A steering system comprising: a steering wheel; a steer-by-wire valve in electrical communication with the steering wheel; a main steering pump in fluid communication with the steer-by-wire valve; a steering actuator in fluid communication with the main steering pump via the steer-by-wire valve; a steering control unit in fluid communication with the steering actuator via a pair of fluid conduits (52, 152), and having: an upper portion containing a first solenoid valve and a cross-over check valve assembly arranged between the pair of fluid conduits (52, 152); and a lower portion containing a fluid control valve coupled to the steering wheel, and in fluid communication with the steering actuator via the cross-over check valve assembly; and an electronic control unit configured for: generating a steering input signal in response to a rotation of the steering wheel; transmitting the steering input signal to the steer-by-wire valve to thereby selectively admit fluid to the steer-by-wire valve from the main steering pump; determining a predetermined condition in which at least one of the steer-by-wire valve and the main steering pump has failed; selectively controlling the first solenoid valve to a first state to deliver fluid from the lower portion of the steering control unit to the steering actuator via the cross-over check valve assembly, and to thereby provide an emergency steering mode during the predetermined condition; and selectively controlling the first solenoid valve to one of the first state and a second state to thereby prevent fluid flow into the steering actuator, and to allow a recirculation of fluid within the lower portion of the steering control unit, thereby providing a torque feel mode. a steering wheel; a steer-by-wire valve in electrical communication with the steering wheel; a main steering pump in fluid communication with the steer-by-wire valve; a steering actuator in fluid communication with the main steering pump via the steer-by-wire valve; a steering control unit in fluid communication with the steering actuator via a pair of fluid conduits (52, 152), and having: an upper portion containing a first solenoid valve and a cross-over check valve assembly arranged between the pair of fluid conduits (52, 152); and a lower portion containing a fluid control valve coupled to the steering wheel, and in fluid communication with the steering actuator via the cross-over check valve assembly; and an upper portion containing a first solenoid valve and a cross-over check valve assembly arranged between the pair of fluid conduits (52, 152); and a lower portion containing a fluid control valve coupled to the steering wheel, and in fluid communication with the steering actuator via the cross-over check valve assembly; and an electronic control unit configured for: generating a steering input signal in response to a rotation of the steering wheel; transmitting the steering input signal to the steer-by-wire valve to thereby selectively admit fluid to the steer-by-wire valve from the main steering pump; determining a predetermined condition in which at least one of the steer-by-wire valve and the main steering pump has failed; selectively controlling the first solenoid valve to a first state to deliver fluid from the lower portion of the steering control unit to the steering actuator via the cross-over check valve assembly, and to thereby provide an emergency steering mode during the predetermined condition; and selectively controlling the first solenoid valve to one of the first state and a second state to thereby prevent fluid flow into the steering actuator, and to allow a recirculation of fluid within the lower portion of the steering control unit, thereby providing a torque feel mode. generating a steering input signal in response to a rotation of the steering wheel; transmitting the steering input signal to the steer-by-wire valve to thereby selectively admit fluid to the steer-by-wire valve from the main steering pump; determining a predetermined condition in which at least one of the steer-by-wire valve and the main steering pump has failed; selectively controlling the first solenoid valve to a first state to deliver fluid from the lower portion of the steering control unit to the steering actuator via the cross-over check valve assembly, and to thereby provide an emergency steering mode during the predetermined condition; and selectively controlling the first solenoid valve to one of the first state and a second state to thereby prevent fluid flow into the steering actuator, and to allow a recirculation of fluid within the lower portion of the steering control unit, thereby providing a torque feel mode.