IllustrationSteering wheel sticks in position. More apparent on highway when trying to make minor steering corrections. Sometimes taking significant force to free the wheel from its stuck position.
2023 Honda Civic
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2023 Honda Civic do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 183.5.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Civic years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
Limited mileage data: 21 of 254 reports include usable mileage. There isn’t enough coverage to show a useful chart.
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Steering. Review the 191 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Lane Departure. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 16 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
19 crash reports0 fire reports9 injury reports
Steering complaints
191 reportsMy vehicle's electronic steering system sticks while driving. I am unable to maintain control of the vehicle while driving.
The steering wheel of my 23 Honda Civic EX sticks. It feel like teeth in the steering wheel. At lower speeds it's very simple to do a slight turn of the steering wheel and feel it "click". At higher rates of speed, the steering wheel sticks and I can literally take my hand off the steering wheel and the car will continue its tur…
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The steering wheel of my 23 Honda Civic EX sticks. It feel like teeth in the steering wheel. At lower speeds it's very simple to do a slight turn of the steering wheel and feel it "click". At higher rates of speed, the steering wheel sticks and I can literally take my hand off the steering wheel and the car will continue its turn as the steering wheel looks into place. This has caused me to fight the steering wheel and not veer into another lane or oncoming traffic. No lights illuminate and trying to get to the dealership to have it looked at. This has been an ongoing issue but more prominent today than it has been. Research online shows Honda knows about it but isn't fixing the problem and my VIN isn't in the range of steering columns they are fixing for other issues.
At approximately 15,000 miles we started noticing steering issues. We've had the steering wheel lock up on the highway. I was attempting to make a minute correction to stay in my lane and was unable to move to the steering wheel. I had to grab the wheel with both hands and jerk forcefully to free the wheel up. Most of the ti…
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At approximately 15,000 miles we started noticing steering issues. We've had the steering wheel lock up on the highway. I was attempting to make a minute correction to stay in my lane and was unable to move to the steering wheel. I had to grab the wheel with both hands and jerk forcefully to free the wheel up. Most of the time the steering issue is more subtle. Varies between momentary locking to momentary steering lash. The dealer stated no service bulletins or recalls affecting my VIN. No vehicle warning lights associated with the steering issue. I have not yet had the dealer test drive it. I feel the issue is too subtle most of the time for someone who had not been driving the vehicle since new to notice.
This steering wheel is having a “sticky steering” problem. The wheel tends to get ‘stuck’, and the steering wheel needs more adjustment to correct the issue, however, another overcorrection is needed to compensate the initial steer, which increases the likelihood of an accident. I have not had an accident, but I have had 2 close…
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This steering wheel is having a “sticky steering” problem. The wheel tends to get ‘stuck’, and the steering wheel needs more adjustment to correct the issue, however, another overcorrection is needed to compensate the initial steer, which increases the likelihood of an accident. I have not had an accident, but I have had 2 close calls with other vehicles on the highway. I will cite the most recent one below. The dealership has reproduced my issue and is planning on implementing a fix. I have provided the dealership Service Bulletin 23-037. No warning lights/lamps illuminate whatsoever. According to the car, this is treated as ‘normal’ behavior.
Steering wheel sticks. Noticeable on highway
My 2023 Honda Civic Sport Touring Hatchback which I bought new in May 2023 which now has 10700 miles driven and was serviced by my Honda dealership in Fall 2023 now exhibits a "sticky" or "notchy" steering wheel sensation off of dead center steering at straight line highway speeds. It is gradually becoming more noticeable so I a…
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My 2023 Honda Civic Sport Touring Hatchback which I bought new in May 2023 which now has 10700 miles driven and was serviced by my Honda dealership in Fall 2023 now exhibits a "sticky" or "notchy" steering wheel sensation off of dead center steering at straight line highway speeds. It is gradually becoming more noticeable so I am going to report it to my dealership. There are no warning messages. I've turned off the lane crossing safety warning device because this symptom resembles that sensation. I've ensured my tires are at the recommended PSI. I'm not comfortable driving it for long distances on the interstate because this sensation increases with time and mileage driven.
When going around 50mph+, the steering wheel tends to feel "stuck" in the middle, which causes you to overcorrect it to the side, causing the driving to feel super unstable. When I take it to the dealership, they keep saying there are no warnings on diagnostics, so I get the car back with the same issue still happening at random…
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When going around 50mph+, the steering wheel tends to feel "stuck" in the middle, which causes you to overcorrect it to the side, causing the driving to feel super unstable. When I take it to the dealership, they keep saying there are no warnings on diagnostics, so I get the car back with the same issue still happening at random times. Please help! There are tons of online posts about this same issue with the same model of Civic and it doesn't seem like dealerships know what to do about it. It's a very uncomfortable way to drive a car and feels very unsafe.
Intermittently, and only within the past 2000 miles or so, the steering will begin to have a notchy feel during highway driving. The steering requires excessive force to move the wheel and then the wheel jerks and causes the steering to do the same. It is very dangerous and unsettling at highway speeds. The issue seems to onl…
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Intermittently, and only within the past 2000 miles or so, the steering will begin to have a notchy feel during highway driving. The steering requires excessive force to move the wheel and then the wheel jerks and causes the steering to do the same. It is very dangerous and unsettling at highway speeds. The issue seems to only occur above 45mph, but again, it is not happening every time I drive above 45mph.
I have a steering wheel that sticks at highway speeds around 50-70 mph while driving straight, my steering wheel sticks. The honda dealership says it's fine. I believe they greased something during my recall inspection that made my steering not as noticeable. He said everyone has sticky steering but that honda has no fix. My t…
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I have a steering wheel that sticks at highway speeds around 50-70 mph while driving straight, my steering wheel sticks. The honda dealership says it's fine. I believe they greased something during my recall inspection that made my steering not as noticeable. He said everyone has sticky steering but that honda has no fix. My tires are balding at an extreme rate and very uneven wear. I have been arguing with the dealership and have given up. I also have a valve cover that is leaking oil. My car has 35k miles
Official recalls
424V859000 · Seats:critical Fasteners
Nov 14, 2024
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Honda Accord, Accord Hybrid, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Pilot, and 2024 HR-V, Acura Integra and Acura Integra Type S vehicles. The driver's seat cushion frame may not have been tightened properly, which can result in an unsecured seat. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 207, "Seating Systems."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An unsecured driver's seat may not adequately restrain the driver during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the driver's seat cushion frame, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed January 6, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
24V744000 · Steering
Oct 3, 2024
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Difficulty steering can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: 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.
23V704000 · Steering:rack And Pinion
Oct 19, 2023
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.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A damaged tire can fail and increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: 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.
23V430000 · Service Brakes, Hydraulic:antilock/traction Control/electronic Limited Slip:control Unit/module
Jun 15, 2023
Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023 Civic, Acura RDX, Acura Integra, and 2022 Honda Accord vehicles. A ball valve in the vehicle stability assist (VSA) modulator may leak brake fluid, which can result in unintended vehicle movement when the brake hold feature is engaged or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Unintended vehicle movement or an unexpected increase in brake pedal travel can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the VSA modulator, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 24, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are OEJ, XEK, AEY, XEX and OEW.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
2EA23003 · Momentary Increased Steering Effort
Opened Nov 29, 2023 · Closed Jan 28, 2025
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
On November 29, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Engineering Analysis (EA23003) to assess allegations of momentary increase in steering effort in model years (MY) 2022-2023 Honda Civic, 2023MY Honda CR-V, and 2023MY Acura Integra vehicles (subject vehicles). The complaints received by ODI alleged that the subject vehicles experienced a momentary increase in required steering effort (described as “sticky steering”) occurring mostly at highway speeds after driving for an extended amount of time; these complaints could not be duplicated during dealer service technicians’ quick test drives. The complaints had been received over the previous two years with most occurring with low vehicle mileage. The steering gear of these vehicles is aided by an electrical power assist unit. This power assist unit inputs force on the steering rack via a worm gear and worm wheel assembly. During PE23005, Honda stated this condition of momentary increase in steering effort occurs due to two factors within this power assist unit. First, during manufacturing, the steering worm wheel goes through annealing and component conditioning processes. These processes cause internal stress and strain within the steering worm wheel. This strain is slowly released over the first few months of the vehicle life. Over time, the released strain causes deformation of the teeth on the worm wheel, causing the worm gear to catch on the worm wheel. This catching results in the driver’s momentary increased steering effort. Second, the manufacturing process did not guarantee consistent grease application and, therefore, some subject vehicles received insufficient grease which contributed to the momentary increase in steering effort. During EA23003, ODI further analyzed the potential safety related consequences of the momentary increase in steering effort. NHTSA’s Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC) duplicated the allegations of increased steering effort. In addition, VRTC discovered the steering worm wheel and worm gear tended to push grease out of the meshing area, resulting in large amounts of grease resting on top of the worm wheel. Information Request responses collected and reviewed by ODI showed Honda had also discovered this additional root cause during NHTSA’s EA. In addition, Honda discovered the preload of the worm wheel gear spring was set too high, increasing the gear slide load and resulting in higher friction and increased torque fluctuation when steering. The number of consumer complaints made to ODI continued to increase with the expansion of scope from the PE to the EA. Additionally, during EA23003, ODI received ten complaints alleging a crash, in addition to the 13 complaints ODI had received as of the time it opened EA23003. In total, 23 crashes have been reported to ODI due to this alleged defect. On October 3, 2024, Honda filed NHTSA Recall No. 24V-744 to address this defect. The recall will provide consumers with a new steering worm wheel gear spring with a decreased load. Additionally, dealerships will add additional grease and relocate any grease sitting on top of the worm wheel back into the meshing area. The scope of this recall includes all Honda vehicles that were manufactured with this specific improperly produced steering worm wheel and spring. In view of the recall action being taken by Honda, ODI is closing EA23003. NHTSA reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.
PE23005 · Momentary Increased Steering Effort
Opened Mar 17, 2023 · Closed Nov 30, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Steering
On March 17, 2023, The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE23-005) to access the alleged defect of momentary increase in steering effort in model years (MY) 2022 and 2023 Honda Civic vehicles. The complaints report that the momentary increase in steering effort (described as "sticky steering") occurs mostly at highway speeds after driving for a certain amount of time. The reports have been received over the past 2 years with most occurring with low vehicle mileage. The steering gear contains a unit that includes a worm gear and a worm wheel. Honda stated this condition of momentary increase in steering effort occurs due to two factors within this unit. During manufacturing, the worm wheel goes through annealing and component conditioning processes. These processes caused internal stress and strain within the worm wheel. This strain was slowly released over the first few months of the vehicle life. Over time, the released strain caused the deformation of the teeth on the worm wheel, causing the worm gear to catch on the worm wheel. This results in the consumer’s momentary increased in steering effort. Also, the manufacturing process did not guarantee consistent grease application and therefore, some vehicles within the scope received too little grease which contributes to the momentary increase in steering effort. Analysis of all relevant data indicates that the subject condition occurs early in the vehicle’s life primarily in winter months. Additionally, the subject vehicles need to be driven in a straight line for a period of time, possibly until the vehicle is warmed up, to recreate the condition. The condition does not illuminate a malfunction indicator light (MIL). Some complaints allege Honda dealerships are unable to recreate the condition or state this is a normal vehicle operation. However, Honda released Service Bulletin 23-037 in July of 2023 which accurately describes the condition. To address this issue, Honda directs dealerships to remove the electronic power steering (EPS) gearbox and replace with a new gearbox. Further, Honda stated that the worst case steering effort from all warranty returned parts tested was 2.4 pounds. ODI complaint traffic remains steady. ODI has received 13 crashes to date, 11 of which allege roadway departure due to not being able to overcome the momentary increased steering effort prior to their vehicle leaving the roadway. The remaining 2 incidents claim overcorrection of the steering wheel. PE23-005 has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA23-003) to further assess the scope, frequency and potential safety related consequences of the momentary increase of steering effort. Further the scope has been expanded to include assessment of the Acura Integra and Honda CR-V models. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.