Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2009 Honda Accord submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 30 reports on file name it.
Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.
The 25 most recent of 30, in the owner's own words
Constant clunking when turning the steering wheel left or right. Had the car since it had 90k miles. I see on forums about this issue in this model accord. Honda really needs to do there part and repair this issue. The steering column could lock up and could cause a fatal accident with any individual.
A clicking noise comes from the steering column when turning the steering wheel when driving. The car has 101,500 miles. It has been making this noise for approximately 4 years. From previous searches I thought this was an immaterial issue (that is, harmless rubbing of plastic parts). However in now looking into this further I see there have numerous complaints, pointing to a serious point of failure issue with the steering column and it bearing components. A recall should be issued so Honda can correct this defect.
A clicking/clunking noise comes from the steering column when turning the steering wheel when driving and when car is parked. Mechanic says it is the steering column and could be dangerous. There are many reports on the internet by car owners of this issue with 2009 Honda Accords. There are reports of accidents related to this clicking noise due to steering locking up. Honda will not pay for the repair. This is a safety issue. A recall should be issued.
TENSION BOLT SNAPPED CAUSING THE BELT TO LOOSEN AND NO POWER STEERING WHILE I WAS DRIVING, ALL THIS HAPPEND WHILE I WAS ON A HIGHWAY WAS THE SCARIEST MOMENT OF MY LIFE HAVING NO STEERING POWER! ALSO CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WENT ON FEW MONTHS AGO ISSUE WITH OXYGEN SENSOR. I TAUGHT HONDA IS SUCH A GOOD CAR, THIS WILL BE MY LAST TIME BUYING A HONDA. THIS CAR HAS COST ME SO MUCH MONEY AND TOWING ITS REDICULOS. I READ THAT PEOPLE HAD ISSUE WITH THIS AND HONDA ONLY MADE THAT BRACKET 2 YEARS BECUASE OF ISSUES WHY WAS THERE NEVER A RECALL ON THIS?
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 40 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT HAD TO MANUALLY TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. THE DEALER (BRIGHTON FORD, 8240 GRAND RIVER AVE, BRIGHTON, MI 48114, (810) 227-1171) WAS CONTACTED TO SCHEDULE A DIAGNOSTIC TEST. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND DID NOT ASSIST. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 110,000.
WHEN RAINING CAR WILL NOT COME OUT OF TURN. STEERING GETS STUCK IN DIRECTION OF TURN. GEAR SHIFT GOES FROM DRIVE TO NEUTRAL WITHOUT PRESSING BUTTON TOOK CAR TO DEALER AND THEY STATE PROBLEM CANNOT BE DUPLICATED.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 35 MPH, THE VEHICLE MADE A WHINING NOISE WHEN DEPRESSING THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL. THE DEALER DAIGNOSED THAT THE RACK AND PINION FAILED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,360.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE GOING FOR A ROUTINE OIL CHANGE, IT WAS INFORMED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING FLUID. THE DEALER DIAGNOSED THAT THE POWER STEERING RACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE CONTACT REFERENCED NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 12V5222000 (STEERING). THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 34,000. UPDATED 05/18/16*LJ *TR
WHENEVER I TURN MY STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION, IT MAKES A NOISE. TOOK IT TO HONDA DEALER AND THEY ARE NOW REPLACING THE STEERING WHEEL COLUMN AND ASKING ME TO PAY SOME $800. I SEE THAT THIS IS A REGULAR HONDA ACCORD PROBLEM, NOT SURE WHY I HAVE TO BEAR THE COST.
WHILE ENDEAVORING TO MAKE A SLOW SPEED MANEUVER, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS NOT RESPONSIVE BY POWER ASSISTANCE. IT EVENTUALLY CAME BACK TO NORMAL. CONCERNED I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC WHO SUGGESTED REPLACING THE POWER STEERING PUMP. REPLACED THE POWER STEERING PUMP WITH A HONDA REMANUFACTURED AND FLUSHED SYSTEM WITH GENUINE HONDA POWER STEERING FLUID. NEVER WAS ANYTHING FOUND IN THE FLUID THAT WOULD CONTAMINATE THE FLUID OR CAUSE SYSTEM BLOCKAGE. PROBLEM SEEMED CORRECTED FOR SEVERAL DAYS. IT RESUMED AGAIN. WENT BACK TO MY HONDA DEALER. AT THE HONDA DEALER IT WAS SUGGESTED THAT I NEEDED TO REPLACE MY RACK AND PINION SETUP. THIS IS A COSTLY REPAIR! I HAVE HAD 15 HONDAS AND NEVER HAD TO HAVE THIS DONE. THE PROBLEM IS PROGRESSIVELY BECOMING MORE PRONOUNCED. IT COMES AT VARIED TIMES DURING THE OPERATION OF THE VEHICLE.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE MAKING A SLIGHT RIGHT TURN, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE BRAKES SEIZED AND THE VEHICLE VIOLENTLY JERKED FORWARD. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT DROVE OVER A CURB AND CRASHED INTO A STOP SIGN AND A GRAVEL ROAD. A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES REPORTED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A COLLISION CENTER. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHEN TURNING AND REVERSING, AN ABNORMAL NOISE WAS COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER WHERE THE FAILURE WAS UNABLE TO BE REPLICATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 18,378. UPDATED 09/02/14*LJ THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN. THIS RESOLVED THE PROBLEM. UPDATED 11/12/2014 *JS
I HAVE A 2009 HONDA ACCORD AND RECENTLY NOTICED A CLICKING SOUND IN THE WHEEL WHEN I TURN EITHER DIRECTION. THE CLICKING HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE HONDA MECHANIC AND THEY NOTICED THE NOISE AS WELL BUT DID NOT KNOW WHAT IT WAS. SINCE THEN THE CLICKING CONTINUES. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION, A POPPING NOISE WAS HEARD. THE CONTACT NOTIFIED THE LOCAL DEALER AND WAS INFORMED THAT THE DEFECT WAS DUE TO DEFECTIVE BEARINGS IN THE STEERING COLUMN, WHICH WOULD REQUIRE THE ENTIRE STEERING COLUMN TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED, AND THEY STATED WOULD TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY IN THE MATTER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 70,000. UPDATED 05/12/14 MA
WHEN YOU TURN THE STEERING WHEEL THERE IS A CLICKING NOISE COMING FROM THE BOTTOM OF THE STEERING COLUMN, I CALLED HONDA AND THEY SAID THERE IS A TSB ON THE PROBLEM AND THAT IT IS COVERED UNDER STANDARD WARRANTY,3 YEARS OR 36000. MY HONDA HAS 57800 ON IT AND IS NOT COVERED!!! I SEARCHED THE INTERNET AND FOUND THAT MAY HONDA ACCORD OWNERS ARE VERY UNHAPPY WITH THE RESPONSE FROM HONDA WITH THIS PROBLEM THAT THEY KNOW THEY HAVE. CAN THE NTSB BRING THIS POTENTIAL SAFETY PROBLEM TO THE PUBLICS ATTENTION. *TR
THERE IS A KNOCKING NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING WHEEL. TOOK IT INTO THE DEALERSHIP AND THE SERVICE MANAGER SAYS THE STEERING COLUMN NEEDS TO BE REPLACED. HE FURTHER COMMENTED THAT THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE DEFECT BUT HONDA HAS NOT ISSUED A RECALL. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE DUE TO THE FACT IT CAN OVER TIME AFFECT THE STEERING OF THE VEHICLE. THERE ARE MANY COMPLAINTS ONLINE ABOUT THIS ISSUE AND OBVIOUSLY HONDA KNOWS THERE IS A PROBLEM. THERE IS NO REASON FOR A CAR LESS THAN 4 YEARS OLD TO NEED THE STEERING COLUMN REPLACED. *LN
IN DEC/12 I NOTICED A CLICKING NOISE IN MY STEERING WHEN I WAS DRIVING AND TURNED LEFT OR RIGHT , I CONTACTED HONDA AND THEY SAID BRING IT TO THE DEALER AND THAT IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE . SINCE I WAS NOT HOME I DECIDED TO WAIT UNTIL I RETURNED SINCE IT WAS NOT A SAFETY ISSUE ( MORE OF AN ANNOYANCE) . I WENT TO THE DEALER AND FOUND OUT THEY NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN AND A COUPLE OF BOLTS AT A COSTS OF $800 . NOW WHILE I AM NOT A MECHANIC IF YOU NEED TO REPLACE THE STEERING COLUMN IT WOULD DEFINITELY SOUND LIKE A SAFETY ISSUE TO ME . THERE IS EVEN A TSB ON IT FROM HONDA .AND WHILE I AM OUT OF WARRANTT HONDA ( AFTER COMPLAINING DID AGREE TO COVER THE COSTS OF PARTS APPROX 50% BUT THE BIGGER ISSUE IS THAT THEY ISSUED THIS TSB IN 09 AND THERE MUST BE A FLAW IN THE MECHANISM . *TR
WHILE DRIVING AND TURNING MY WHEEL I HEAR A LOUD CLICKING NOISE, TOOK IT TO HONDA AND THEY SAID THAT IT IS MY STEERING COLUMN. THEY REFUSED TO COVER UNDER WARRANTY. THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE STEERING TUBE BUT NO OTHER RECALLS. I HAVE HEARD SEVERAL OTHER COMPLAINTS ON OTHER WEBSITES WITH THIS SAME ISSUE. HONDA CLAIMS THEY HAVE RELIABLE VEHICLES. IF YOU MAKE THIS CLAIM MAYBE YOU SHOULD REPAIR A VEHICLE THAT HAS ONLY 40K MILES ON IT AND HAS BAD STEERING COLUMN. POOR COMPANY. THIS IS MY THIRD HONDA VEHICLE AND THE VERY LAST ONE THAT I WILL EVER BUY. *TR
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA ACCORD. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, HE HEARD A NOISE COMING FROM THE STEERING COLUMN. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER AND THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE BUT DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY RECALLS. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 38,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 50,000. UPDATED 1/23/13 *CN UPDATED 2/12/2013 *JS
SECONDARY SHAFT BEARING BROKEN. *TR
WHEN DRIVING BETWEEN 55-75 MILES AN HOUR, THERE IS A VIOLENT SHAKE FROM THE FRONT WHEELS. ITS EVEN MORE EVIDENT UNDER HEAVY ACCELERATION AS THE SHAKING BECOMES MORE SEVERE. I'VE HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT BY PEP BOYS, MY MECHANIC, AND THE HONDA DEALERSHIP IN AVENTURA, FL AND NO ONE SEEMS TO KNOW WHAT THE ISSUE IS. I HAVE FOUND OTHERS HAVING THE SAME ISSUES I DID ON THE EDMUNDS.COM FORUM. HTTP://TOWNHALL-TALK.EDMUNDS.COM/WEBX?14@@.F197B14/136. *TR
THE DRIVER SEAT IS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE TO DRIVE. THE SEAT DESIGN IS KIND OF PUSHING AND PUTTING PRESSURE PARTICULARLY ON THE LOWER BACK AND CAUSING TOO MUCH BACK PAIN EVEN DRIVEN FOR LESS THAN 20 MILES. THE SEAT DESIGN IS ALSO CAUSING NECK PAIN. DID NOT COMPLAIN TILL NOW BECAUSE THOUGHT IT WAS DESIGN ISSUE RATHER THAN SAFETY ISSUE. WHEN DRIVEN EVEN FOR FEW HOURS (LESS THAN 2 HRS), CAUSING A LOT OF BACK PAIN. THE STEERING WHEEL IS NOT PROPERLY DESIGNED TO HOLD IT CAUSING BAD SHOULDER PAIN WHEN DROVE FOR FEW HRS, PARTICULARLY THE LOWER SPOKES ARE DESIGNED TO RESEMBLE THE HONDA LOGO 'H' WHICH PROHIBITS THE DRIVER TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL EITHER AT THE BOTTOM (OR) AT THE OUTER END OF THE LOWER SPOKES WHICH HAS VERY LESS SPACE TO HOLD THE STEERING WHEEL. *TR
SITTING AT RED LIGHT WAITING FOR TURN SIGNAL, CAR BEGINS TO ROUGH IDLE. UPON TURN AND ACCELERATION, CAR SPITS, SPUTTERS, JERKS, JOLTS AND WOULD NOT ACCEL PROPERLY. ENGINE LIGHT BEGINS BLINKING. MOTOR RUNS/IDLES VERY ROUGH. NEXT MORNING ON DRIVE IN TO LOCAL DEALERSHIP, VSA LIGHT ILLUMINATES AND STAYS ILLUMINATED. CAR STILL IDLES AND RUNS VERY ROUGH, SPITTING AND SPUTTERING ETC. DEALERSHIP INSPECTS CAR. DEALERSHIP DETERMINES THE MOUNT OF OIL IN THE CAR IS TOO LOW. NO EVIDENCE OF OIL LEAKS. DEALERSHIP CONSULTS WITH HONDA. OIL CONSUMPTION TEST IS NOW RECOMMENDED. I AM TO RETURN THE CAR TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP TO CHECK THE OIL LEVEL AT 1,000 MILES INTERVALS FOR AN UNSPECIFIED PERIOD OF TIME. THIS CONSUMPTION WILL BE FORWARDED TO HONDA TO DETERMINE WHAT "FIX" WILL BE RECOMMENDED. INTERNET SEARCH PROVIDES ENDLESS IDENTICAL COMPLAINTS WITH NO RESOLUTION FROM HONDA OR DEALERSHIPS. *JB
MY MILEAGE IS 34,505 I TOOK MY CAR TO HONDA NORTH , DANVERS THEY SAID TO GO TO INS CO GEICO TO HAVE REPAIRED. NO ONE WANTS TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY PLEASE HELP ME![XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR
THERE IS A KNOWN FABRICATION DEFECT OF THE STEERING COLUMN ON HONDA ACCORD 2009 MODEL. A SERVICE BULLETIN WAS ISSUED BY HONDA CORPORATION REGARDING THIS ISSUE IN 2009. THE LOWER BEARING OF THE STEERING COLUMN WAS MIS-INSTALLED. AS A RESULT, THE STEERING COLUMN MAKES A CLUNK NOISE WHEN THE STEERING WHEEL IS TURNED. I FIRST BROUGHT THIS ISSUE TO THE ATTENTION OF THE HONDA DEALERSHIP SOON AFTER I PURCHASED THE CAR IN OCTOBER 2009. THEY DID NOT DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. MEANWHILE THE STEERING BECAME STICKY. IN OTHER WORDS THE BEARING IN CAUSING BINDING. I AM AFRAID THAT AT A SUDDEN TURN OF THE STEERING WHEEL, THE BEARING MIGHT SHATTER AND LOCK UP THE STEERING COLUMN. I CONSIDER THIS TO BE A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE. *KB
Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own
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