Patent ID: 7004279

Claim:
A vehicle steering system comprising: an operation input member configured to steer a vehicle; a steering reaction force actuator configured to apply a reaction force to the operation input member; a steering mechanism including a steering gear unit actuator and at least one steerable vehicle wheel operatively coupled to the steering gear unit actuator; a clutch arranged between the operation input member and the steerable vehicle wheel to mechanically disconnect the operation input member from the steerable vehicle wheel under normal operating conditions, and to mechanically connect the operation input member with the steerable vehicle wheel upon detecting a malfunction in the steering reaction force actuator; and a steering controller configured to control the steering reaction force actuator and the steering gear unit actuator when the steering reaction force actuator is operating normally, based on operation input information to the operation input member, the steering controller including a steering malfunction detection section configured to detect the malfunction in the steering reaction force actuator, and a steering control limiting section configured to limit control of the steering gear unit actuator from a detection point when the malfunction in the steering reaction force actuator is detected to a clutch engagement point when the clutch is determined to complete mechanical connection between the operation input member and the steerable vehicle wheel.