2013 Honda Civic Steering Problems

Wheel bearing

NHTSA ID

11632953

Incident

Apr 3, 2024

Purchased November 2023 not even 1 week warning lamps, messages / adaptive cruise control, road departure mitigation, brake systems, failure lights alarming at the same time. Took to dealer cleared sensors. A matter of days alarms going off again. Call dealer they want to keep vehicle for diagnostic. When they did diagnostic it was another problem. They repair guy also mentioned not to apply E-brake. He said their is a possibility that it may completely lock. I will be taking vehicle to another dealership for 2nd opinion.

NHTSA ID

11580990

Incident

Apr 3, 2024

The component that has failed is the abs modulator system. The problem with the abs modulator failing on me puts me and my family at great risk including death because the abs modulator works alongside with the brakes, power steering and the vsa system all of which are the main components to a cars safety. Yes I have take my Honda to a certified technician who informed me that the and modulator has gone bad and will need to be replaced immediately due my safety alongside everyone who is on the road. Lastly when I first purchased the car everything my worked fine and their were no problems whatsoever until one day I was driving down the road and suddenly the abs light, power steering light, vsa light, and brake light all turned on which led to my car having horrible performance alongside my brakes feeling sloppy as well as my steering literally moving even though I was going straight. Overall I hope that you will finally do something about this problem because it is very frustrating.

NHTSA ID

11535381

Incident

Mar 2, 2023

Car gives the following codes: Check Power Steering, Check Brake System, Check ABS, Check VSA, it would turn on and off at random times starting around November 2022, was initially informed that it could be a software update by the local Honda dealer, with a 2-3 hour labor charge to update and it might fix it. Eventually the lights would remain on most of the time and I could now pay for a diagnostic which determined the VSA modulator was defective (Code DTC 121-11). This diagnosis was generated on March 18, 2023, as of this date, July 16, 2023 there is no ETA for the part to arrive but have been informed 9 other VSA modulators have been ordered and I am 6th in line, none have arrived to this particular local Honda parts department. Looking online there appears to be a trend of car owners of 2012-2014 Honda Civics and Honda Accords that have observed their VSA modulators fail. The modulator is only manufactured by Honda and currently it does not appear that there is any viable solution apart from purchasing a new part and programing it to the vehicle by the Honda dealer. From my understanding this component ensures the stability of the vehicle in different terrains and ensures the stability of the vehicle in wet conditions.

NHTSA ID

11532549

Incident

Nov 1, 2022

Dash looks like a Christmas tree. All came on at one time. Changed everything we can think of

NHTSA ID

11529853

Incident

Apr 1, 2023

There are four lights with a warning that shows up and stay on Check Brake, Power Steering, ABS and VBS Systems. These four lights occurs immediately or even occasionally delayed but they appear everytime my vehicle is running. It is the VSA System per service repair shop. This is a known problem for the Honda Civic 2013 and also Honda Accord. My concern is when these lights are present there is a safety hazard issue. A recall should HAPPEN. My thorough research shows that it should’ve been a recall in the USA for vehicles in 2012-2013 regarding an expansion of VSA Non-compliance Recall: 2012-2013 Honda Fit done free of charge. This article was July 23, 2013 and it was a little over 48,000 vehicles. They all qualified for a repair if indicated. The repairs happened in Thailand but not USA. The repairs are very, very costly. I’m the only owner of my vehicle and purchased new.

NHTSA ID

11523655

Incident

May 1, 2023

Traveling down Interstate 49 in Arkansas. Hit a patch of "chicken byproduct" that was spilled on the highway. My car fishtailed. VSA module out of service. Did a vehicle diagnostic scan on it. Scanner said VSA module malfunctioning. No ABS past 30 mph. Took vehicle to shop. They said VSA module needed to be replaced. VSA is suppose to be a safety mechanism in the 2013 Honda Civic. I have read that I am not the only owner to have this problem. Should be a recall. They are expensive to replace.

NHTSA ID

11523064

Incident

Feb 3, 2023

ABS check light, VSA check light, Power Steering light comes on. They come on everytime the car is started. Sometimes it is immediately. Sometimes it is delayed. The lights come in that order. My car diagnostic scanning tool says ABS will fail at 30 mph. I lack the funds to get car looked at.

NHTSA ID

11485591

Incident

Sep 20, 2022

Electric Power Steering assist occasionally does not work when car is driving under a low speed, making the turning very diffcult.

NHTSA ID

11476008

Incident

Jul 25, 2022

Check brake system, check powertrain system, check VAS system keeps making notifications to be checked.

NHTSA ID

11475976

Incident

Jul 11, 2022

The electric power steering pump is failing while driving my vehicle. When driving the vehicle, if I make a turn any way, than my vehicle shuts off and locks up completely causing me to not be able to go or move without turning the vehicle off and on quickly to get out of the way. It has caused me to almost get rear ended as well. I have spoke to mechanics at multiple shops and even Spoke to honda world about it; who advised me to take the steps of looking into a recall or submitting an incident report to make a claim.

NHTSA ID

11449932

Incident

Feb 2, 2022

My 2013 Honda Civic has just 80000 miles. 4 lights came on recently: ABS, Brakes, Power Steering and VSA lights. I took it to the honda dealership to get it diagnosed. They said it's the VSA modulator that has gone bad and needs replacing. The part is $1500 not including labor. This part is a known problem for civic and accord models and other honda models. My car still drive normal but those lights indicate a huge risk. I would like to get it repaired but the dealer said they don't have that part, it's on back order with no ETA. This means that it is a common problem where everyone is looking for it and supply ran out. Also I was told that Thailand did a recall on this part and honda agreed to the recall. This is a safety issue and many cars out there have same issues at even lower mileage than mine. And my car 80k miles is still very new. Would you please open an investigation and hopefully have honda do a recall on this part asap. Thanks, jeremy

NHTSA ID

11423467

Incident

Jun 19, 2021

TWO LIGHTS ON MY DASH CAME ON , ONE LIGHT IS FOR ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING AND THE OTHER IS FOR VEHICLE STABILITY ASSIST. THESE LIGHTS CAME ON RANDOMLY WHILE DRIVING AT LESS THAN 15 MILES PER HOUR PULLING AWAY FROM A CURB. AS A RESULT, MY POWER STEERING BECAME HEAVY, ALTHOUGH IT STILL FUNCTIONS. VEHICLE STABILITY CONTROL IS NO LONGER USABLE. FURTHER INSPECTION FROM A CODE READER SHOWS THAT THESE LIGHTS CAME ON AS A RESULT OF A GROUND TO BODY SHORT.

NHTSA ID

11403718

Incident

Jun 15, 2020

Mileage

98,000 mi

MY WIFE CAME OUT TO USE THE CAR AND SUDDENLY THE POWER STEERING WAS OUT SHE SAID THAT SHE COULDN'T DRIVE IT, STEERING WAS SO HEAVY TO TURN ETC. I WAS SO GLAD IT HAPPENED IN OUR DRIVEWAY AND NOT IN THE STREETS OR FREEWAY WE'RE I THINK SOMETHING BAD WOULD HAVE HAPPENED TO MY WIFE AND THE CAR.

NHTSA ID

11374110

Incident

Nov 4, 2020

Mileage

92,070 mi

TURNED ON VEHICLE, PUT IN REVERSE BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVEWAY AND ELECTRIC POWER STEERING FAILED SUDDENLY. WHEEL WAS TIGHT AND SHAKY. THE POWER STEERING WARNING MESSAGE AND ICON ONLY APPEARED AS FAILURE OCCURRED. I PUT CAR IN PARK AND TURNED OFF VEHICLE. TURNED VEHICLE BACK ON, POWER STEERING WARNING MESSAGE WAS GONE BUT ICON WAS STILL THERE. I PUT GEAR IN DRIVE, WHEEL STILL TIGHT AND SHAKY AND DROVE FOWARD BACK INTO THE DRIVEWAY. HAD IT TOWED TO MECHANICS, THEY SAID I NEED ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING UNIT. I THEN DROVE IT TO DEALERSHIP TO GET THEIR DIAGNOSIS.

NHTSA ID

11373886

Incident

Nov 6, 2020

Mileage

79,490 mi

THE VSA STAY ON AND MY POWER STEER TURN ON AND OFF SOMETIMES IT'S HARD TO TURN I HARD TO PULL OVER THE FREEWAY TO SHUT THE CAR OFF AND THEN ON IN ORDER TO RETAIN MY POWER STEERING, MY TRACTION CONTROL DOESN'T WORK WICH AM GUESSING IT'S RELATED WITH THE VSA AND MY AIRBAG LIGHT TURNS ON MY DASH THEN TURNS OFF AM A LITTLE TERRIFIED I MIGHT LOOSE COMPLETE CONTROL OFF MY CAR AND MY AIRBAG WILL GO OFF OR NOT EVEN POP OFF INCASE OF AN ACCIDENT OR I MIGHT CAUSE AN ACCIDENT IF I KEEP LOOSENING MY POWER STEERING (ELECTRONICAL POWER STEERING)

NHTSA ID

11312191

Incident

Feb 4, 2020

MY ABS, VSA AND POWER STEERING LIGHTS ALL CAME ON AT THE SAME TIME. HONDA DEALER TOLD ME IT COSTS $1,600 TO 'REPLACE' ABS CONTROL MODULE WHICH IS OBSCENE AS THIS IS CLEARLY A SAFETY ISSUE, AND HE DIDN'T EVEN MENTION A FIX FOR VSA OR POWER STEERING. I TESTED A HARD BRAKE AND ABS FAILED. WHAT IF MY POWER STEERING FAILS DURING A TURN AND I HIT SOMEONE? HONDA SERVICE TECH SAID SCANS COULD NOT INDICATE A FIX. GOOGLE / YOU TUBE SEARCH SHOWS THIS IS A CHRONIC PROBLEM WITH HONDA CIVIC AND ACORDS. A SIMPLE FUSE MAY NEED TO BE REPLACED. I BELIEVE HONDA NEEDS TO RECALL THIS DEFECTIVE FUSE AND REPLACE THEM FOR VEHICLE OWNERS FREE OF CHARGE BEFORE SOMEONE HAS AN ACCIDENT.

NHTSA ID

11195717

Incident

Apr 4, 2019

Mileage

25,000 mi

VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AFTER WARMING UP MY CAR I RECEIVE THE FOLLOWING ERROR MESSAGES: CHECK POWER STEERING SYSTEM AND CHECK VSA SYSTEM. I CHECKED THE INTERNET AND NOTICED THAT OTHER OWNERS HAD SIMILAR ERROR MESSAGES. I DON'T THINK THIS RANDOM, A RECALL SHOULD HAPPEN TO FIND OUR THE CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM. SEE ATTACHED TESTIMONIALS

NHTSA ID

11154723

Incident

Nov 28, 2018

I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND MY POWER STEERING LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT LET ME USE THE STEERING WHEEL. LUCKILY NOONE WAS NEXT TO ME SO I PUT HAZARAD LIGHT AND MANAGED TO PULL OVER. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF AND THE POWER STEERING RETURNED FOR A COUPLE MINUTES ONLY TO TURN OFF AND NOT ALLOW THE STEERING WHEEL TO WORK ANY LONGER.

NHTSA ID

11127901

Incident

Sep 4, 2018

Mileage

65,300 mi

I WAS DRIVING AND MY POWER STEERING LOCKED UP AND WOULD NOT LET ME USE THE STEERING WHEEL. I TURNED OFF THE CAR AND THE LIGHT WENT OFF AND THE POWER STEERING RETURNED FOR A COUPLE MINUTES ONLY TO TURN OFF AND NOT ALLOW THE STEERING WHEEL TO WORK ANY LONGER

NHTSA ID

11091444

Incident

Jan 12, 2018

Mileage

62,000 mi

I PURCHASED A USED 2013 CIVIC SEDAN FROM A PRIVATE SELLER ON MARCH 23RD 2018. THE DAY I BOUGHT IT, AS I WAS PULLING OUT OF THE PARKING LOT OF THE CREDIT UNION WHERE I MET THE SELLER THE POWER STEERING FAILED. A YELLOW WARNING LIGHT THAT LOOKS LIKE A STEERING WHEEL WITH AN EXCLAMATION POINT CAME ON ON THE DASH, AND IT WAS VERY DIFFICULT TO STEER THE VEHICLE. I PUT IT IN PARK, HIT THE HAZARDS AND TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF FOR FEAR OF HITTING SOMEONE. I CONTACTED THE SELLERS AND THEY CAME BACK. WE DISCUSSED HAVING IT TOWED TO THE SHOP, AND THE PREVIOUS OWNER GOT IN IT, TO RE-PARK IT SOMEWHERE MORE OUT OF THE WAY WHILE WE WAITED FOR AAA. AT THIS TIME, THE CAR STARTED UP FINE, NO WARNING LIGHT WAS PRESENT AND HE WAS ABLE TO SAFELY DRIVE IT INTO A PARKING SPOT. HE SUGGESTED THAT HE JUST DRIVE IT TO THE SHOP, AND I RIDE OVER THERE WITH HIS WIFE. SO WE DID, AND THEY HOOKED IT UP TO THE COMPUTER AT THE SHOP, AND INFORMED ME THAT IT DIDN'T THROW ANY CODES, AND THAT "THE COMPUTER DOESN'T LIE" THEY TOLD ME THAT SINCE IT DROVE OVER THERE FINE, TO JUST TAKE IT HOME, AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT. SO I DID, AND I DROVE IT AROUND FOR A COUPLE WEEKS UNTIL ON THE 5TH OF APRIL, AGAIN PULLING OUT OF A PARKING SPACE IT HAPPENED AGAIN, YELLOW STEERING WHEEL LIGHT AND ALL. EXCEPT THIS TIME THE BRAKES FAILED TOO. NOT ONLY COULD I NOT STEER, I COULD NOT STOP. I ENDED UP DRAGGING THE FRONT END OVER A FLOWERBED WITH A CURB, AND RIPPING OFF THE BUMPER. THE CAR WAS UNDER WARRANTY AND IS NOW AT A HONDA DEALERSHIP AWAITING REPAIRS PENDING PROCESSING OF WARRANTY PAPERWORK. THANKFULLY NOBODY WAS HURT IN EITHER OF THESE INCIDENTS, BUT IT COULD'VE EASILY BEEN DIFFERENT. THESE POWER STEERING FAILURES ARE KNOW TO, AND WERE INVESTIGATED BY THE NHTSA IN 2013. NO RECALL WAS ISSUED. I KNOW THAT THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHER PEOPLE. I BELIEVE THAT THIS IS A SERIOUS SAFETY ISSUE AND A RECALL SHOULD BE RECONSIDERED.

NHTSA ID

11084222

Incident

Apr 5, 2018

Mileage

43,000 mi

ABS, TRACTION CONTROL LIGHT, & POWER STEERING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED AT THE SAME TIME AND CAN NOT BE RESET. THE VEHICLE'S TRACTION CONTROL AND ABS SYSTEMS ARE NOT ENGAGED WHEN THESE LIGHTS ARE PRESENT, THUS CAUSING A SAFETY HAZARD. THESE LIGHTS FIRST APPEARED WHILE BACKING OUT OF DRIVEWAY ON DRY/SUNNY DAY. THESE LIGHTS HAVE REMAINED ON SINCE, AND WILL NOT GO OFF EVEN AFTER ECU RESET.

NHTSA ID

11072169

Incident

Feb 11, 2018

Mileage

23,000 mi

I WAS MAKING A LEFT HAND U-TURN IN THE CITY ON MAIN STREET WHEN IN THE MIDDLE OF MY TURN MY DASH LIGHTS TURNED OFF MY BRAKES WOULDN'T WORK AND I LOST POWER STEERING AND ACCELERATION. IT FELT LIKE THE CAR TURNED OFF. LUCKY THERE WAS NOBODY COMING THE OTHER WAY BECAUSE I WAS STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF THE ROAD AND COULD NOT ACCELERATE. ONCE I WAS AT A COMPLETE STOP IN THE MIDDLE OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC THE DASH LIGHTS TURNED BACK ON AND I WAS ABLE TO ACCELERATE. HOWEVER WHEN I WAS TRYING TO PARK TO CHECK THE CAR, ANY SLIGHT MOVEMENT OF THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD MAKE MY HEADLIGHTS ALMOST TURN OFF BECAUSE IT WAS LIKE IT WAS DRAWING A LOT OF EXTRA POWER FOR SOME REASON TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL. I THEN PARKED FOR ABOUT 20 MINUTES AND TURNED THE CAR BACK ON WITH NO PROBLEM. I WENT TO A PARKING LOT TO SEE IF I COULD RE-CREATE WHAT HAPPENED BUT I COULD NOT. I WENT HOME AND READ A BUNCH OF COMPLAINTS WITH THIS SAME PROBLEM WITH NOBODY HAVING A SOLUTION. SO I HAVE NOT TAKEN MY CAR TO THE DEALERSHIP BECAUSE I FEEL LIKE I WILL GET THE SAME ANSWER. WHICH IS WE DON'T SEE ANYTHING WRONG AND WE CANNOT RE-CREATE THE SITUATION.

NHTSA ID

11055019

Incident

Dec 15, 2017

Mileage

50,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA CIVIC. WHILE STARTING THE VEHICLE, THE STEERING WHEEL SEIZED AND THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VIN WAS INVALID. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 83,000.

NHTSA ID

10930076

Incident

Dec 5, 2016

Mileage

83,000 mi

TAKATA RECALL!!?! AIRBAG INDICATOR ISSUES STARTING AT 45 MI. CHECK AIRBAG WARNING IS NOW ON ALWAYS. IT'S TAKEN OVER MY LCD DISPLAY SCREEN COMPLETELY MAKING IT USELESS I.E. MAINTENANCE INFO, MILEAGE, HANDSFREE EQUIP. OPTIONS. EVERYTHING (ASIDE FROM BACK UP CAMERA, STILL FUNCTIONING WHILE IN REVERSE) AIRBAG WARNING LIGHT INDICATOR HAS DISABLE ALL COMPONENTS ON STEERING WHEEL I.E. HORN, CRUISE CONTROL, VOLUME ECT.. STILL NO RECALL? I'M SCARED FOR MY FAMILIES SAFETY! DO SOMETHING HONDA. SOMEONE NEEDS TO MAKE HONDA ADDRESS THESE ISSUES ASAP!

NHTSA ID

10897439

Incident

May 6, 2013