2012 Honda CR-V: steering wheel locks up

Filed Dec 4, 2023 · Steering · IL

I attempted to make a right turn and the steering wheel locked, not allowing me to continue turning. The steering wheel returned to its original position and I again attempted to make the turn. This time I was able to turn the steering wheel all the way and complete the turn. No warning lights appeared. I was on a side street when this happened and there was no traffic, but this could have been cause for an accident if I had been driving on a busy road.

Filed Oct 1, 2023 · Electrical · NY

In July of this year, I took a 20 minute drive with my kids and then went to a bagel shop. I tried to turn on the car and it acted like the battery had been drained. I got a jump, had my battery tested, and it was fine. A week later, it started happening nearly any time I took a short trip, and I needed to purchase a portable jump starter. I then had my alternator and battery tested again, and both were in working condition and passed. On September 12th, 2023, as I was pulling into my driveway, my power steering locked up on and off and I could not turn my car once it was in my driveway. I turned it off and it would not restart again (like I had left my lights on all night). I jumped it and let it run for an hour. I rode it around the block and it seemed fine, but I took it to a shop that I trust. They informed me that my alternator was only charging my battery when my high beam lights were on and that there was a service bulletin by Honda regarding a software update to the PCM if this occurred. Honda charged me $189 to have the software updated, and I needed a new battery because the faulty charging circuit fried a battery that I got this year. This should be a mandatory recall because if my kids and I were driving and my power steering locked like that on a highway, we could have been killed. If you had an actual recall on this, you could actually possibly save many lives on this popular vehicle!!!

Filed Jul 16, 2020 · Steering · 72,000 miles · NY

While driving on the highway, my power steering light came on and the steering wheel locked up. I was struggled to turn the steering wheel to get the car to the shoulder of highway. It almost caused me to have an accident . It was towed to the dealer and they stated it was the power steering or ecp and it will cost almost $1500 dollars to fix. My car was never in any major accidents for anything of this nature to occur and is always serviced at the dealer. I ask the dealer why would this happen and all he said was 'the only thing I can think of is if it was in an accident '.

Filed Dec 17, 2018 · Steering · 158,000 miles · NJ

Steering wheel locked several times while driving at lower speeds. I had to turn car off and restart for it to work again. I was unable to turn the wheel at all when it locked

Filed Feb 5, 2018 · Steering · 98,400 miles · MI

While drive 40mph, an abrupt decision to turn into a business driveway was made. In the act of removing my foot from the gas to the brake, the engine RPM is reduced while the steering wheel is turned. I experienced a fault light on the instrument cluster for the steering eps (electronic power steering) system and the steering wheel was momentarily locked in position while attempting to turn. If another vehicle was in the driveway, I would have collided with them. While trying to recreate the problem in the safety of a parking lot, I was able to get the steering will to lock up repeatedly while not moving, with my foot on the brake and A/C on. Each attempt to move the steering wheel at low RPM with my foot on the brake resulted in a flash of eps steering fault while the steering wheel locks up preventing me from steering. The steering wheel locks instead of just becoming hard to steer. I have fixed the problem with cleaning of the battery terminals.... The eps power steering requires a lot of electric power. The fuse box has a 70amp fuse feeding power to the eps. At low RPM, the alternator will not supply enough power to operate eps, so the power must come from the battery. My battery was installed by a honda dealership but they did not apply battery corrosion protector to the terminals in november 2016. The corrosion that developed created a resistive electrical connection preventing the high current draw needed for the eps from the battery. This condition will also happen if the alternator is not operating at full capacity (one of the diodes has failed) or if the battery develops a failed cell. Honda should correct the issue by allowing the operator to still use the steering wheel instead of having the eps system lock the wheel. The following the federal safety agency complaints may associated with this issue. 10981511,11005158, 11065903,10979918,10910951

Filed Jan 30, 2018 · Steering · 85,400 miles · TX

When driving at about 60mph, all of a sudden the steering seizes, and I am unable to steer left or right. Its like if the steering locks up. The steering icon appears in the dash until I stop the car and turn off the ignition. When I turn it back on, the car is normal. I could've crashed on the freeway!! This has happened 4 times already.

Filed Aug 11, 2016 · Driver assistance, Steering · 120,000 miles · MS

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 honda cr-v. While driving at any speed, the steering wheel seized and the steering wheel warning light illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed that the vehicle stability actuator (vsa) failed. It was unknown if the vehicle was repaired. The dealer and manufacturer stated there was no failure. The failure mileage was 120,000.

Filed Oct 8, 2013 · Brakes, Steering · 15,000 miles · NY

While driving my car from maryland to new york in extremely rainy conditions on the i95, the SUV steering wheel locked after a loud noise. I thought I had a flat tire, but this was not the case. The brakes pedal also did not move. The car buckled and rocked from side to side. (no warning lights came on--why didn't it?) this situation could have been deadly if other vehicles around me were not alert. I read through the comments and realize I am not the only person this has happened to. Is honda waiting for someone to die. I told my family to sue them if it happens to me. I have started driving with my ipad video camera on. This is my black box to prove that the honda crv 2012 is faulty. Since this has happened, the gas and brake pedals vibrate when driving after 2-3hrs. I took the car into honda, long island, ny. They checked the brakes and said it is fine. But, the car does not drive smooth on the road. You can feel the difference in the steering wheel while driving. Honda needs to fix this unsafe problem of the steering and brakes locking while the car is in motion.

Filed Jul 11, 2013 · Steering · 1,000 miles · OH

Tl* the contact owns a 2012 honda crv. The contact stated that the steering wheel seized while driving at an unknown speed. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, who advised that the steering wire was loose and caused the steering wheel to lock. The vehicle was repaired but the failure recurred later as the contact was driving 60 MPH. The failure was experienced several times. The vehicle was towed to the dealer. The VIN was not available. The approximate failure mileage was 1,000 and the approximate current mileage was 4,000. The VIN was not available.

Filed Jul 7, 2013 · Steering, Suspension · 18,000 miles · CA · crash · 1 injury

Driver reported hearing loud pop from right side (assumed to be front tire blowout). She described steering locked up and was unable to turn wheel. Lost control of vehicle on a curving 2 lane road. She describes braking was ineffective, and her vehicle right front corner hit a vehicle in opposite lane, both vehicles spun 180 and crv ended up upright in a ditch off the road. Right front wheel and suspension was completely disconnected from vehicle. Rear right wheel broke from suspension. Car airbags deployed properly, and driver was just bruised and scraped up. This vehicle has had 2 issues with TPMS (tire-pressure monitor system). Vehicle was returned to dealer for service after two days after purchase when TPMS indicator came on 10 minutes away from dealership after purchase (service dept was closed the next day). Second time was 3 days after service, technician reported that "previous tech didn't adjust the spare tire TPMS. That's what caused the errors". Months later tires appeared to be low, but TPMS system didn't indicate anything, driver wondered if the service techs disabled the TPMS system completely? Car was at dealer jan 12, 2013 for door lock recall. Described TPMS issues to tech, nothing reported. Car was due to go back to shop a month or two after the accident for 1 year check-up. Driver states she will not buy another honda.. This one just had too many problems from the start.