2018 Honda Civic

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and making a left or right turn, the steering wheel was sticking. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V663000 (Steering). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and test-driven. The dealer informed the contact that the steering wheel was pulling, and that the failure was associated with the steering rack. Additionally, the dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the steering rack was rusted. The dealer recommended that the steering rack be replaced, and an alignment was performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and declined to cover the repair because the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

The vehicle steering wheel sticks when turning, makes a noise, sometimes it doesn’t. Feels like when turning the steering wheel is like stuck and doesn’t return to the straight position. It happens only in one direction, turning right. This has been happening for at least 5 years. Took it to the dealer at least 3 times. They changed left side ball joint, in warranty. But still doing it. After the third time i gave up. Last year a mechanic outside the dealer changed the left cv axle, nothing changed. Changed sway bars, shock absorbers, still doing it. Today went to a different shop, they say is the rack and pinion or EPS?. I have been having this problem for a really long time, even before the warranty was over.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the steering wheel was firm and was sticking while turning. The contact referenced NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V663000 (STEERING); however, the VIN was not included in the recall repair. The vehicle was driven to the dealer, where it was confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 59,700.

The vehicle experienced a failure of the steering system, specifically the steering gearbox. The steering intermittently sticks, binds, and resists input, followed by sudden release, causing unpredictable response and difficulty maintaining control. The vehicle also pulls unexpectedly, creating a serious safety hazard, especially at highway speeds. The vehicle is unsafe to operate and is currently at a dealership for inspection. Prior to failure, symptoms included increasing steering resistance, inconsistent feel, and intermittent sticking, which worsened over time until the vehicle became undrivable. The issue has been diagnosed and confirmed by an authorized dealership, which determined the steering gearbox requires replacement. The dealership indicated the failure was not due to misuse, damage, or lack of maintenance. There are similar steering-related failures reported in comparable vehicles; however, this vehicle is excluded based on VIN eligibility. Despite similar failure, no recall coverage has been provided. This failure creates a high risk of loss of control and potential crash, with no warning lights or alerts prior to failure. The estimated repair cost exceeds $4,300 including parts and labor. The manufacturer has been contacted, but no resolution has been provided. This failure occurred during normal operation and was not caused by driver input or external damage. The sudden loss and return of steering control creates a dangerous condition that could result in a crash without warning. Given similar reported issues, this warrants investigation into a potential safety defect.

I have noticed a slight resistance or “sticky” feeling in the steering, especially when driving at highway speeds or while making gentle turns. The steering does not always feel smooth when making small corrections near the center or during curves. At times, the steering wheel feels like it briefly resists movement and then releases, requiring a small additional input to continue turning smoothly. This has occurred intermittently and is more noticeable during continuous driving. The vehicle remains controllable, but the steering does not always return as smoothly as expected, which can affect driving comfort and precision.

Problem presented in April 2026 at 34,300 miles on odometer. The vehicle steering sticks or locks at the 12 o'clock position at highway speeds. A high degree of effort is required to overcome the steering stiction resistance to make small steering adjustments to maintain vehicle course. This anomaly results in overshooting the desired steering adjustment which could potentially cause a accident such as a sideswipe crash or loss of control leaving the roadway. There have been no dashboard warning indicators. The local Honda dealer inspected the car and stated that the steering gearbox needed to be replaced at an estimated cost of $4,025.

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Steering wheel is constantly getting stuck, then unstuck. Vehicle can be inspected upon request. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? my safety was questionable on highways when trying to switch lanes or on long turns. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? Dealer confirmed but they are not sure why its happening. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No, no accident reported on my vehicle as of yet. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No Car wheel sticks on long turns or when im switching lanes or just trying to straighten the steering wheel. It is so strange. Just sticks and unsticks but HARD enough to make the car jerk.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving and turning the steering wheel, the steering was sticking and turned in the opposite direction, reducing the maneuverability of the vehicle. The contact was able to turn the steering wheel to the intended direction. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V663000 (Steering). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

When driving in highway or street, the steering feels very stiff. It’s difficult to turn and, especially hard when driving in the highway making small adjustments. When turning left and holding corners the wheel likes to bounce. Took it in the dealership and diagnosed to be the steering rack assembly, and want to charge me 5500 for it. I just bought the vehicle not even 3 days old and I have to spend an extra 5 grand to ensure I’m safe when I’m driving and it’s not right. This is dangerous because if I can’t control the wheel I can lose control and hit someone else. There were no warnings, which was why I purchased the vehicle. The dealership at Honda confirmed my suspicions and diagnosed it as a bad steering rack assembly, and is charging a lump some of money for the fix. The car only had 47000 miles and this should not be an issue I should be dealing with. Honda needs to resolve this as it’s very dangerous to be driving like this especially on a vehicle with very low miles.