In this paper, a new tuning function backstepping control scheme is proposed for a class of parametric strict feedback nonlinear systems to accommodate actuator failures/faults and dead-zone constraints, where the failures/faults are uncertain in time, pattern, and values, and the dead-zone parameters are not available for feedback control design. Roughly speaking, such a scheme is developed in two steps below. First, by using an adaptive smooth inverse function to compensate for the dead-zone nonlinearity, we separate the coupling actuator dynamics into two parts, i.e., the dead-zone compensation errors and the nominal failure dynamics. Afterward, we further handle these two parts based on the techniques of robust adaptive approach and parametrization method. With our scheme, the global boundedness of the signals in the closed-loop system are ensured, and the tracking error is steered to zero asymptotically, regardless of the presence of uncertain failures/faults and dead-zone constraints. These results have also been verified through simulation studies. (C) 2017 Published by Elsevier Inc.