On or about August 2021, I drove my 2012 Civic to a store, and park. Leaving the location minutes later, I started the car and noticed I could not turn the wheel to back out. A dash light came on indicating a power steering system issue. I turned car off and tried again with the same results. Not able to drive, I left the car parked and returned the next morning to possibly have it towed. I started the car to check it, and the issue was gone. A mechanic checked the fuse and told me he "reset it." The problem has not returned to date.
2012 Honda Civic steering complaints
Page 2 of 4: complaints 11 to 40 of 74, newest first, as owners wrote them.
The EPS Electric Power Steering failed on the vehicle with no warning. At 35-40 MPH the EPS warning light came on and the car could not be turned in any direction. The car was wrestled off to the side of the road. It was turned off for several minutes and turned back on. Problem persisted. Turned off ignition for 10 minutes and the warning light went out and steering came back. Thank God there was no accident. This is beyond dangerous. Honda needs to step up to the plate and recall these vehicles with defective steering. Somebody is going to die. Now my daughter is afraid to drive the vehicle. We need to get it to the shop.
When leaving my parking space, my steering wheel locked and I was unable to turn the vehicle. If I had needed to maneuver my vehicle, I would not have been able to do so. The dashboard indicated that the power steering needed to be inspected.
We almost got killed trying to turn the wheel to get off the highway. The steering wheel issue was already looked at by my mechanic. He said it was the alternator and replaced that instead. I was charged for the alternator! I took it back after we were almost killed. He fixed the steering issue but now the car doesn't steer right away after the car is turned on! What should I do now? It stays locked and you can only go frontwards and back!! We have to keep going back and forth till it unlocks! What is wrong with the engine of this car? I don't drive far. It only has 81491 miles on it. On the mechanic's bill steering issue electronic steering motor- remove & replace- all applicable models. Did you receive this message? When do I get my money back from honda for their mistakes? I am 68 years old disabled woman who needs help with this bill. Honda should pay the bill for me. I have to live on 954.00 a month live in state housing. Please help me!! [xxx] cell: [xxx] thank you information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u.s.c. 552(b)(6).
Check vsa check power steering system malfunction during driving! Vehicle breaking on its on randomly! I could have been in a fatal accident! Vehicle is not functional due to these electrical errors!
Car driving down hwy steering goes out and light came on turn car off steering works fine drive car steering goes out light comes on turn car off drive car home with no power steering turn off and on works fine take to dealer codes 33-01 and 33-06 said needs rack & pump this is very dangerous what was the outcome of this problem that has been going on on these cars since 2012 why no recall oh I,am a mechanic certified age 57
Power steering when out all at once while driving, very difficult to steering, drove home barely able to steer, after car sat for a while the steering works now, afraid to get out of driveway because afraid it will happen again
While the vehicle is in motion and making left or right hand turns (90 degree turns) with the vehicle going ~10 MPH the airbag warning lightturns and stays on for some time before it disappears. However, the frequency of the airbag warning lights have increased. I took the vehicle to the dealership for further investigation and was told the issue is coming from a cable reel and the driver inflation may need to be replaced too. According to the honda technician- if the issue/parts remain unfixed, the airbag will fail to deploy in a forward movement crash.
We were driving down the highway when the power steering light came on. It took two of us to turn the wheel to make a right or left turn. We were both afraid for our lives! We did not know if we were going to make it home but we did. I am petrified to drive this car again! I have to use the car because I live so far away from stores to shop etc. Please help me soon so I can use the car again!!!
The eps(electronic power steering) indicator turned on after ignition and stays on. Because of this, I am not able to steer the vehicle, it can go up and down in a straight line but cannot steer. It started while reversing my vehicle from the driveway, I could not drive it with the eps light on, so it is currently parked at the driveway. I see similar incidents reported by others on common forum. Please investigate this with complaints from other customers and get this fixed by the manufacturer
Electronic power steering failure with check power steering system warning.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 honda civic. The contact stated that after turning the vehicle on after being parked in the driveway, they noticed that the check power steering system warning light was illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel failed to turn left or right, maybe moving approximately a half of an inch in either direction. The contact had not taken the vehicle to a dealer. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 115,000.
Started car and check power steering warning came up. There was a slight shutter then steering was hard. Shut car and restarted and warning were gone and steering ok. 1 week later same problem, but will not clear and no power steering. Shut car and restarted, warning still on, but power steering working, but there is a slight noise on and off. Something to do with the electronic power steering.
The power steering light will come on and the cars power steering column will lock up. I was driving down the road approximately 60 MPH and the power steering light came on. I could barely turn the steering wheel . I was able to slow down and people helped me get it to the side of the road. I had the car towed to the dealership and I was informed I needed to update the eps. It cost $70 and my system software was updated. A month later I was driving again and the light came on. The power steering immediately locked u again. This is so dangerous. I was able to get stopped, turn the car off and back on. It reset it I guess cause it started working. I drove it to the dealer very slow and was told I need an eps control unit system and it would be around $867 with labor. I've noticed tons of other people have this same complaint and it should be a recall issue and fixed. It's very dangerous and someone is going to get killed.
I began to pull out of the parking lot of my workplace to head towards the freeway when suddenly my steering stops working. I work in a very busy area and traffic is very busy. Luckily, there was a red light and that I am a safe driver because if I would have gotten on the freeway I would have most likely gotten into a fatal accident. I am also very fortunate that the weather did not end up being inclement as it was predicted to be. I have heard of other people having the same issue with their 2012-2013 honda civics. Shouldn't they initiate a recall process because this isn't safe.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 honda civic. While the vehicle was parked for approximately 45 minutes and attempting to drive, the power steering failed. The contact stated that the power steering warning indicator illuminated. After driving the vehicle at approximately 20 MPH, the power steering began to operate correctly; however, the power steering warning indicator remained illuminated. While driving approximately 40 MPH, the power steering failed again. The contact called kendall honda of fairbanks (located at 1000 cadillac ct, fairbanks, ak 99701, 855‑501‑3434) where it was diagnosed that it needed power steering fluid, however, the vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified. The approximate failure mileage was 136,000.
Was driving on interstate 70 in richmond indiana was traveling in the middle lane of a 3 lane highway when all of a sudden my lights on my dash off licked on and off and I lost all electrical power including brakes steering and the engine I was able to force the vehicle and coast to a stop at an exit I turned on my hazards and my hazards were not working either so it was a complete electrical failure. In addition it was late in the evening so while I was driving and I lost all lights nobody could see me and I could not see anything this could've ended very tragically for me trying to move over as the speed limit posted in the area is 70 MPH. In researching the issue I found multiple forums and posts regarding this same type of failure. Honda needs to fix this. Now I need to tow to a service center and see how much more money I will need to come up with to be able to drive my vehicle
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 honda civic. While driving 35 MPH, the check power steering indicator illuminated and the steering wheel became difficult to control. The failure was experienced several times. The vehicle was taken to causeway honda (457 route 72, manahawkin, nj 08050, (609) 597-0033) a few years ago for the steering wheel failure. The dealer peformed a diagnostic test that located the failure code at the steering software. The dealer updated the steering software; however, the failure recurred. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer for the recent failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 70,000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 honda civic. While driving 35 MPH and making a turn, the steering wheel was difficult to turn. There were no warning indicators illuminated. An appointment was scheduled with sport honda (3110 automobile blvd, silver spring, md 20904, (301) 890-4700), but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was 76,000.
Just as many other complains, daughter got into car after classes and couldn't steer car in parking lot. Noticed check power steering light on. Dad came to take her home since not drivable. Researched issue and noticed troubles with many other owners. Went back to car next am prepared to have towed to repair shop and problem was gone. Drove car home since didn't want daughter to drive it. Took to local hi da dealer service and said no issues with steering but needed replacement airbacn for $1200! This is outrageous. We also have a honda minivan (second one) that has electrical issues recently.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 honda civic. When the vehicle was started with the key in the ignition, the eps indicator alerted the contact to check the power steering. The contact stated that there was no power steering ability when maneuvering the steering wheel in either direction. The vehicle was turned off and restarted. The vehicle was towed to clinton honda (1511 us-22, annandale, nj 08801, 908‑735‑0800, (908) 238-3933) where it was determined that there was no eps recall to provide a remedy. The dealer replaced the eps control unit and updated the dtc 33-01fet (a switch within the steering rack). The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The vehicle was excluded from the federal safety agency campaign number: 12v548000 (steering). The approximate failure mileage was 26,859.
On july 7, 2019 I went out started my car as I proceeded to turn my wheel to get out my parking space the wheel would not turn it was locked then the dash displayed a message saying check power system steering. The next day, which was monday I had the car towed to a shop, the tow driver had a very hard time trying to get the car out of the parking space due to the wheels locking up, yet by the time my car arrived at the shop the steering was back. I now have a car I'm afraid to drive, can't imagine driving and losing the power to steer.
Eps controller unit need to be replaced. Power steering light comes on and steering is hard. If turn vehicle off than back on again, light goes away and steering is back to normal
At 70,000 miles my "vsa alert" and "check steering alert" has been flashing on my dashboard. Honda service "claims they never saw such a complaint" but last week honda motor corporation issued a recall to fix this issue on 130,000 honda vehicles for this same problem. The fix could run over $2,000.00 . This alert flashes and beeps, annoyingly, while auto is stationary and moving, it flashes constantly now for the last 7,000.
Check power steering warning indicator displays on dash, would go away and come back, steering loss during driving. Immediately took the car to the dealer and they charged $130 to diagnose that the problem was due to faulty software.this is a safety issue and all civic should receive the software updated as a part of a recall and not make the owner pay to fix buggy software.
My 16 year old daughter was driving the car at 45 MPH and the power steering system warning light came on and she lost steering control. She pulled over turned off the car and sat for 15 minutes. Then turned the car back on and it worked she drove the car for another 5 minutes and it did the same thing to her again. If she would have been in a curve when this happen she would not have been strong enough turn the car and an accident could have occured
I have lost power steering twice in the past week. Both times I was driving 65 MPH on the interstate and the "check power steering" light came on and power steering was gone. After the first time it happened, I took to the dealership and they replaced the rack and pinion and said the control unit was working okay. The next time I drive my car after it being fixed, I lose power steering again on the interstate. However, when I turned my car off and turned it on again, the light went away and it was fine. Taking it to the dealership again to be checked.
The electronic power steering failed while operating the vehicle. This failure caused the steering wheel to become very difficult to move causing me to stop the car abrubetly. Luckily I wasn`t hit and there was no damage. I have been driving for nearly 37 years and never experienced anything like it. I have looked on line and found that this is not an isolated incident. Other owners of 2012 honda civics have complained about the same type of failures. Thank you for your time and taking my complaint.
My honda civic 2012 is having exact same problem covered under a "honda service bullitin 14-058". The "check power steering alert" appears at various times and goes off at various times (while not losing power steering assist, so far). Honda dealer suggests servicing when car actually loses steering power.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 honda civic. The contact stated that the center section of the steering wheel developed a crack. The contact was concerned that it could possibly affect the operation of the air bag during deployment. The local dealer was not notified. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and did not assist. The VIN was not available. The failure mileage was 69,000.
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