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 Civic submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 13 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.
Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed
The contact owns a 2009 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving on several occasions at undisclosed speeds, the steering wheel became stiff. The contact stated that the steering wheel difficult to turn. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 115, 000.
The contact owns a 2009 Honda Civic. The contact stated that on several occasions while making left or right turns, there was an abnormal clicking and clacking sound coming from the front of the vehicle and the steering column. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the lower control arm needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 220,000.
TAKATA RECALL
HONDA CIVIC 2009 COUPE 1.8L A/T: CLICKING AND POPPING NOISE FROM THE FRONT END WHILE TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AT LOW SPEEDS. EXAMPLE, LEAVING DRIVEWAY, BACKING UP AT SHOPPING MALL FROM PARKING SPACE AND TURNING WHEEL MAKING U-TURN. STARTED AFTER PURCHASE AT 57,000 MI. STILL DOES IT AT 162,000.
THERE IS A LOUD CLICKING NOISE THAT HAS BEEN CONSISTENT SINCE THE CAR WAS PURCHASED USED IN 2013. THE NOISE HAPPENS WHEN CORNERING OR TURNING AT LOW SPEEDS.
I HAD UNEVEN WEAR ON MY TIRES AND HAD AN ALIGNMENT ACCOMPLISHED BY A CERTIFIED MECHANIC AT FIRESTONE. AFTER SEVERAL ATTEMPT TO ALIGN THE CAMBER ON THE RIGHT BACK REAR TIRE THEY WERE FORCED TO LEAVE IT AT -1.7...WHICH IS .02 OUT OF TOLERANCE. THE CAMBER ADJUSTMENT ARE IS IN PROPER WORKING ORDER BUT THE MECHANIC SAYS THIS IS A CONSTANT PROBLEM WITH 2006-2009 HONDAS DUE TO THE ARMS DESIGN. THIS IS A SERIOUS PROBLEM THAT CAN CAUSE STEERING, SUSPENSION, AND TIRE WEAR ISSUES. *TR
'09 HONDA CIVIC COUPE: 1.) NOTED CLICKING/POPPING/CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING EITHER LEFT OR RIGHT. HAPPENS MORE OFTEN AFTER DRIVING OVER BUMPS. COMES FROM FRONT OF VEHICLE. 2.) PASSENGER DOOR WILL NOT UNLOCK AFTER PUT IN PARK HAVE TO MANUALLY UNLOCK. *TR
MY WIFE WAS DRIVING A 2009 HONDA CIVIC (PURCHASED NEW ALL REPAIRS/SERVICING SINCE PURCHASE MADE BY THE DEALER AT READING PIAZZA HONDA) WITH MY 13 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER ON A 2 LANE HIGHWAY AT APPROXIMATELY 8:45 PM MAY-16-2012, NO OTHER VEHICLES WERE ON THE ROAD AT THE TIME IN HER FRONT OR REAR VIEW WHEN SUDDENLY SHE REPORTED THAT THE ENGINE UNEXPECTEDLY REVVED UP TO HIGH RPM'S, WHERE SHE STATES THAT SHE LOST THE ABILITY TO STEER THE 2009 HONDA CIVIC, SHE TRIED TO APPLY THE BRAKES AS SOON AS SHE REALIZED THE STEERING CONTROL WAS NOT WORKING,HOWEVER; THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK EITHER. HER VEHICLE CAREENED TO THE LEFT SIDE OF THE ROAD HITTING THE MEDIAN DIVIDER THEN THE CAR CAREENED TO THE RIGHT HITTING THE GUARD RAIL AT WHICH POINT THE SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND THE MOTOR SHUT OFF. THANKFULLY THEY ARE BOTH ALIVE. MY DAUGHTER STATED THAT SHE FELT SOMEONE WAS PUSHING THE VEHICLE FROM BEHIND SUDDENLY. I AM STILL LOOKING FOR ANSWERS TO THIS UNEXPLAINED SCENARIO MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER REPORTED TO ME, THE 2 LANE ROAD WAS DEVOID OF ANY VEHICLES AT THAT TIME AND AS SHE STATED THIS TO ME, THE ENGINE REVVED HIGH, SHE HAD NO ABILITY TO STEER AND THE BRAKES DID NOT WORK WHEN SHE APPLIED THEM. I CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA AND HAVE ASKED THEM TO HELP INVESTIGATED WHAT MAY HAVE HAPPENED AND AM WAITING TO HEAR FROM THEM ON WHAT MAY HAVE CAUSED THIS IN A 2009 HONDA CIVIC. *TR
THERE ARE 2 COMPLAINTS ON HERE ALREADY ABOUT CREAKING STEERING WHEEL.. MY PROBLEMS ARE ALMOST EXACTLEY AS THEY HAVE DESCRIPED. WORD FOR WORD. *TT
MY 2009 (AUTOMATIC) HONDA CIVIC EX SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL FOUR DURING THE NIGHT. FOR THE FIRST THREE TIMES, THE DRIVER WOULD ALLOW THE RPM'S TO DROP CAUSING US TO SIT IN TRAFFIC FOR AN UNDEFINED PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE RETURNING THE CAR TO THE DRIVE POSITION. ON THE FOURTH TIME THIS HAPPENED, DRIVER AND I WERE IN A LARGE PARKING LOT MAKING A RIGHT TURN WITH A BUILDING ABOUT A FOOTBALL FIELD AWAY. ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE TURN, THE CAR WAS PLACED BACK INTO DRIVE FROM NEUTRAL AND IT BEGAN TO DRIVE ITSELF. AS THE CAR ACCELERATED FASTER AND FASTER THE DRIVER TRIED TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES MANY TIMES WITHOUT THE PEDAL EVEN BUDGING OR THE CAR SLOWING DOWN IN THE SLIGHTEST WAY. WHEN WE TRIED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IT LOCKED UP IN A STRAIGHT AWAY POSITION, CAUSING THE CAR TO HIT AT LEAST TWO LARGE CURBED MEDIANS AND GO AIRBORNE EACH TIME. DRIVER AND I BRACED OURSELVES AS THE BUILDING CAME CLOSER. WE THEN HIT THE THIRD AND FINAL CURB, THE CAR WENT AIRBORNE AGAIN SLAMMING INTO THE BUILDING AT ABOUT SIX FEET HIGH ON THE WALL. ALL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THE PASSENGER WINDOW SHATTERED AND WINDSHIELD CRACKED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CRASH I PROCEEDED TO PLACE THE CAR INTO PARK WHEN THE SHIFTER ITSELF CAME OUT. THE CAR WAS STILL TRYING TO DRIVE ITSELF THROUGH THE BUILDING WHEN WE CRASHED. THE CIVIC WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS FURTHER INVESTIGATING WHY THIS HAPPENED. *TR
CLUNKING NOISE WHEN TURNING LEFT OR RIGHT AT ANY SPEED. DEALER FOUND 2 BOLTS THAT HOLD DOWN STEERING RACK WERE LOOSE, BOLTS WERE TORQUED DOWN. OTHER MEMBERS ON FORUMS THAT WERE VISITED EXPERIENCED SIMILAR ISSUES BUT CERTAIN DEALERS BLAME AFTERMARKET PARTS RESULTING IN THE NOISE. IF THESE BOLTS WERE TO FALL OUT POSSIBLE STEERING LOSS COULD RESULT. *TR
NEW VEHICLE STILL UNDER WARRANTY. 6-7-10 TOOK INTO SERVICE RE INTERMITTENT CREAKING WHEN TURNING STEERING WHEEL, ESPECIALLY WHEN BACKING UP. PROBLEM NOT IDENTIFIED. 6-23-10 PROBLEM CONTINUES, NOW CONSTANT WHEN GOING FORWARD AND BACKING UP WHEN TURNING WHEEL. LUBRICANT APPLIED TO STEERING COLUMN. 7-2-10 PROBLEM CONTINUES, SERVICE DEPARTMENT "HAD A CONFERENCE" WITH EXPERIENCED REPAIR EMPLOYEES. PROBLEM IDENTIFIED, PARTS ORDERED. 7-26-10 2 DAY REPAIR, "STEERING BOLTS NOT TORQUED CORRECTLY", RETORQUED 8-4-10 PROBLEM CONTINUES, CREAKING NOW LOUDER. LEFT CAR WITH THEM FOR 3 WEEKS WHILE ON VACATION. "BOTH FRONT DRIVESHAFTS BINDING", BOTH REPLACED. 8-24-10 RETURNED FROM VACATION, PROBLEM CONTINUES. THEY WANT ME TO TAKE CARE IN AGAIN FOR SIXTH ATTEMPT TO FIX. MAJOR CONCERN: DOES THIS NOISE INDICATE A SAFETY CONCERN? THEY REASSURE ME THAT IT ISN'T BUT ALSO STATE THAT THIS SAME PROBLEM HAS OCCURRED IN 5 OTHER CARS, SAME YEAR, SAME MODEL, "SOME WE COULDN'T FIX" DECISION TIME: RETURN THE CAR FOR ANOTHER ATTEMPT OR FILE THROUGH LEMON LAW. *TR
CREAKING NOISE FROM FRONT END WHILE TURNING WHEEL. FIRST TIME WAS FEBRUARY 2010. DEALER PERFORMED SERVICE BULLETIN. DID NOT WORK. THEY REPLACED BOTH FRONT STRUT ASSEMBLIES---PROBLEM SOLVED. JULY 2010 CREAKING IN STEERING IS BACK. BROUGHT IN TO DEALER AND TOLD BOTH STRUT ASSEMBLIES NEED TO BE REPLACED AGAIN. TWO WEEK BACK ORDER ON STRUTS. *TR
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
Data on this page last refreshed .