2022-2023 Honda Civic owners, take note: a recent lawsuit has been filed against the brand’s popular model for alleged electric power steering system “sticky” problems.
The lawsuit, Burgos, et al., v. American Honda Motor Company, Inc. claims that the 2022-2023 Honda Civic models have been sold with a defective electric power steering system that causes the steering wheel to get stuck while driving. As a result, drivers are required to increase steering effort which can potentially result in overcorrections leading to an accident.
Owners allege that the “sticky” power steering issues can cause difficulty turning the wheel while at speed. In fact, the defect has resulted in at least two accidents as of this writing.
Unfortunately, for many 2022-2023 Honda Civic owners, the electric power steering (EPS) found in these model year Civics has led to many unhappy customers.
Honda’s failure to address the power steering problems has resulted in legal action against the automaker.
Let’s take a closer look into the EPS problems with recent models of the Honda Civic, and what drivers can do if they find themselves dealing with these same problems.
Owners Allege EPS Requires Increase in Steering Effort
Auto manufacturers such as Honda have been making the switch to electric power steering systems for a variety of reasons. The primarily reason being increased fuel economy and advanced driver assistance features. Features that simply wouldn’t be possible with traditional hydraulic steering systems.
By removing the need for an engine-driven pump, the electrical power steering mechanisms consume less energy while providing greater control of the vehicle. In fact, without EPS, self-parking capabilities would be nonexistent.
However, owners claim the EPS suffers from a defect that results in a “stickiness” requiring additional driver input to correct steering direction.
As one can imagine, not only are those behind the wheel at risk but fellow motorists as well. A dangerous situation puts everyone on high alert for collisions.
Owners continue to allege that electric power steering issues had been present since June 16, 2021, when the eleventh-generation Honda Civic first rolled onto dealership lots.
One Reddit user wrote:
This was huge for Honda when the 11th gen came out. As soon as we had some new 22’s in at the dealer I work for, I had to order new steering racks for them right away, as as soon as they came off the truck, they already showed lights on the dash. The kicker was somehow they were already on backorder 😂 so we either had to sell a customer a broken car and let them come back to have it fixed or not sell the car until it was fixed
In fact, NHTSA has received numerous complaints from drivers experiencing “sticky” steering, and started an investigation on March 17th.
Our own research concludes that the vast majority of Civic owners experience “sticking” at higher speeds, typically after a 30 minute drive.
Many owners allege small corrections are required to unlock the steering wheel from its position.
Additionally, one owner claimed:
After a while becomes really unsafe to drive since all the correction you make are extreme and it struggles to keep the car centered on the lane without constant struggle.
It’s clear that Honda is facing major issues with their 2022-2023 Civic model, with over 300 complaints being filed. And the vast majority of which are electric power steering related.
View the 2022-2023 Honda Civic reliability report.
Alarmingly, it appears that an electric power steering defect could impact a potentially massive 238,271 Honda Civics on the roads today. This issue may be far more widespread than first suspected, and has car owners feeling concerned.
What Does “Sticky” Steering Mean Exactly?
At highway speeds, the steering becomes notchy, requiring physical adjustments to re-center. In essence, if you turn the wheel slightly to the left or right and release it, the car will keep turning without self-centering.
Does Turning Off All Driver Assistance Features Solve the Problem?
Despite owners disabling all driver assistance features, they are still unable to solve the problem of sticky steering. This indicates that there may be a mechanical issue requiring further investigation.
How Does the Honda Electric Steering System Work?
Honda’s electric power steering (EPS) system works by using an electric motor to assist the driver in turning the steering wheel.
Unlike traditional hydraulic power steering systems, which use hydraulic fluid to transmit force, EPS systems use an electric motor and sensors to detect the position and movement of the steering wheel.
When the driver turns the steering wheel, sensors detect the direction and speed of the movement and send this information to the EPS control module.
The control module then uses this information to determine the amount of steering assistance required and sends a signal to the electric motor to provide the necessary assistance.
The electric motor provides the necessary torque to the steering rack or column to help turn the wheels, and it can adjust the level of assistance depending on the driving conditions.
As an example, at low speeds, the EPS system provides more assistance to make it easier for the driver to turn the wheels. At higher speeds, it provides less assistance for greater stability and control.
Overall, the EPS system provides a more efficient steering assistance than traditional hydraulic power steering systems. This results in improved fuel economy, and reduced emissions.
Is there a Fix for the 2022-2023 Honda Civic Electric Power Steering Problems?
Restarting the engine may temporarily restore the EPS, but this is not a permanent solution.
Owners Voices
Since I’ve owned the car, when driving above 40 mph(when lkas may engage), with lkas off, the steering becomes statically neutral. . . I. E in a turn the steering wheel will remain in the turned position when pressure on the wheel is reduced. In this case the steering wheel( as well as the front wheels themselves) should straighten out as you continue to move. This is dangerous. Also, at highway speeds, in order to maintain the center of your lane small inputs to the steering wheel are normally required. In this vehicle, there is resistance to these small inputs. When the force of your input finally overcomes the resistance in the steering wheel the wheel turns more dramatically than intended(overcorrection). This is also dangerous. This also occurs with lkas off. It’s almost like lkas engages the steering column preemptively above 40 mph but in a dangerous manner. I have less than 3000 miles on the car.
NHTSA ID Number: 11494833
Steering wheel has some resistance when trying to correct while driving. It feels as if though the steering wheel is getting stuck and I have to force it when trying to correct the car when going straight.
NHTSA ID Number: 11494669
The issues started around 3000 miles. When I turn the steering wheel to stay on the road around a slight curve, it will not naturally return to the center and I have to manually pull it back. It makes it feel like the car is wandering and if it gets much worse it will be unsafe. My car now has 5500 miles and is exhibiting a light “catch” or stickiness when making small adjustments (mostly noticed on the highway). My dealership is useless and rude and says that they will charge me a fee if they do not find anything wrong with the car, even though it is well under warranty. My concerns were confirmed by a mechanic shop in my area who acknowledged the steering oddity.
NHTSA ID Number: 11494599
Did Any Other Honda Civic Model Years Suffer From “Sticky” Steering?
MyCarVoice’s vehicle reliability report has uncovered a concerning trend of steering defects appearing as early as the 2020 model year. Unnervingly, these complaints mirror those filed for newer models.
The Steering Is Very Sticky. It Catches Mostly To The Left And Will Hold Its Position Taking You Into Other Lane Unless You Yank It Back. It Started Only At High Speeds Now It Does It All The Time.
NHTSA ID Number: 11502282
Honda Civic Models Affected
The following Honda Civic models are affected by this alleged defect:
Status of the Honda Civic Steering Problems Class Action Litigation
This is an active class action lawsuit. Burgos, et al., v. American Honda Motor Company, Inc., case number 2:23-cv-03082, in United States District Court Central District Of California, Western Division.
Honda Civic Electric Power Steering Problems FAQs
What is The Common Problem With Honda Civic 2022?
NHTSA has been receiving a plethora of complaints from Honda Civic owners about its 2022 model’s electrical steering system, forward collision avoidance and speed control issues. These are widely considered to be the most pressing problems with this vehicle right now.
What is the Steering Problem in The Honda Civic 2023?
A lawsuit has been filed against Honda over an alleged defective electric power steering system found in the 2022-2023 Honda Civic. The plaintiffs in the class action lawsuit claim that the steering wheel gets stuck while driving, due to defective electric power steering system.
Questions About This Lawsuit?
MyCarVoice.com is not counsel or the settlement administrator in this class action lawsuit. Our goal is to inform owners of these vehicles of the recent lawsuit. This post will be updated when/if new suit information is released.
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Are you driving a Honda Civic made between 2023 and 2023 and having issues with electronic power steering in your car? If so, add your voice to this post in the comments below 👇
Loves anything with a motor and wheels.
Christopher is an automotive technical writer. When he’s not at the local autocross event, he can often be found working on one of his cars. Specializes in automotive class action law, industry trends, and automotive maintenance. Email me direct, or learn more about us
Jeffrey Penney
May 30, 2023 at 7:38 pmExperiencing the same thing, sticking steering as of late and before hand the steering wheel, clicking inside the steering wheel. Dealership was not able to figure it out and applied lithium grease to some parts in order to quell the noise. Since then it has become much much worse.
Brandon Harrison
June 1, 2023 at 7:50 pmMy 22 Civic sport has been at my dealer for 3 weeks now, still no fix. The steering wheel sticks and the struts and front axles are making a popping noise when the steering wheel is turned. I’ve have not been provided a loaner vehicle or rental car reimbursement. A dealership in NJ has found the fix to the problem, by ordering and replacing the electric steering rack. It sounds like my dealer is trying to avoid doing that. I’m beyond frustrated and highly disappointed in Honda for not fixing this obviously known issue. The dealer has asked me to come in to “test drive” the vehicle with them, even though the popping noise still exists. I don’t even want the car anymore. This is maddening.