Honda Civic Steering Problems
Owners have filed 2,548 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the Honda Civic across 32 model years. The 2022 model year has the most (733). The words owners use most often: “sticky steering” (9% of reports).
- 2,548steering complaints
- —median miles at failure
- 135mention a crash
- 52mention an injury
- 4related recalls
- $4,150typical repair cost reported by owners
- 65%of reports with a speed happened at 50+ mph
What owners describe
Phrases that appear unusually often in these complaints compared with complaints about other cars.
- Sticky steering: mentioned in 219 of 2,548 complaints (9%)
- Wheel sticks: mentioned in 199 of 2,548 complaints (8%)
- Feels like: mentioned in 136 of 2,548 complaints (5%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the Honda Civic at $4,150, and half of them between $3,150 and $4,500.
Based on 102 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2009–2026), converted to 2026 dollars with the U.S. consumer price index. These are owners' own figures, not a quote: they include dealer quotes, and owners who file complaints often faced larger repairs, so they can run higher than typical shop prices. Prices vary by shop, region and warranty coverage. How we calculate this.
At what mileage do steering problems happen?
Based on 574 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 2,548 complaints, 135 mention a crash, 4 a fire, 52 an injury.
Honda Civic steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 Civic | 7 | 23% | — |
| 2025 Civic | 31 | 41% | 20,450 |
| 2024 Civic | 61 | 49% | 10,900 |
| 2023 Civic | 192 | 74% | 10,000 |
| 2022 Civic | 733 | 83% | 26,264 |
| 2021 Civic | 65 | 45% | 36,000 |
| 2020 Civic | 31 | 14% | 30,388 |
| 2019 Civic | 110 | 25% | 57,219 |
| 2018 Civic | 314 | 42% | 50,564 |
| 2017 Civic | 174 | 29% | 46,000 |
| 2016 Civic | 446 | 41% | 39,000 |
| 2015 Civic | 21 | 6% | 12,125 |
| 2014 Civic | 15 | 5% | 46,000 |
| 2013 Civic | 38 | 12% | 25,000 |
| 2012 Civic | 74 | 16% | 60,000 |
| 2011 Civic | 4 | 2% | 82,500 |
| 2010 Civic | 19 | 5% | 41,000 |
| 2009 Civic | 13 | 3% | 58,000 |
| 2008 Civic | 24 | 3% | 40,000 |
| 2007 Civic | 26 | 2% | 48,791 |
| 2006 Civic | 44 | 3% | 44,456 |
| 2005 Civic | 7 | 2% | 30,750 |
| 2004 Civic | 6 | 2% | 60,380 |
| 2003 Civic | 15 | 3% | 66,000 |
| 2002 Civic | 23 | 3% | 65,000 |
| 2001 Civic | 20 | 2% | 145,000 |
| 2000 Civic | 6 | 2% | 80,122 |
| 1999 Civic | 2 | 1% | 210,000 |
| 1998 Civic | 7 | 2% | 93,321 |
| 1997 Civic | 5 | 1% | 1,003 |
| 1996 Civic | 6 | 2% | 74,300 |
| 1995 Civic | 9 | 5% | — |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (4)
Steering
Model years: 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025
Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Acura Integra, Civic Type R, CR-V Hybrid, CR-V, HR-V, 2022-2025 Civic, Civic Hatchback, 2024-2025 Acura Integra Type S, 2025 CR-V Fuel Cell EV, Civic Hybrid, and Civic Hatchback Hybrid vehicles. The steering gearbox assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause excessive internal friction and lead to difficulty steering the vehicle.
Risk: Difficulty steering can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the worm gear spring and redistribute or add grease as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2024. Owners may contact Honda Customer Service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are SJS, MJU, QJT and VJV.
Steering:rack and pinion
Model years: 2022, 2023, 2024
Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2022-2024 Civic 4-door and Civic 5-door vehicles that received a replacement power steering rack as part of a service repair. The steering rack may have been incorrectly assembled, which can allow the tire to chafe against the lower suspension or tie rod end, possibly resulting in tire damage.
Risk: A damaged tire can fail and increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the electric power steering rack, as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed January 16, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is YFW.
Steering:electric power assist system
Model years: 2017, 2018
Problem: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Honda Civic and CR-V vehicles. The magnet that controls the torque sensor output signal for the electronic power steering system may not be properly secured, allowing the magnet to become dislodged. During a full lock turn, the dislodged magnet may cause steering assist to be applied in the opposite direction.
Risk: The unintended steering input reduces vehicle maneuverability and increases the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gearbox assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are C2N, P2O.
Steering:column
Model years: 2012
Problem: Honda is recalling certain model year 2012 Civic passenger vehicles, manufactured from October 26, 2012, through October 30, 2012. These vehicles were assembled with the incorrect steering column assembly.
Risk: The steering column may not have proper energy absorbing characteristics, which could increase the risk of injury during a vehicle crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and replace the steering column, as necessary, free of charge. The safety recall began on December 10, 2012. Owners may contact Honda at 1-800-999-1009.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
Description of Incident and Safety Complaint 2004 Honda Civic Airbag Recall I am filing this complaint regarding a safety concern involving my daughter's 2004 Honda Civic and a recalled airbag. Weeks before the accident, we contacted Honda regarding the airbag recall affecting the vehicle. Despite…
My car 2020 honda civic has an issue with the steering wheel. I have noticed in the past 6 months that the steering wheel has become increasingly stiff and gets stuck during turns. This is a concern of mine because at times it becomes difficult to keep in traffic lanes. The car has not been…
Sticky steering possibly caused by the issues stated in the recent recalls for Honda vehicles of my make and model. However looking up my VIN does not show me the active recall for my vehicle
Power steering rack needs replacement. No damage cause by myself. Later models of the same vehicle have recalls on the power steering rack. The steering wheel will âstickâ when driving and iâll have to use excessive force to turn the wheel even just slightly causing the vehicle to jerk around.
My 2022 Honda Civic Sport is affected by NHTSA Safety Recall 24V-744 (Honda Campaign SJS) for the steering gear. On SXXX, an authorized dealership (Honda City Chicago) officially diagnosed my vehicle with an "INTERNAL FAILURE CAUSING A KNOCKING TYPE OF SOUND" within the steering rack assembly…
Frequently asked questions
Do all Honda Civics have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 2,548 owner complaints about steering for the Honda Civic. Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the Honda Civic steering?
Yes: 4 safety recalls list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the Honda Civic?
Owners report a typical cost of $4,150 (half paid between $3,150 and $4,500), from 102 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the Honda Civic?
The most frequent phrase is “sticky steering”, in 219 of 2,548 complaints, followed by “wheel sticks” (199).
Other Honda Civic problems
- Air Bags problems (2,757)
- Power Train problems (1,732)
- Electrical System problems (1,426)
- Engine problems (1,107)
- Suspension problems (854)
- Visibility problems (792)
- Structure problems (778)
- Engine and Engine Cooling problems (682)
See all Honda Civic problems.