Honda CR-V harsh shifting problems

Filed Nov 7, 2026 · Steering · FL

The steering wheel sticks then breaks free with a jerk. It usually shows up at highway speed. When trying to make a small lane corrections, extra force is required and often causes overcorrection. A ticking or clunking noise also occurs when the wheel sticks or releases. I contacted a dealer and they knew of the problem but said my vehicle wasn't part of the recall. I don't understand why my vehicle can have a known problem and not be covered. I've read of people with this problem having the steering wheel lock completely and running into things. Right now I don't even feel safe driving the car to a dealer for repair.

Filed Nov 5, 2026 · Suspension · CA

During a long road trip from [XXX], to [XXX], I started hearing a loud clunking noise coming from the rear suspension whenever I drove over potholes or uneven pavement. I also felt a strong vibration while driving. I pulled over to check the noise, but because it was dark, it was too hard to see anything. The next day, I continued driving and decided to inspect the rear suspension more closely. I noticed a visible gap between the nut and the frame on the stabilizer bar, and the threads were completely stripped out. After consulting the vehicle service manual for guidance, I ended up replacing both rear stabilizer bar links. A few days later, the exact same issue returned—the passenger-side link was coming loose again. This time, I torqued the nut to the manual's exact specifications and applied threadlocker to the bolt, which finally put an end to the problem. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

Filed Oct 5, 2026 · Suspension, Transmission · CA

A few days ago I heard a loud clunking noise emanating from the rear wheel wells when I was making left or right turns regardless of speed. I took it in to my local Honda dealer who reported that the nut holding the sway bar became loose somehow, causing the noise. They had indicated it's possible it had not been torqued to factory specifications. The dealer also reported that multiple customers had already come in for similar issues.

Filed Sep 20, 2026 · Steering · CA

I an experiencing "sticky steering" notably at freeway speeds on warmer days. The steering wheel will catch when I attempt lane corrections and suddenly release with a small clunk causing the vehicle to lurch in the direction of the steer. I see that 2022-2024 Honda CRVs are covered under a recall for "sticky steering" but not the 2018-2021 model years even though there is the same problem as evidenced by numerous complaints on the Honda forum. Can Honda be persuaded to include these earlier model CRVs experiencing the same problem? Luckily I have an Honda Motor Company extended warranty which I hope will cover the cost of repairs as this is an unsafe situation, especially for my petite wife.

Filed Jul 6, 2026 · Steering · MD

Here’s the revised version with that important detail added naturally: For the past two years, my vehicle has experienced the same recurring steering problem during long highway trips. The issue consistently begins after approximately 1–2.5 hours of highway driving and always occurs during very hot or humid weather. The steering wheel starts to stick when making small corrections while driving straight, feeling as though it moves in notches instead of smoothly. Once the problem starts, it continues for the remainder of the trip, even after leaving the highway and driving at lower speeds. This has happened on multiple long trips over the last two years, typically toward the end of extended drives in hot or humid conditions. During some incidents, the steering wheel also produced a clicking noise each time it moved into a notched position. The sticking and clicking make it difficult to make small steering adjustments and create a jerky, clunky steering feel, especially on narrow or curvy roads, making the vehicle feel unsafe to drive. To rule out other causes, we replaced all four tires, but the problem continued exactly as before. There have never been any warning lights or dashboard messages associated with this issue. After researching the problem, we found information about EPS gearbox recalls affecting newer CR-V models. We discussed our symptoms with our mechanic, who agreed that the problem sounds consistent with an Electric Power Steering (EPS) issue and recommended reporting it to the federal safety agency. Because the problem only develops after extended highway driving in hot or humid conditions, it is difficult to reproduce during a typical short test drive. This wording makes it clear that the weather connection isn’t just a possibility—it has been a consistent pattern every time the issue occurs.

Filed Jul 6, 2026 · Steering · OR

After the vehicle is warm when turning the stirring does not want to return and sticks. Before the vehicle is warm there is a clunking sound in the steering system. My car is out of warranty but the problem started long before that. It started approximately 2 years ago.

Filed Jun 9, 2026 · Steering · TX

May 15, 2026 - After driving highway speeds for 2 hours on a road trip, the steering wheel started to stick when trying to make small adjustments driving straight. It seemed like it could only move in notches, not glide smoothly. May 17, 2026 - After driving highway speeds for 1 hour, the same thing started happening again and continued for the remaining 2 hours of the trip. May 29, 2026 - After driving highway speeds for 2.5 hours, the steering wheel started to stick again but this time I could also hear a little clicking noise every time I made a small adjustment to the wheel that moved it into a "notched" position created by the stickiness. The clunky movements of the steering wheel made me nervous driving on narrow curvy roads. I drove 5 hours one way where it started doing this halfway into the trip and 5 hours back home the same day with it sticking & clicking the entire time as I made minor movements of the wheel. It was not isolated to fast speeds; it continued at slow speeds. June 2, 2026 - The rear tires had been replaced 6 months earlier, so we decided to replace the front tires now to see if that would help resolve the issue. June 4, 2026 - After driving highway speeds at 2 hours, the steering wheel started sticking and clicking again. New tires did not fix the problem. Our destination was 2.5 hours from home. We returned home later the same day with the sticking & clicking starting after about an hour and continuing the rest of the way home. There have been no warning lights or messages related to this problem. June 9, 2026 - We've seen online that there have been recalls on newer model CR-Vs for the EPS gear box. We called our mechanic and described what we're experiencing. He agreed that it sounded like an EPS issue and recommended we report it to the federal safety agency. Because the issue doesn't surface until at least an hour of driving highway speeds, it's hard to reproduce on demand.

Filed Apr 22, 2026 · Brakes, Electrical · 13,000 miles · FL

The contact owns a 2020 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving in a parking lot and depressing the brake pedal, there was a clunking sound coming from the braking system before the brakes became inoperable. The contact forcefully depressed the brake pedal, and the vehicle eventually came to a stop. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with an electrical wiring short. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 13,000.

Filed Apr 22, 2026 · Steering · OH

My 2021 Honda CR-V Touring model, with around 59000 miles on the odometer, has developed a problem in which the steering wheel gets "stuck" and resists being turned. Then, when more force is applied to turn the wheel, the steering mechanism suddenly "lets go", and this is accompanied by a clunking sound from the front of the vehicle. I first noticed this a few weeks ago, and at first the resistance and noise was barely noticeable. However, since then, the degree of resistance and volume of the clunking sound have been steadily INCREASING. This has prompted me to get the problem diagnosed and repaired ASAP before it becomes more than just a distraction (I have an appointment with a dealier). Meanwhile, I've done some web research about the issue, and found a Honda news release dated October 9, 2024 that announces a recall for a steering problem with symptoms that EXACTLY MATCH the problem my CR-V is exhibiting. The same goes for the federal safety agency "Part 573 Safety Recall Report 24V‑744", which describes PRECISELY the same symptoms. Unfortunately, the safety recall only covers 2023 through 2025 Honda CR-V's, so repairs to my 2021 CR-V is not covered. However, it seems very likely that my vehicle DOES have the same issue. Accordingl, I am reporting this to the federal safety agency to (1) provide a data point that may help in establishing the prevalence of this issue, and (2) encourage further research by NHSTA as to whether an expansion of the recall is warranted. I am also concerned about owners of vehicles that are not covered by the recall having to bear the repair costs. I will get it repaired one way or the other, but I'm certain that many others would be discouraged by the cost and choose not to have it repaired. Thank you for your attention to and actions taken regarding this matter.

Filed Apr 1, 2026 · Transmission · WI

The Transmission mount failed and the transmission was loose and clunking around in the vehicle when I applied the breaks and occasionally when I accelerated. The car has less than 50K miles and the transmission mount should not fail. There was no accident or rust and no reason for it to fail. I believe it is a safety hazard that Honda should do a recall or at least cover the cost of the repair.