When driving straight on the freeway small corrections to keep the car straight are resisted when I add force to the wheel. With increasing force the drag is overcome and the wheel will snap to a new position which may be too far the other way. This makes the steering kind of digital instead of analog. I have noticed the issue periodically over the last couple of years and had the alignment done 2X, first by an independant mechanic and then by the Honda dealer. I thought the issue was alignment. Being the problem is not always noticeable it took a while for me to realize this is totally not normal for this or any car. I fully realize that now after testing it out on my last drive.
2016 Honda Civic steering complaints
Page 5 of 16: complaints 101 to 130 of 446, newest first, as owners wrote them.
Steering gets “sticky” on long mostly straight roads and resists small course corrections. This causes “jerky” steering corrections. This issue seems to be more prevalent in warm or hot conditions and occurs far less during colder times of the year. This issue is ongoing and has not been resolved.
Sticky steering when on center. Cannot make minor steering adjustments without overcorrecting left or right. This is an ongoing issue for the past few years.
Sticky steering wheel. Wheel will get stuck when making minor steering adjustments while driving. it’s sticky and jerky feeling when driving, causing to have to overcorrect left or right when making slight adjustments to center.
The steering gets notchy when warm. The issue isn't as noticeable during colder month but when the weather warms it becomes very problematic. You have to fight the steering wheel back to center after moving left. The steering will not self center either. This is an accident hazard as someone who might be a new driver could panic or elderly may not have the strength to fight it back.
Sticky steering, generally after about 10 minutes of highway driving. Dangerous to make small changes as it takes more effort to move wheel then vehicle over-corrects due to steering input.
At highway speeds the steering wheel feels difficult to adjust at times, sticks, driving becomes a constant back and forth to overcome the sticky steering.
The steering sticks in the middle when driving on the expressway in warmer weather. When trying to make slight adjustments when driving, the steering wheel sticks around the 12 o'clock position. I have not noticed this problem unless the weather is warmer (55 degrees and up).
Just within the last month the steering has been sticking when trying to maintain a straight line. When trying to stay straight there is resistance in the steering and suddenly the resistance stops, causing driver to over correct. Also if the car hits a bump or road irregularity while the steering is resisting movement, then the car wanders even further in lane. This repeats itself constantly and car is wandering back and forth in the lane. The lower ball joints have been replaced and condition continues.
There is steering problem especially in high way. The steering is stiff and a little stuck. The car can not go in straight, either left or right, it will over correct. I have to hold the steering wheel to overcome the stuck force to keep in a straight line, then it will over turn. I have to do it again from the other side. And it keeps left to right, right to left.
Steering becomes sticky in the middle specifically when it is warm out or after the engine has been on for a while .this was not an issue in the winter. This becomes a safety issue due to trying to keep the car going straight on the interstate you end up having to overcorrect going back and forth left and right. Reading online forms this is an issue with this generation not sure why there's no Recall yet. It can lead to going into another Lane trying to overcorrect this is definitely a safety issue. This issue has been going on since I bought the car last year.
When driving straight at interstate speeds, there seems to be a catch in the steering. It is as if the steering does not want to turn and additional force has to be used to turn. This someone results in over correction of the steering.
Honda - In 2016 I purchased a new Honda Civic Tour model from a dealership and currently have 23000 miles (23K) recently the steering became a problem. I took it to the dealer where I purchased the vehicle and was advised that there was an issue known as "notching" where a gear component became defective. It was dangerous to drive and there was no options but to have it repaired. The repair cost nearly $4000.00 and I was shocked. There was no recall according to the service manager but it was known as a common problem. My wife and I are in our [XXX] and [XXX] so the cost was a large burden financially. I was told that Honda-America had a "Goodwill" program that will review a case and possibly offer some financial relief. I complied with the info Honda solicited and submitted the case for consideration. In the meantime, I had the car repaired at the dealership and paid in full. I didn't ask for any specific amount but told Honda I would be appreciative for any financial assistance. Obviously we seldom drive the car usually to doctor appointments and needed errands. The customer service rep called and said my claim was denied because of the age (9 yrs.) even in spite of only have less that 23K miles. The original tires are on the car and it still has the "new car" smell. My wife and I are very disappointed with Honda's lack of compassion, we even purchased an extended warranty from the dealership when we bought the vehicle but we never used it. Honda could have helped us but the service rep made the decision to deny the claim. The customer service that I thought Honda was known for is not the case anymore. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
When driving down the highway the steering sometimes sticks or locks slightly. This is mainly when driving straight and doing a slight turn or correction. Alignment and balance are fine on the car. There are no warning lights. This is an intermittent problem and only occurs occasionally. I cant always duplicate. It has not been diagnosed by a mechanic yet as it is intermittent and it only occurs occasionally. Initially started around May of 2022 and has continued off and on since, most recently occurring on March 27th, 2025.
One year after buying my car I noticed the steering would stick in place when trying to turn it causing overcorrections in driving. At first this was occurring just occasionally. It got to the point where the sticking of the wheel was everytime I drove the car, making it dangerous to drive, especially on the highway. There were no warnings the car gave off in this situation. I had brought it in twice to a Honda dealership regarding this issue. They drove it around independently and did not find the wheel to stick. They did give me a few ideas of what it could possibly be but with no definitive diagnosis. I also had an independent mechanic assess the car and they did not know what the problem was. I have contacted the Honda manufacturer twice regarding this issue, especially since finding multiple forums regarding the same complaint for their Honda civics. They just tell me there’s nothing they can do and tell me to go back to the same dealership to get another possible diagnosis of the issue. My car is available for inspection if requested.
The steering feels like it's sticking slightly to the left of center, and I've been noticing it more as the weather gets warmer. It primarily occurs at slower speeds but becomes more pronounced at higher speeds. When making small adjustments while driving, the steering wheel doesn’t move smoothly and seems to stick. Once it passes the sticking point, it causes oversteer, forcing me to overcorrect in the opposite direction. This makes driving, especially at higher speeds, feel very unsafe. Through my research, I’ve found that this is a common issue, and there are recalls for this exact problem in my vehicle’s model year. However, after checking my VIN, it appears my car is not included in the recall. I'm deeply concerned that this steering defect could lead to an accident. Given the numerous reports of the same issue in vehicles not currently covered by the recall, I hope the recall will be expanded to include all affected cars.
When driving at highway speed the steering will get stiff and stick. This causes me to put more pressure on the wheel resulting in over correction. It has gotten to the point where it’s unsafe to drive. I’ve read about this issue online. Problem w worm gear in steering rack.
Not sure what component is causing the issue but steering is sticky. For subtle movements or corrections there will be resistance. This is causing jerky movements while driving which could cause an accident in the future.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware that the steering wheel was inoperable. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel inadvertently turned to the left or the right, causing the contact to forcefully turn the steering wheel. The contact stated that it was difficult to make the turn. The dealer was not contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 51,360.
Steering wheel seems to stick when car has been running for 30-40 miles. When going straight and making slight adjustments it sticks then jerks causing oversteering. Because of the mileage required to get this to occur the independent mechanic has been unable to replicate. I no longer feel safe taking this vehicle on the freeway or on any road trip.
Electric Rack n Pinion had to be replaced due to it binding while driving greater than 40 mph. Was a safety issue as the steering wound get 'stuck' trying to make adjustments to stay in the lane. Causing over steering. It started in January and continuely worsened. I believe there is a recall for later models with the same issue, why not 2016's? Cost me approximately $4,000 to replace.
A sticky hard steering feeling from the steering wheel. Results in a labored, exausting feeling from fighting the steering wheel. Results in an over correction of steering at times.
Occasionally steering was sticking, mostly highway driving. Car drifted slightly to left.
Sticky steering when on center and in warmer weather. Cannot make minor steering adjustments without overcorrecting left or right. This is an ongoing issue for the past few years.
Steering wheels binds up on highway. If I slightly turn the wheel in any direction it gets stuck that way and I have to use a lot of force to get it to unbind. Causes uncontrollable steering adjustment very serious.
I began to experience 'sticky steering' before reaching 90k miles on my vehicle. At its worst, the steering issue would cause the driver to overcorrect when attempting to overcome the notch in the steering while simply trying to stay in the center of a lane on the interstate. Because it is a steering issue I had the vehicle inspected at a cost of $236.34, at which time it was recommended that the eps rack and gearbox be replaced at a cost of over $3000 dollars. I declined at that time and went back to my home dealership where the repair was done at a cost of $2055. The rack and gearbox were faulty and the service manager affirmed that it was a known issue on these models, but that Honda had yet to do a recall even though they have done recalls on later models.
Beginning in April 2024, I noticed that my steering wheel would catch slightly when I was driving straight ahead, so that I needed to overcorrect left and right, with resistance in the steering wheel (like it was moving between two notches). This would happen whenever I drove my car straight ahead. I took my car to the local dealer and, after the first visit where they said I should get four new tires in case stretched bands in my tires were causing the steering problem, on a second visit they diagnosed an internal rack problem and advised a steering rack replacement. The car mileage was slightly under 33,000 miles at this time. I reached out to American Honda about the problem, and after they reviewed my case, they provided some goodwill toward the steering rack replacement, they said in part because I've routinely taken my car to the local dealership for service. The steering rack was replaced in September 2024.
Experiencing the same sticky steering issue that a number of other customers have also reported. After driving the vehicle on the highway for 15+ minutes you will start to feel the steeling wheel stick at the center position when turning the wheel from the center position to the right. Have not had the vehicle inspected yet. No lights or sensors indicate any issue.
At highway speeds or after driving longer distances there is an increased amount of effort needed to turn the steering wheel. When making slight adjustments the steering wheel “sticks” and then overcorrects sometimes causing my car to shift into the other lane. I have had several others drive my car and notice the same issue.
While driving the steering wheel becomes sticky. It is difficult to turn and requires varying levels of force, reducing accuracy and resulting in jerky movements, difficulty staying in the lines, and increasing risk of crash. No warning lights or errors are coming up for this issue. No other symptoms. Issue has been going on for about a year. If necessary I can get supporting documentation from a mechanic for this issue. No inspection from insurance or police.
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