Electronic power steering (eps) cuts out and back in at unpredictable times causing steering to become stiff and unsafe. The eps indicator comes momentarily when assisted steering is not available and turns off when power steering is restored. It happens periodically under all different driving conditions. This loosing and regaining assisted power steering happens with in seconds. If cornering when this occurs, the loss of powering steering causes severe understeering followed by severe oversteering when power steering is returned (all within the same cornering maneuver). First noticed just prior to getting the takata recall performed; honda dealer stated there was nothing wrong with the steering because they "could not find any codes". Did not notice this problem too much again till recently when it started occurring so frequently the car is unsafe to drive. The owner's manual states there is only a problem with eps if the warning light stays on. Honda dealers are 'unaware of any issues' although honda has had eps issues with the fit as documented in the federal safety agency complaints as well as honda service bulletin 14-058 (dealing with earlier model fits). When I recently contacted honda and asked about the problem they stated they have no info on defects and basically it sucks to be me. Because there are supposedly no stored diagnostic trouble codes (dtc) with this known issue it cannot be ruled out as a cause of accidents. It seems any and all honda fit accidents (especially involving fatalities or sever injuries) it would be circumspect to consider the unpredictable loss of power steering, which causes over and under correction in cornering.
2011 Honda Fit: loss of power steering
5 of the 113 complaints about the 2011 Honda Fit describe loss of power steering.
- owner complaints
- 5
- of this car's complaints
- 4%
- typical mileage
- 109,000
- recalls
- 0
Loss of power steering by model year
What owners say
Power steering failed multiple times while driving, and the radio cut out many times as well. When the power steering failed I veered into oncoming traffic and was unable to turn the wheel until it restored. Fortunately I was going less than 30mph, and avoided an accident. Upon researching this problem I see that many others have had the exact same issue. I am too afraid to drive the car as I live in a busy downtown area. This happened while driving in the city while traveling straight as well as turning.
Lost power steering while driving on the hwy in my 2011 honda fit with about 58,500 miles driven.. Had car parked in the sun for several hours with ambient temperature of 92f, got in and drove home, had radio on, A/C on, gas level close to the empty indicator ("e")., and within 5 minutes of driving, was on the freeway at that time, the electric power assisted steering functionality failed. I almost lost control of vehicle, steering was heavy and difficult, no lights illuminated to indicate a problem, was able to stay in # 1 lane till I reached home. When I started the car the following day, and power assist functionality was magically restored. I visited the local honda dealership service department and service representative claimed that he has not heard of such problems with the honda fit, even for earlier years when I asked specifically. Service representative was not even interested in hooking up any devices to see if information can be retrieved from the computer in the car.
Recently my 2011 honda fit has been having intermittent power steering failures. It has happened 3 times in one week to date where I have started the car to drive to work in the morning and the steering is very heavy for a few seconds like an old manual steering car. The power steering kicked back in once after continuing to drive the car and on the other two occasions after stopping the car and restarting it.
After driving 20 miles through traffic with 1/2 tank gas and radiator temperature ok, no warning lights showing: turned right at intersection and lost all engine power (no throttle response), then all lights (headlights and dash). Steering became stiff. We think cd player stayed on. Luckily no nearby traffic and enough momentum to pull into nearby parking lot. Put car in park, turned key off and removed it. Replaced key and car started with lights ok. We've had this car for 1500 miles and this is the first time it's done this.
Related recalls
No recalls on record for this model year.
Questions about the 2011 Honda Fit power steering loss
Is loss of power steering a common problem on the 2011 Honda Fit?
5 of 113 owner complaints about the 2011 Honda Fit (4%) mention loss of power steering. The model year with the most reports is 2007.
Is there a recall or service bulletin for this on the 2011 Honda Fit?
There is no recall or service bulletin for this area of the car on record.
Other symptoms on the 2011 Honda Fit
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