2016 Honda Civic

WHILE DRIVING AT HIGH WAY SPEEDS, THE CAR'S STEERING FEELS STIFF WHEN ADJUSTING TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT. IT DOESN'T PULL AS IF THE ALIGNMENT IS OFF. THE STEERING FEELS STUCK WHEN I AM TRYING TO KEEP THE CAR STRAIGHT AND I HAVE TO OVER COMPENSATE WHICH MAKES THE CAR JERK. I HAVE CHECKED ON CIVIC FORUMS AND IT SEEMS TO BE A COMMON PROBLEM MY MODEL CIVIC. MANY OTHERS HAVE IDENTIFIED THE PROBLEM AS THE POWER STEERING RACK.. HONDA HAS ISSUED A RECALL FOR 2017 AND ABOVE MAKE CIVICS BUT MY 2016 IS NOT COVERED.

WHEN DRIVING HIGHWAY SPEEDS, THE STEERING BECOMES STICKY AND FEELS AS IF THERE ARE NOTCHES OR CLICKS THAT THE STEERING GETS TO STUCK IN. WHEN MOVING THE WHEEL LEFT OR RIGHT TO "UNSTICK" THE STEERING, THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT'S OVER CORRECTING. THE STEERING IS NOT SMOOTH AND IT IS HARD TO KEEP THE CAR MOVING IN A STEADY STRAIGHT LINE. THIS HAPPENS MORE NOTICEABLY IN WARMER WEATHER, LATER IN THE DAY AND ON THE HIGHWAY AT SPEEDS OVER 5 MPH. THE TRANSMISSION IS MANUAL AND HAPPENS IN ANY GEAR OVER 45-50 MPH.

STEERING STARTS TO STICK ABOVE SPEEDS OF 45 MPH. WHEN TRYING TO CORRECT FROM CENTER WITHIN THE LANE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEEMS TO STICK AND THEN JUMPS AND OVER-CORRECTS. I THEN HAVE TO COMPENSATE AND SHIFT THE STEERING WHEEL TO THE OPPOSITE SIDE AND IT STICKS AND JUMPS AGAIN. IT MAKES THE CAR HARDER TO CONTROL/UNSTABLE AND YOU FEEL LIKE THE CAR IS BOPPING WITHIN THE LANE FROM THE MANY ADJUSTMENTS REQUIRED TO CENTER THE CAR WITHIN THE LANE. I DON'T HAVE CONFIDENCE IN IT'S SAFETY ANY LONGER.

WHEN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED (60 - 70 MPH) MY STEERING BEGAN TO "STICK". IT WAS DIFFICULT TO MAKE THE NORMAL SMALL STEERING ADJUSTMENTS TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT THAT ARE NEEDED ON THE HIGHWAY TO GO STRAIGHT AND STAY IN YOUR LANE. THE STICKING REQUIRED ME TO USE MORE FORCE, WHICH MAKES IT MORE DIFFICULT TO STAY IN THE LANE AND MORE LIKELY TO ACCIDENTALLY HIT SOMEONE. THE PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED ON 4 OCCASIONS. IT HAPPENS ON HOT DAYS (85 - 90 F DEGREES) AFTER ABOUT 30 MINUTES OF HIGHWAY DRIVING. ONCE IT STARTS, IT CONTINUES AS LONG AS THE DRIVING CONTINUES.

THE STEERING FEELS "STICKY". MOST NOTABLE AT HIGHWAY SPEEDS BUT I SUSPECT IT IS OCCURRING OTHERWISE, JUST NOT AS NOTICEABLE WHEN YOU HAVE TO TURN THE WHEEL COMPLETELY VS JUST STAYING IN LANE. WHEN THIS OCCURS, IT IS A CONSTANT WRESTLING MATCH TO KEEP THE CAR GOING IN THE DIRECTION YOU'D LIKE. WHAT WOULD TYPICALLY BE A GRADUAL AND EASY CONSTANT COURSE CORRECTION IS TRANSFORMED INTO A STRUGGLE TO GET THE STEERING WHEEL OUT OF THE STUCK (MIGHT BE THE WRONG WORD, BUT IT'S EASY MOVEMENT IS GREATLY HINDERED) POSITION. THIS RESULTS IN AN OVER-CORRECTION BECAUSE ONCE YOU OVERCOME THE "STUCK" THE WHEEL IS JERKED FURTHER THAN INTENDED. THE STEERING WHEEL STICKING CAUSES THE CAR TO CAREEN ALL OVER THE LANE AND ROAD.

I BOUGHT THE CAR USED WITH ONLY 20,000 MILES AFTER DRIVING THE CAR ON THE HIGHWAY FOR AT LEAST 15 MINUTES SUDDENLY THE CAR BEGINS TO DRIFT EVER SO SLIGHTLY ONE WAY OR ANOTHER. WHEN I GO TO CORRECT, THE STEERING WHEEL RESISTS. IT DOESN'T FREEZE BUT IT SORT OF "STICKS" UNTIL I APPLY A BIT MORE PRESSURE, AFTER WHICH IT SUDDENLY RELEASES, CORRECTS, AND ACTS COMPLETELY NORMAL. MOMENTS LATER HOWEVER, IT DRIFTS THE OPPOSITE DIRECTION, AND I AM FORCED TO REPEAT THE SAME PROCESS ALL OVER AGAIN. END RESULT IS I BEGIN DRIFTING SLIGHTLY BACK AND FORTH DOWN THE HIGHWAY REPEATEDLY, ALL THE WHILE FIGHTING WITH A STEERING WHEEL THAT DOESN'T SEEM TO WANT TO LET GO. I HAVE BEEN READING MANY COMPLAINTS OF THIS BEING A RECALL ON THE CAR IN THE 2017 / 2018 MODEL YEAR. WHY NOT IN 2016?

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2016 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LOSS POWER STEERING ASSIST AND BECAME DIFFICULT TO STEER IN EITHER DIRECTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO BRAMAN HONDA OF PALM BEACH LOCATED AT 6200 LAKE WORTH RD, GREEN ACRES, FL 33463, TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE STEERING RACK WAS DEFECTIVE AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE WAS REMEDIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,217.