Honda Steering Recalls & Safety Issues

Honda steering recalls and safety complaints: 3139 reports across 9 models. See which Honda vehicles have the most steering problems.

3139Total Complaints
9Models Affected
30Vehicles Tracked

Steering failures in Honda vehicles have been reported to NHTSA by vehicle owners. These reports help identify systemic problems and can lead to manufacturer recalls. Below are the Honda vehicles most affected by steering problems.

Most Affected Honda Vehicles

VehicleComplaints
2024 Honda Prologue 79
2025 Honda Pilot 10
2024 Honda Pilot 9
2023 Honda Pilot 7
2025 Honda Hr-V 8
2024 Honda Hr-V 38
2023 Honda Hr-V 59
2020 Honda Fit 2
2026 Honda Cr-V 3
2025 Honda Cr-V 32
2024 Honda Cr-V 83
2023 Honda Cr-V 280
2022 Honda Cr-V 74
2021 Honda Cr-V 58
2020 Honda Cr-V 23
2019 Honda Cr-V 93
2018 Honda Cr-V 222
2022 Honda Civic 612
2021 Honda Civic 41
2020 Honda Civic 19
2019 Honda Civic 63
2018 Honda Civic 193
2017 Honda Civic 132
2016 Honda Civic 368
2018 Honda Civic Type R 193
2017 Honda Civic Type R 116
2020 Honda Civic Si 19
2019 Honda Civic Si 64
2018 Honda Civic Si 193
2015 Honda Accord 46

About Steering Safety Issues

The steering system translates driver input into directional control, with electric power steering (EPS) units now nearly universal on new vehicles and hydraulic systems still common on older models. Reported issues include EPS module failures producing complete loss of assist, intermittent steering pull, steering-wheel detachment in extreme cases, tie-rod and ball-joint wear, and software-related faults that cause the system to disengage at speed. A steering failure at speed can produce immediate loss of lane-keeping control. Even partial failures (sudden loss of assist) often surprise drivers and contribute to crashes during evasive maneuvers.

Heavy steering effort, vibration through the wheel, audible clunks during low-speed maneuvering, and any steering-related warning light should be addressed before a sudden complete failure occurs.

How Significant Is This?

With 3139 honda steering complaints reported across 9 models spanning 2015–2026, this combination falls into a high signal band. In practice, that means the volume is at a level that frequently corresponds to either an active recall, an open investigation, or a Technical Service Bulletin issued to dealerships — owners should check whether their VIN is covered by any active campaign. Complaint volume is not the only thing that matters — severity (whether the defect caused crashes, fires, or injuries) and consistency (whether multiple owners describe the same failure mode) are equally important when assessing real-world risk.

Complaints by Model Year

This breakdown shows how Honda Steering complaints are distributed across model years. A concentration in a particular year usually signals a generation-specific defect that may have been corrected in subsequent model years.

Honda Steering complaints by model year
Model Year Vehicles Complaints Distribution
2026 1 3
2025 3 50
2024 4 209
2023 3 346
2022 2 686
2021 2 99
2020 4 63
2019 3 220
2018 4 801
2017 2 248
2016 1 368
2015 1 46

Honda Models with the Most Steering Complaints

The following Honda models account for the bulk of steering complaints in our database. Vehicles near the top of the list have either widely-reported defects or simply higher production volumes — the per-model trim and year pages provide context to distinguish the two.

  1. Civic — 1428 steering complaints across 7 model years.
  2. Cr-V — 868 steering complaints across 9 model years.
  3. Civic Type R — 309 steering complaints across 2 model years.
  4. Civic Si — 276 steering complaints across 3 model years.
  5. Hr-V — 105 steering complaints across 3 model years.
  6. Prologue — 79 steering complaints across 1 model year.
  7. Accord — 46 steering complaints across 1 model year.
  8. Pilot — 26 steering complaints across 3 model years.
  9. Fit — 2 steering complaints across 1 model year.

What to Do If You're Affected

If your vehicle is exhibiting honda steering issues that match the patterns described in NHTSA complaints, take these steps in order. First, check your VIN for active recalls using NHTSA's free recall lookup tool — recall remedies are repaired at no cost to the owner regardless of warranty status. Second, document the failure with dated photos or video, and keep copies of any service records, parts replacements, or dealer communications related to the issue. Third, file a complaint with NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/recalls — every complaint contributes to the pattern recognition that triggers investigations and, ultimately, recalls. The complaint should describe what happened, when, the vehicle's mileage at the time, and whether anyone was injured. Fourth, if the issue presents an immediate safety hazard (loss of braking, steering, throttle control, fire, or unintended airbag deployment), discontinue driving and have the vehicle towed to a qualified repair facility rather than risking a crash to reach a dealer.

Recalls, Complaints, and Investigations Explained

The data on this page is drawn from three distinct NHTSA sources that owners frequently confuse. Complaints are reports submitted by individual vehicle owners describing a problem they experienced — they are unverified narratives, but in aggregate they reveal patterns. Recalls are formal manufacturer-initiated campaigns to repair a confirmed safety defect on a specified set of VINs; the manufacturer pays for the repair and is required to notify affected owners by mail. Investigations are NHTSA-led inquiries that often start when complaint volume crosses a threshold for a particular component or model — they may conclude with a manufacturer-issued recall, a finding of no defect, or remain open while data accumulates. A high complaint count without a corresponding recall does not mean the issue is unimportant; it sometimes means an investigation is ongoing or that NHTSA has not yet acted. Conversely, a small recall on a low-complaint model means the defect is severe enough that the manufacturer chose to remediate proactively.

About This Data

This page aggregates honda steering safety records published by the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Records are matched to make, model, and year using NHTSA's classifications, and complaint counts are deduplicated by ODI number. The dataset includes consumer complaints, manufacturer-issued recalls, Technical Service Bulletins, and crash investigations. Most recent record on this page was updated on 2026-03-28. Counts on this page reflect what is currently in our database; we do not include records flagged as duplicate, withdrawn, or outside the model-year window.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many honda steering complaints have been reported?

NHTSA's database currently shows 3139 honda steering complaints across 9 distinct models spanning 2015–2026. Complaint counts grow continuously as new owner reports are filed and processed.

Which Honda models have the most steering complaints?

The Civic, Cr-V, Civic Type R lead the list, with the top model accounting for 1428 reported steering complaints. The complete model breakdown is available in the table on this page.

Which model year is most affected?

Among the records on this page, the 2018 model year accounts for the highest steering complaint volume (801 reports). A concentration in a single year often indicates a generation-specific defect; concentrations across consecutive years can suggest an ongoing supplier or design issue.

Has NHTSA issued a recall for honda steering?

Recall status varies by VIN. Even when complaint volumes are high, recalls are issued per-defect, not per-component, so some honda steering complaints lead to recalls while others remain unaddressed. Check your specific VIN against NHTSA's recall lookup or browse the recall pages linked from each vehicle profile to see which campaigns apply.

What's the difference between a complaint and a recall?

Complaints are unverified owner reports; recalls are formal manufacturer campaigns to repair confirmed defects on specified VINs at no cost to the owner. Complaints often come first and, when patterns emerge, can prompt investigations that lead to recalls. A high complaint count on a vehicle without a recall does not mean the issue is benign — it sometimes means investigation or remedy is still in progress.

Is it safe to buy a used Honda with reported steering issues?

It depends on (1) whether the issue is covered by an active recall and the recall has been performed, (2) the severity of the failure modes reported, and (3) whether the specific VIN has a documented service history showing the relevant repairs. A used-vehicle inspection by a qualified mechanic, plus a VIN check against NHTSA's recall database, are the practical minimum steps before purchase.

Where can I file my own complaint?

Submit safety complaints directly to NHTSA at nhtsa.gov/recalls — there is no fee, and you do not need to be the original owner. Include the VIN, model year, mileage at time of incident, a description of what happened, and whether anyone was injured. Each complaint contributes to the pattern recognition NHTSA uses to decide whether to open an investigation.