This data is from the NHTSA — the US gov't agency tasked with vehicle safety. Complaints are spread across multiple & redundant categories, & are not organized by problem.
So how do you find out what problems are occurring? For this NHTSA complaint data, the only way is to read through the comments below. Any duplicates or errors? It's not us.
An internal steering rack failure is involuntarily interfering with the electronic power steering system making the steering sticking or notchy at speeds under 45 mph. At highway speeds this same internal failure causes a prevalent and strong steering drift. Then upon correction to center the steering sticks and then releases to give back control. Sometimes this happens 3 times a minute. The longer you drive the more frequent the failure mode happens. After four hours of driving my arms were tired. On 23 Mar 2023 the vehicle was inspected by a certified Honda Dealer technician including a 4 mile drive test. The inspection report declared that the "STEERING RACK HAS AN INTERNAL FAILURE CAUSING THE STEERING TO FEEL NOTCHY". To remedy the problem the dealer recommended a steering rack assembly change out which would entail about 5 hours of labor. An alignment was also recommended. Including the assembly part, alignment, labor and inspection report the total came to approximately $4800. I decided to take the car from the dealer and with a friend record the number of failure instances and video the highway speed failure mode. The dealer had advised me on the inspection report invoice that the "VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE" but I also didn't want the car to be held hostage for $4800. On 27 March 2023 I called American Honda to request assistance with this repair. The 2016 Honda Civic model year has the highest number of steering complaints from 2010 to 2022. The replacement steering rack part is in its third iteration. My car was made in Dec 2015 in the early production on a new generation. Even though my car has 73,000 miles Honda should recall these early steering rack models and replace them at their expense providing a safe steering rack assembly to their customers. A copy of the Vehicle inspection report and invoice is attached. Note that that the vehicle is declared not safe to drive by the Honda Dealer and I am stranded away from home awaiting a fair resolution
While operating the vehicle on the highway the steering was not smooth when starting to turn the wheel. There was a short hesitation or loss of power assistance while turning to follow the direction of the roadway. This occurrence was very brief while turning the steering wheel. The steering problem lasted for several days. Later when taking the vehicle to be inspected for this problem there was no steering difficulty at all. The vehicle was inspected, computer analyzed and test driven finding no fault with the steering. Although there seems to be no problem at this time it is unknown if this could possibly be an "intermittent problem"?
At highway speeds while trying to keep the vehicle straight and in my lane, the steering sticks while trying to make minor adjustments to stay in my lane. I have to apply more force to my steering and I end up overcorrecting and it becomes very hard to stay straight and in my lane. This is only at highway speeds, anywhere from 60-75 mph, I have not noticed this happening at lower speeds. It seems something is happening with with the steering wheel or something in the electronic power steering system is malfunctioning. There are no warning lights on my car, I have talked to several certified Honda master technicians about this issues and they recognize the symptoms and tell me it is the electronic power steering rack having issues. My vehicle has only 42,000 miles.
When car is driven above 40 mph the steering wheel sticks. Extra effort is required to maintain midline steering. Extra effort is required to break the persistent sticking pattern, which can cause loss of control.
- Lakewood Ranch, FL, USA
Search CarComplaints.com for these popular complaint phrases...
Steering wheel has become stuck/jerky on the freeway. This causes me to swerve all over the road. The wheel sticks after it's been still for more than a couple seconds. To make a steering correction to stay in my lane I need to apply more force to make a small adjustment. This causes the car to swerve when the steering wheel breaks free. Then it sticks in the new position, and I end swerving the other way when it breaks free again. Dealer says only fix is to replace entire steering rack and wants $3500 for repair. Car has 55000 miles and is no longer under warranty. Called an independent Honda repair shop to get an estimate. The independent shop told me they have replaced a few. Problem apparently affects many Civics from model year 2016 through 2022. Unfortunately, the replacement rack is the same part number and has failed the same way again in some cars. This should be a safety recall and repaired ant Hondas expense.
Every time my 2016 civic is driven for about 30 minutes straight above 60 mph the steering starts to become stiff and jerky. It feels as if the steering wheel locks into place and you must pull on the steering wheel to get it out of position while driving causing serious danger to myself and those driving near me. People who have driven behind me while the issue has happened have notified me that it looks like a drunk driver is at the wheel due to the jerking that needs to be done to get the steering wheel out of position. Driving speed limit on the expressway after 30 minutes has become a hazard and is very unfortunate due to the car only being about 6 years old. It has been going on for quite some time now and is a frequent issue that is popped up on civic forums for models 2016-2019.
Driving on the highway I started to feel the steering stick while keeping the car centered in my lane. To release the steering stick issue a stronger input was needed by me to control the car. It seemed to me the steering sticking issue occurs only at highway speed. This started with about 32,000 miles on the car. Although it never became an actual safety issue there was always the fear the steering would lock up and I would not be able to control the steering. At no time was there any visual indication (warning light(s)) for the condition. I have not taken the car to the dealership for inspection. Police nor insurance company were notified over this issue. The auto is available for inspection.
Steering wheel has some extra resistance (sticking, stiff and jerky) when making small corrections at any speeds, resulting in extra pressure being applied to break the resistance, resulting in sharp (hard) correction changes. When make small steering adjustments it has resistance, then suddenly becomes easy. This can cause oversteering when correcting.
1st Steering wheel pops on highway 65+mph, I've taken my vehicle to dealership to get diagnosed supposedly couldn't find anything wrong, I've even taken a service rep for a drive to show them what is happening they noticed but service told him not to do anything! Second issue squealing noise coming from wheel bearings I took my car to 2 different shops, Honda and wheel shop both places can't determine where noise is coming from!
Typically during highway driving, steering becomes extremely sticky and requires significant effort to make even slight adjustments to keep the car on the road and even forces over correction which has occurred on multiple occasions
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated while her husband was driving 60 MPH and turning the steering wheel to the right, the vehicle would drift to the left. The contact stated no warning light was illuminated. The driver was able to continue driving to his destination. The contact took the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the vehicle needed an alignment. The vehicle was repaired but continued to experience the failure. The contact took the vehicle back to the dealer, but the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was drifting and failed to move as needed and continued to jerk. The contact forced the steering wheel into position however, the action would overcorrect the vehicle. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was jerking and the vehicle was difficult to turn. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer again where it was diagnosed and determined that the power steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 47,466.
Steering wheel has some extra resistance (sticking, stiff and jerky) when making small corrections at any speeds, resulting in extra pressure being applied to break the resistance, resulting in sharp (hard) correction changes.
Car abruptly pulls to the passenger side and requires significant force to keep car centered on the road. The system then lets go and car overcorrects into incoming lane requiring quick reaction to prevent car from hitting oncoming vehicles. This issue occurs on nearly every use of the vehicle especially if driven more than 30 min. The design of this car is drive by wire and there is no mechanical link between steering wheel and rack and pinion. This problem seems unrelated to the avoidance system as it happens when it is both on and off. Honda dealership seems unconcerned with the issue even though there is a recall for that same issue for both the 2017 and 2018 model years. The issue was related to a magnet for a sensor within the rack.
Steering sticks when driving on the highway. When make small steering adjustments it has resistance, then suddenly becomes easy. This can cause oversteering when correcting.
Same problem others have reported. At highway speeds the steering will become hard to manage and if going into a curve very dangerous. When this happens have to pull over at next exit and shut car off. Dealership service department claims the VSA modulator needs replacing (at a cost of 1500$).
At highway speeds when it is warm and the vehicle has been driven for 20-30 minutes the steering becomes sticky. It is most noticeable at freeway speed when attempting minor corrections to maintain good lane position. The steering wheel resists minor effort to turn and then breaks loose causing an over correction, potentially as far as into another lane.
A D V E R T I S E M E N T S
- Raleigh, NC, USA