, further inspections will be needed to detect the root cause.

2. Disconnect the Battery terminals.

Performing a power cycle will reset the electronic control unit (ECU), which might fix the underlying minor electronic errors.

• Stop the vehicle in a safe place and turn it off completely.
• Using a wrench, locate the battery and disconnect the negative battery terminal (black cable).
• Wait about 10-15 minutes to allow the electrical systems to discharge fully.
• Reconnect the battery terminal and start the vehicle.

Check the error warning and see if it is cleared. A power cycle can temporarily fix the issue, but you should conduct further diagnosis and inspections if mechanical or electrical faults cause it.

3. Clear error codes with an OBD-II scanner

If you change the battery or it is too old, you might experience many bunch codes after conducting the diagnosis with an error codes scanner tool like OBD-II. If you have access to this tool, it will be easy for you to run the diagnosis yourself. On the other hand, if you don’t have you can visit the nearest mechanic shop to get a diagnosis of underlying fault codes. Here is how you can run it:

• Plug the OBD-II scanner into your vehicle’s diagnostic port.
• Turn on the ignition without starting the engine.
• Run a diagnostic scan using the OBD-II scanner. If codes related to the steering assist system are present, they will show up.
• Normally, two major codes will show up there that need quick attention that are:
• Code p0128: “Engine coolant temperature is below the thermostat regulating temperature.” 
• Code U0100: “Lost cummination with ECM/PCM.”
• Select the option to clear or reset the error codes.
• Finally, restart the vehicle to see if the codes have been fixed.

4. Update the Vehicle’s Software 

If none of the above solves the issue, then you must try to update the software as, in some cases, glitches and bugs can also cause the illumination of the “ steering assist reduced drive with care” message. For this purpose, visit the nearest dealership or trusted certified technician shop to update your vehicle software and clear any outdated software.

5. Check Fluid Levels (Hydraulic Systems)

Check your vehicle’s hydraulic power steering fluid level, as it might be possible the fluid leaks are causing the reduced steering assist error. Thoroughly inspect the fluid leaks, which might lead to severe critical problems, and ensure the fluid is top-up to the required level.

6. Replace the Steering Rack or Motor

In extreme conditions, when you experience excessive stiffness, you might need to replace the steering rack or motor, especially if your vehicle has high mileage. An expert mechanic can do the replacement of these components. He will first diagnose the worn-out parts and then perform what is needed to resolve the issue.

7. Coolant temperature sensor replacement

Replacement of broken or malfunctioning temperature sensors is important to prevent the sensor sends incorrect data to ECM. For this purpose, the faulty sensor is unscrewed from its position using a wrench, and installed a new one to restore the steering assist performance. You can seek professional help to perform replacement as it requires advanced tools and mechanical knowledge, which might be challenging for a vehicle owner to complete.

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Mostly affected vehicle models And years.

There are a few models & years in which the “Steering assist is reduced drive with care” warning is mostly reported by the owners. However, if you own any of these vehicles, regular maintenance, prompt checks & addressing of raising problems, and keeping the electrical power steering assist system free from damage can prevent the vehicle from steering assist issues. Here is a chart containing mostly reported models and years based on available data.