2016 Honda Civic: loss of power steering

Filed Jul 23, 2026 · Electrical, Steering · AZ

With increasing frequency, at seemingly any condition or speed, a cluster of dashboard warnings, including power steering EPS, ABS, tire pressure TPMS, and others, flash on and stay on. Shortly after, the warnings appear power steering assist fails completely. This leads to uneasy and potentially dangerous circumstances as the car becomes minimally controllable as the physical effort required to maneuver is largely increased. Making turns especially difficult and hazardous while on public roads. This happens with increasing frequency. Initially restarting the car would temporarily fix the problem but that is decreasingly the case and the lights and steering lock happen again shortly after the reset. I no longer attempt to reset the car as it rarely helps now. I am actively keeping log of the frequency of this problem including date, time, and milage.

Filed Dec 5, 2025 · Steering · OH

Steering is very stiff and fights you while trying to make minor corrections at highway speeds (45mph+). Not safe to drive the vehicle on road trips or for extended periods of time on the highway. As I understand it, the 11th generation civics have a recall on the same component. It seems the recall needs to be extended to the 10th generation civics as well.

Filed Nov 19, 2025 · Electrical, Engine · TX

My 2016 Honda Civic has a recurring safety-critical defect that began approximately 2–3 weeks after purchase. While turning (most often left turns), the vehicle suddenly shuts off without warning. When this occurs, the power steering assist locks, brake assist is lost, and the electrical system cuts off and then reboots. This has happened more than 5–6 times and nearly caused collisions. I had to apply extreme brake pressure to avoid hitting another vehicle during one incident. The steering becomes rigid, the dashboard goes dark, and the car restarts on its own while still in motion. Before I purchased the vehicle, a diagnostic inspection was performed and no issues were reported. Since owning the car, it has also been taken to a mechanic multiple times, and no diagnostic code or mechanical explanation for this shutdown issue has ever been identified. The defect appears intermittently and leaves no trace or error codes, making it extremely difficult to detect or repair. This is a serious safety hazard that could cause injury or death. The problem appears to be a latent defect that was present at the time of vehicle sale. I am reporting this so the federal safety agency can investigate whether this is a known issue with this model or whether other consumers have experienced similar sudden shutdowns.

Filed Jun 27, 2025 · Steering · AR

Steering sticking while driving. Took it to the Honda dealer and was told that power steering failure is common on Civics. Cost around 4K.

Filed Apr 14, 2025 · Steering · CA

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.

Filed Sep 30, 2024 · Steering · NJ

Steering is stiff and Jerky when making slight corrections

Filed Oct 13, 2023 · Steering · FL

What component or system failed or malfunctioned, and is it available for inspection upon request? Steering wheel sticking at highway speeds when on a curved road or when changing lanes. Might be a loss of power steering. Occurs once or twice in 100 highway miles. Only temporary solution is to jerk the wheel with enough force to unstick it and regain control, which is not safe or ideal. How was your safety or the safety of others put at risk? Loss of control of the vehicle. Departing own lane without intention. Possibility of collision with an adjacent vehicle. Possibility of overcorrection and complete loss of control without ability to regain control, resulting in a single vehicle crash. Has the problem been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center? No, the local Honda dealer wants to charge $150.00 to inspect the issue. Has the vehicle or component been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others? No. Were there any warning lamps, messages or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure, and when did they first appear? No, none.

Filed Mar 31, 2023 · Electrical, Steering · 46,000 miles · TN

The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the electronic braking system, steering, alternator, check engine, and TPMS warning lights illuminated. After shifting into drive(D), the vehicle lost power steering functionality and became difficult to turn. The braking system warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic and the contact was informed electronic power steering rack and pinion had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure was 46,000.

Filed Mar 23, 2023 · Steering · MD

While operating the vehicle on the highway the steering was not smooth when starting to turn the wheel. There was a short hesitation or loss of power assistance while turning to follow the direction of the roadway. This occurrence was very brief while turning the steering wheel. The steering problem lasted for several days. Later when taking the vehicle to be inspected for this problem there was no steering difficulty at all. The vehicle was inspected, computer analyzed and test driven finding no fault with the steering. Although there seems to be no problem at this time it is unknown if this could possibly be an "intermittent problem"?

Filed Jun 3, 2022 · Steering · GA

The steering on this car is electronic. It feels a lot different than other cars that I drive. The steering is stiff. When trying to make minor corrections, the steering doesn't want to move, therefore, more force is required to turn the steering wheel to make the correction. When the steering eventually releases, it results in an overcorrection situation. This overcorrection is a safety issue and could result in moving into the oncoming lane of traffic.

Filed Apr 28, 2021 · Steering · 20 miles · MA

I bought my civic new on 2016. The car starts to have steering become jerky and tends to stick in the center position after driving on the highway more than 20 minutes on 03/15/2020. When that happens the car drifts to the left side and I have to use a extra force to pull it out of that sticking point back to the center steering . I did researched this problem on carcomplaints.com and found 107 complaints on honda civic 2016 eps jerky problems. I also found honda recall 18v663000 ( power steering assist fails ) on civic and crv 2017-2018 but not included 2016 while civic 2016-2018 use same eps assembly part no.53650-tba-a01 that fix the eps fails. I brought my car to honda dealer to diagnostics the problem on 05/2020 was 52k miles but they can't confirmed it because it appears after at least 20min drives so they don't want to spend that much time to drive on highway! I noticed the problem intermittently relative to the weather temperatures and the problem appears few month after I brought my car to dealer for honda recall vsa and parking brake software updated. It's challenging to drive a straight line when the problem appears . Today 04/28/2021 my car has 57k miles and still have same problem but can't afford to pay over $2500 to replace the eps assembly due to out of manufacture warranty. I am deeply disappointed to own a car has less than 60k miles with major safety issues on eps unpleasure to drive.

Filed Sep 15, 2020 · Steering · 42,000 miles · CA

During a recent road trip we were driving on the freeway for extended periods. During this time, there were times when the steering became very difficult. This car has lane keep assist and other safety mechanisms, but those were turned off. However, it is as if it was trying to steer for me, but in the wrong direction. For example during a turn, it would become difficult to straighten the wheel - it wouldn't click, but it would offer strong resistance. I don't know if the power steering assist is just stopping working in one direction? In general it becomes overly difficult to steer as if it is "fighting" against the driver. The steering becomes "sticky" particularly on turns. I've researched this in different car forums and it is a common complaint. It is generally at highway speeds, it is intermittent, and it is usually after driving the car for a while. Because it is making the car difficult to stay in the proper lane this could cause an accident. The car only has 44k miles and has been well maintained. During a recent inspection for this problem at the dealer they found nothing obvious but we could not recreate the problem. Some people have reported replacing the power steering rack has resolved the problem. This should be investigated as it is a dangerous condition when it occurs.