Owner-reported complaints naming the steering system, filed with NHTSA
Data refreshed
Steering reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
51
Latest Mar 1, 2025
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
14%
of 372 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
3
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1
What this page shows
Reports naming the steering system — racks, columns, power-steering assist and steering linkage. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2012 Honda Accord submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 51 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.
Owner reports naming steering
The 25 most recent of 51, in the owner's own words
1) When starting the car ( cold ) it makes a rattling sound that goes away after a few seconds and does not make this sound again until the car cools off 2) sometimes when driving the steering wheel shakes during acceleration
NHTSA ID
11645751
Incident
Feb 1, 2021
BrakesElectricalSteering
Filed Nov 25, 2024
ABS, Traction Control and Brake lights on. Diagnosed by 2 mechanics told ABS module is bad, which affects braking and is hazardous. Also told this should not be happening with so little mileage on vehicle 50K. There needs to be a recall for this issue!!!!
NHTSA ID
11627311
Incident
Aug 1, 2024
BrakesSteering
Filed Nov 13, 2024
ABS,Traction Control, Brake Light steady stay on. Have taken vehicle to numerous mechanics. ISSUES can NEVER BE RESOLVED. Lights will stay on no matter what. I HAVE TO CHANGE THE BRAKES LIKE EVERY 4-6 months. Alignment also has to keep getting done. I don't know if that's because the issue with whatever is causing the braking issues haven't been resolved. Also the oil has to be changed like every 4,000 miles. 🤯. I also was driving down the road one day and heard this LOUD bang almost like a gunshot and out of the blue the trunk torque rods and the clips broke spontaneously.
NHTSA ID
11625080
Incident
Mar 11, 2022
BrakesSteeringSuspension
Filed Oct 21, 2024
My ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE & TPMS LIGHTS have been ON for the past few months. My tire air pressure is fine. The dealer claims I need to replace the VSA MODULE at the cost est @ $1900. After my personal investigation, I have learned Honda has had numerous customer complaints of these same issues on 2012-2013 Honda Accords.
NHTSA ID
11621143
Incident
Jun 1, 2024
ElectricalExterior lightingSteering
Filed Jan 16, 2024
Check Engine Light Due to Low Engine Oil Level, Radio/Climate Control Display May Go Dark, major issue is "No Start" Due to Ignition Switch Failure and fuses keep blowing so many issues and problems
NHTSA ID
11565885
Incident
Oct 18, 2022
Steering
Filed Oct 13, 2023
Crash reported1 injury reported
Sudden loss of steering control causing vehicle to veer from the intended path of travel.
NHTSA ID
11549747
Incident
Oct 1, 2023
ElectricalEngineSteering
Filed Mar 10, 2022
Twice in the past couple of months my car has turned off while in drive and I lost power steering/braking. Both times were luckily in my apartment parking lot. They occured about 10-15 seconds after backing out and putting it in drive. The second time I almost slid into a car driving by since I wasn't able to brake.
NHTSA ID
11456010
Incident
Feb 17, 2022
Driver assistanceSteering
Filed Jan 15, 2022
I bought my Honda 2012 as a used vehicle about 1 1/2 ago. I have had the tires replaced all the way around almost twice. I have had it in the shop multiple times for a vibration and noise that starts at about 60 mph and seems to lessen when I get to around 75 mph. I also have had to get the tires aligned multiple times, once within 2 weeks time and the steering seems to get looser and looser. Still been unable to figure out why this is happening by my mechanic.
NHTSA ID
11447569
Incident
Nov 1, 2021
Steering
Filed May 10, 2021
WHEN DRIVING ON HIGHWAY THE CAR STRUGGLES TO MAINTAIN A STRAIGHT LINE AND WHEN GOING OVER BUMPS OR UNEVEN SURFACE THE CAR STEERING WILL LOOSE CONTROL
NHTSA ID
11415813
Incident
Apr 30, 2021
Mileage
62,538 mi
Body & structureSteeringSuspension
Filed Dec 18, 2020
THE DRIVER SIDE LOWER BALL JOINT SPONTANEOUSLY FAILED AT 106000 MILES. NO CREAKING, WHINING, CLUNKING, OR ANY INDICATION THAT IT WAS FAILING. THERE WERE NO CRACKS IN THE BOOT AND THE VEHICLE DROVE FINE PRIOR TO THE FAILURE.
NHTSA ID
11384013
Incident
Dec 16, 2020
Mileage
106,000 mi
Steering
Filed Aug 16, 2019
CAR MADE STRANGE NOISES, WHEN STOPPED, WHEN BRAKES APPLIED LITTLE HARD. HONDA SERVICE CENTER SUGGESTED TO REPLACE THE STEERING RACK. AND GAVE ME AN ESTIMATE OF $2200. CAR HAS MILEAGE OF 82000
NHTSA ID
11244513
Incident
Jul 25, 2019
Steering
Filed Jul 10, 2019
CAR MADE A STRANGE NOISE WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL WHEN BRAKING OR WHEN STOPPED. RACK AND PINION NEEDS TO BE REPLACED.
NHTSA ID
11230676
Incident
Jul 9, 2019
EnginePowertrain (other)Steering
Filed May 6, 2019
Crash reported
THE TIMING BETWEEN SHIFTS ON THE AUTOMATIC SHIFTS ARE GOOD SOMETIMES AND WHEN AIR CONDITIONING IS ON IT MAKES NOISES AND CAUSES THE CAR TO HAVE LATENCY IN GEAR SHIFTS, THE FRONT WHEEL HUB COVERS FALL OFF CAUSING THE TIRE TO ROLL OVER THE PLASTIC AND RIP IT OFF THE BODY , THE COOLANT SYSTEM IS DEFINITELY COMPROMISED BECAUSE THE CAR OVERHEATS TOO FAST ESPECIALLY IN HOT WEATHER, THE DEBRIS FROM THE ROAD GET CAUGHT UP IN AND AROUND THE ENGINE AND AIR FILTRATION SYSTEM FROM THE WHEEL COVERS BEING FAULTY THE PARKING BREAK DOESN'T WORK WELL AND IT'S BEEN HAVING THE SAME PROBLEM SINCE THE DAY I BOUGHT IT OFF THE SHOW ROOM FLOOR ALSO THE TIE RODS WEAR OUT SO FAST CAUSING MAJOR PROBLEMS WHILE ON HIGHWAY SHAKING AND VIBRATING THE CAR AND STEERING WHEEL, ALSO THE CAR BURNS OIL SO FAST THAT YOU HAVE TO CHANGE THE OIL AND FILTER AT MAX 3000 MILES, BEING THAT THE NEWER MODELS ARE HAVING TIMING BELT RECALLS IN JUNE 2019 THIS LEADS ME TO QUESTION WHY MY MODEL WOULDN'T HAVE THE SAME ISSUES IF NOT WORSE
NHTSA ID
11205928
Incident
Jun 10, 2017
Mileage
65,000 mi
Steering
Filed Apr 29, 2019
"TAKATA RECALL" MY ACCORD'S STEERING HAS A WEIRD VIBRATION GOING OVER 30 - 60 MPH. IT FEELS LIKE MY FRONT WHEELS WOBBLES. AFTER MAKING SURE THE WHEELS WERE OK, ITS LATER FOUND THAT THERE IS A STEERING LEAK. BECAUSE OF THIS ISSUE, IT IS IMPACTING THE WEARING OF THE TIRES UNEVENLY. AFTER I ROTATED AND BALANCED IT, THE PROBLEM IS STILL THERE. THE HONDA DEALER WANTS TO CHARGE MORE THAN $4500 DOLLARS TO REPLACE BUT AFTER READING SO MANY SIMILAR ISSUES IT APPEARS THAT IT CONTINUES TO SHAKE AND VIBRATE. NOT SURE WHAT HAPPENED TO HONDA RELIABILITY BUT, IT IS TROUBLING. I WENT TO HAVE THEM ADDRESS THE TAKATA RECALL BUT I KEEP GETTING CALLS FROM THEM WHEN I ALREADY WENT TO GET IT "FIXED". NOT SURE IF THEY ACTUALLY DID THE JOB BECAUSE I CALLED THEM BACK AND I HAVE THE NOTIFICATION STATING THAT THE WORK WAS DONE, BUT ANOTHER DEPARTMENT WAS TELLING ME IT WASN'T DONE. I HOPE THIS IS NOT HAPPENING ELSEWHERE.
NHTSA ID
11204415
Incident
Apr 19, 2017
Mileage
80,000 mi
Steering
Filed Mar 16, 2019
THE OTHER NIGHT I NOTICED FLUID ON MY GARAGE FLOOR. FIRST TIME I'VE NOTICED ANY LEAK OUT OF THIS CAR. LOOKED UNDERNEATH AND FOUND POWER STEERING FLUID LEAKING FROM THE RACK AND PINON ON LH SIDE AT THE BOOT. LOOKS LIKE THE SAME LEAK I'VE BEEN SEEING OTHER PEOPLE COMPLAIN ABOUT ONLINE. 63,000 MILES. ONLY USING HONDA POWER STEERING FLUID.
NHTSA ID
11187295
Incident
Mar 16, 2019
Mileage
63,000 mi
Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 5, 2019
TAKATA RECALL MY 2012 HONDA ACCORD HAS CONSISTENT VIBRATION/SHIMMING WHILE DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AT 60+MPH. I BOUGHT THE VEHICLE USED FROM A HONDA DEALER IN JANUARY OF 2017. I REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES AND HAD THEM BALANCE BUT THE PROBLEM PERSIST AND HONDA OF AMERICA ISN'T WILLING TO HELP. I HAVE READ MANY TESTIMONIES ON LINE ABOUT THE SAME ISSUE AND NO HELP FROM HONDA USA.
NHTSA ID
11184311
Incident
Jan 30, 2017
Other / unspecifiedSteeringSuspension
Filed Mar 5, 2019
TAKATA RECALL MY 2012 HONDA ACCORD HAS A CONSISTENT VIBRATION/SHIMMING WHILE DRIVING IN THE HIGHWAY. I REPLACED ALL 4 TIRES WITH BRAND NEW TIRES, HAD THE TIRES BALANCE BUT THE PROBLEM PERSIST AT 60+MPH. I HAVE READ MANY TESTIMONIES ONLINE ABOUT THE SAME ISSUES AND HONDA OF AMERICA NOT WILLING TO HELP.
NHTSA ID
11184307
Incident
Jan 30, 2017
Steering
Filed Oct 27, 2018
WHINING NOISE UNDER THE HOOD WHILE ENGINE WAS RUNNING AND CONTINUED REGARDLESS OF THE CAR'S SPEED. CAUSE: POWER STEERING RACK WAS LEAKING. INTERNAL DAMAGE TO POWER STEERING PUMP. POWER STEERING RESERVOIR HAD DEBRIS IN IT CAUSING THE FLUID TO AERATE. SOLUTION: HONDA DEALERSHIP MECHANIC REPLACED THE POWER STEERING RACK, POWER STEERING RESERVOIR AND POWER STEERING PUMP. NOTE: HAD BROUGHT CAR IN TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP CONCERNING THIS SITUATION BACK ON AUGUST 4, 2017. RESULTS: MECHANIC FOUND THE POWER STEERING FLUID LOW AND PERFORMED A POWER STEERING FLUSH. HE ALSO STATED THAT POSSIBLE DAMAGE TO THE POWER STEERING PUMP MAY HAVE OCCURRED. NOISE WAS GONE AFTER THIS SERVICE.
NHTSA ID
11143319
Incident
Oct 19, 2018
Mileage
20,361 mi
BrakesElectricalSteering
Filed Dec 18, 2017
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA ACCORD. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING SEIZED, THE BRAKES LOCKED AND FAILED TO RESPOND, AND THE VEHICLE STALLED. ALSO, THE INSTRUMENT CLUSTER INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A LOCAL DEALER (NARDY HONDA SMITHTOWN, 559 MIDDLE COUNTY RD, ST JAMES, NY 11780), BUT THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL DEALER (ATLANTIC HONDA, 1375 SUNRISE HIGHWAY, BAYSHORE, NY 11706) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY AND ALTERNATOR NEEDED TO BE REPAIRED. THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 53,000.
NHTSA ID
11055246
Incident
Jun 15, 2017
Mileage
53,000 mi
Powertrain (other)Steering
Filed Dec 11, 2017
"TAKATA RECALL" I STARTED HAVING ISSUES WITH THE CAR HEAVILY VIBRATING WHEN THE CAR REACHED 60,000 WHICH IS A CONCERN DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY. IF FELT UNSAFE, I FIRST BROUGHT IT IN WHILE UNDER WARRANTY AT ONLY 30,000 MILES, THEY SAID IT WAS CRACKED SEALS IN THE STEERING RACK. THE CAR WOULD SHAKE UNCONTROLLABLE, VIBRATE. THEY FIXED IT, AGAIN IT HAPPENED AT 55,000 MILES, THEN AGAIN A FEW THOUSAND MILES LATER REPLACING THE STEERING COLUMN. ALL UNDER WARRANTY, THANK GOD I HAVE THE EXTENDED WARRANTY BUT IS THIS NORMAL. NOW I AM FULLY OUT OF WARRANTY, IT IS BEGINNING TO VIBRATE AGAIN. THIS ISSUE HAS BEEN A HEADACHE SINCE I GOT THIS MAKE AND MODEL, NEVER HAD AN ISSUE WITH ANOTHER HONDA. JUST CONCERNED THAT IT WILL BE AN EXPENSIVE ISSUE THAT SEEMED TO BE A PROBLEM SINCE EARLY ON. THE CAR WOULD BE IN MOTION, INVOLVEMENT WAS WHEN REACHING A SPEED OF 55 OR HIGHER ON THE HIGHWAY. IT STILL VIBRATED AT LOWER SPEED BUT BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE PAST THAT POINT AND THE CAR WOULD VEER TO THE RIGHT WITH A STIFF WHEEL.
NHTSA ID
11054041
Incident
Apr 1, 2017
Mileage
99,000 mi
Steering
Filed Jul 10, 2017
HIGH PITCHED SOUND NOTICED WHILE DRIVING HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE SHORTLY AFTER CAR WAS PURCHASED (WE ARE 1ST OWNERS). DISCOVERED STEERING FLUID IS LEAKING. REPAIR SHOP RECOMMENDS NEW RACK AND PINION. CLEARLY A MANUFACTURERS DEFECT SINCE CAR HAS SUCH LOW MILEAGE (ONLY 36,000 NOW AND WE'VE BEEN HAVING TO STEERING FLUID OFF FOR SOME TIME). VERY DISAPPOINTING.
NHTSA ID
11004158
Incident
Jul 1, 2014
Steering
Filed Jun 5, 2017
LEAKING IS OBSERVED AT RACK AND PINION.
NHTSA ID
10993254
Incident
Jun 2, 2017
Mileage
51,000 mi
SteeringVisibility
Filed Jun 5, 2017
HARD TO STEAL AT FIRST . SPEED OF WINDSHIELD WIPER CHANGES AT WILL WHILE IN USE.
NHTSA ID
10993231
Incident
May 7, 2017
Mileage
78,000 mi
Steering
Filed Dec 16, 2016
MADE AN APPOINTMENT FOR ELECTRIC POWER STEERING TORQUE SENSOR RECALL AT SCHAMBURG HONDA,SCHAMBURG ILL FOR WHICH I WAITED ONE HOUR IN LINE AND NEVER GOT INTO SERVICE AREA. DEALER APPEARS TO PURPOSELY NOT WANT TO MAKE MANDATED REPAIR.,
NHTSA ID
10935638
Incident
Dec 16, 2016
Mileage
64,000 mi
Steering
Filed Nov 10, 2016
31,000 MILES RACK & PINION IS LEAKING ACCORDING TO THE DEALER. WITH THIS LOW MILEAGE AND YEAR OF THE CAR ITS A SAFETY ISSUE. LOOKS LIKE A MANUFACTURING DEFECT.
NHTSA ID
10925450
Incident
Nov 8, 2016
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.
Other components reported on this vehicle
Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own