Patent ID: 8185270

Claim:
A vehicle steering device, comprising: a steering actuator for steering steerable wheels according to an operation of a steering member; a transmission mechanism including an input member, an output member always connected to the steerable wheels, and a cable that connects the input member and the output member to each other; a connection mechanism configured to switch between a first state of connecting the steering member and the input member to each other, and a second state of disconnecting the steering member and the input member from each other; and a control unit arranged to control the steering actuator and the connection mechanism, the control unit being arranged such that while the steering actuator is normal, the connection mechanism is brought to the second state and the steering actuator is drivingly controlled according to the operation of the steering member, the control unit being arranged such that when a fail occurs in the steering actuator, the connection mechanism is brought to the first state in which the steering member and steerable wheels are mechanically connected to each other and the steering actuator is stopped from being drivingly controlled, and the control unit including a fail detecting portion arranged to detect, based on a load of the steering actuator, a fail in the transmission mechanism while the steering actuator is normal with the connection mechanism being in the second state.