2018 Honda CR-V Steering Problems
Owners have filed 330 complaints with NHTSA about steering problems on the 2018 Honda CR-V, 15% of all complaints for this model year. Half of the reports with a mileage happened before 52,332 miles. The words owners use most often: “rack pinion” (11% of reports).
- 330steering complaints
- 52,332median miles at failure
- 5mention a crash
- 3mention an injury
- 1related recalls
- $3,950typical repair cost reported by owners
- 54%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.
- Rack pinion: mentioned in 37 of 330 complaints (11%)
- Steering gearbox: mentioned in 34 of 330 complaints (10%)
- Wheel sticks: mentioned in 26 of 330 complaints (8%)
- Gear box: mentioned in 25 of 330 complaints (8%)
How much does it cost to fix?
Owners who wrote down what they paid or were quoted put the typical steering repair on the 2018 Honda CR-V at $3,950, and half of them between $3,200 and $4,900.
Based on 52 NHTSA complaints about this problem alone that state a repair bill or quote (2020–2026), 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 86 complaints that reported the odometer reading.
How serious are the reports?
Of 330 complaints, 5 mention a crash, 3 an injury.
Honda CR-V steering complaints by model year
| Model year | Steering complaints | Share of that year | Median miles |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 CR-V | 14 | 9% | 8,750 |
| 2025 CR-V | 56 | 22% | 7,500 |
| 2024 CR-V | 127 | 32% | 14,000 |
| 2023 CR-V | 325 | 63% | 10,000 |
| 2022 CR-V | 140 | 53% | 26,000 |
| 2021 CR-V | 113 | 34% | 40,000 |
| 2020 CR-V | 42 | 12% | 17,000 |
| 2019 CR-V | 197 | 18% | 25,250 |
| 2018 CR-V | 330 | 15% | 52,332 |
| 2017 CR-V | 65 | 4% | 37,800 |
| 2016 CR-V | 17 | 4% | 24,500 |
| 2015 CR-V | 45 | 7% | 3,450 |
| 2014 CR-V | 15 | 3% | 8,450 |
| 2013 CR-V | 15 | 4% | 35,815 |
| 2012 CR-V | 35 | 9% | 58,500 |
| 2011 CR-V | 10 | 2% | 42,312 |
| 2010 CR-V | 14 | 3% | 35,808 |
| 2009 CR-V | 15 | 4% | 63,542 |
| 2008 CR-V | 70 | 7% | 71,103 |
| 2007 CR-V | 31 | 3% | 66,500 |
| 2006 CR-V | 17 | 4% | 45,000 |
| 2005 CR-V | 23 | 5% | 3,100 |
| 2004 CR-V | 11 | 2% | 49,750 |
| 2003 CR-V | 14 | 3% | 28,000 |
| 2002 CR-V | 10 | 2% | 96,000 |
| 2001 CR-V | 2 | 1% | 30,000 |
| 2000 CR-V | 1 | 1% | 117,580 |
| 1999 CR-V | 1 | 1% | — |
| 1998 CR-V | 6 | 5% | — |
| 1997 CR-V | 4 | 4% | 154,475 |
When owners reported it
Related recalls (1)
Steering:electric power assist system
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.
What owners report
Short excerpts of recent complaints, with personal details removed. Full reports are on NHTSA.gov.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda CR-V. While the contact's daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, extra effort was needed to turn the steering wheel while driving the vehicle and the vehicle failed to drive in a straight line. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who determined that the EPS…
The Electric Power Steering (EPS) rack failed internally, causing heavy, sticky, and stiff steering accompanied by noise during turns, particularly when making small corrections at freeway speeds. The defect directly put safety at risk by impairing steering control, leading the inspecting…
Steering wheel sticks when turning causing over correction and safety issues. Other years have a recall-2018 does not. First reported in 2025 at 70,000 miles which is not a reasonable amount of time for a major part like that to break or malfunction
Frequently asked questions
Do all 2018 Honda CR-Vs have steering problems?
No. NHTSA has 330 owner complaints about steering for the 2018 Honda CR-V (15% of the 2,158 complaints for this model year). Complaint data shows that the problem is reported, not how many of all cars sold are affected.
Was there a recall on the 2018 Honda CR-V steering?
Yes: 1 safety recall list steering. Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov to see whether the fix was done on your car.
At what mileage do steering problems start?
The median reported mileage is 52,332 miles: half of the reports with a mileage came before that.
How much does it cost to fix steering problems on the 2018 Honda CR-V?
Owners report a typical cost of $3,950 (half paid between $3,200 and $4,900), from 52 complaints that state a repair bill or quote, in 2026 dollars.
What do owners say about steering problems on the 2018 Honda CR-V?
The most frequent phrase is “rack pinion”, in 37 of 330 complaints, followed by “steering gearbox” (34).
Other 2018 Honda CR-V problems
See all 2018 Honda CR-V problems or steering problems across all CR-V years.