2023 Honda Civic

On November 29, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Engineering Analysis (EA23003) to assess allegations of momentary increase in steering effort in model years (MY) 2022-2023 Honda Civic, 2023MY Honda CR-V, and 2023MY Acura Integra vehicles (subject vehicles). The complaints received by ODI alleged that the subject vehicles experienced a momentary increase in required steering effort (described as “sticky steering”) occurring mostly at highway speeds after driving for an extended amount of time; these complaints could not be duplicated during dealer service technicians’ quick test drives.  The complaints had been received over the previous two years with most occurring with low vehicle mileage. The steering gear of these vehicles is aided by an electrical power assist unit. This power assist unit inputs force on the steering rack via a worm gear and worm wheel assembly. During PE23005, Honda stated this condition of momentary increase in steering effort occurs due to two factors within this power assist unit. First, during manufacturing, the steering worm wheel goes through annealing and component conditioning processes. These processes cause internal stress and strain within the steering worm  wheel. This strain is slowly released over the first few months of the vehicle life. Over time, the released strain causes deformation of the teeth on the worm wheel, causing the worm gear to catch on the worm wheel. This catching results in the driver’s momentary increased steering effort. Second, the manufacturing process did not guarantee consistent grease application and, therefore, some subject vehicles received insufficient grease which contributed to the momentary increase in steering effort. During EA23003, ODI further analyzed the potential safety related consequences of the momentary increase in steering effort. NHTSA’s Vehicle Research and Test Center (VRTC) duplicated the allegations of increased steering effort. In addition, VRTC discovered the steering worm wheel and worm gear tended to push grease out of the meshing area, resulting in large amounts of grease resting on top of the worm wheel. Information Request responses collected and reviewed by ODI showed Honda had also discovered this additional root cause during NHTSA’s EA. In addition, Honda discovered the preload of the worm wheel gear spring was set too high, increasing the gear slide load and resulting in higher friction and increased torque fluctuation when steering. The number of consumer complaints made to ODI continued to increase with the expansion of scope from the PE to the EA. Additionally, during EA23003, ODI received ten complaints alleging a crash, in addition to the 13 complaints ODI had received as of the time it opened EA23003. In total, 23 crashes have been reported to ODI due to this alleged defect. On October 3, 2024, Honda filed NHTSA Recall No. 24V-744 to address this defect. The recall will provide consumers with a new steering worm wheel gear spring with a decreased load. Additionally, dealerships will add additional grease and relocate any grease sitting on top of the worm wheel back into the meshing area. The scope of this recall includes all Honda vehicles that were manufactured with this specific improperly produced steering worm wheel and spring. In view of the recall action being taken by Honda, ODI is closing EA23003. NHTSA reserves the right to take additional action if warranted by future circumstances. To review the ODI reports cited in the Closing Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

On March 17, 2023, The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE23-005) to access the alleged defect of momentary increase in steering effort in model years (MY) 2022 and 2023 Honda Civic vehicles. The complaints report that the momentary increase in steering effort (described as "sticky steering") occurs mostly at highway speeds after driving for a certain amount of time. The reports have been received over the past 2 years with most occurring with low vehicle mileage. The steering gear contains a unit that includes a worm gear and a worm wheel. Honda stated this condition of momentary increase in steering effort occurs due to two factors within this unit. During manufacturing, the worm wheel goes through annealing and component conditioning processes. These processes caused internal stress and strain within the worm wheel. This strain was slowly released over the first few months of the vehicle life. Over time, the released strain caused the deformation of the teeth on the worm wheel, causing the worm gear to catch on the worm wheel. This results in the consumer’s momentary increased in steering effort. Also, the manufacturing process did not guarantee consistent grease application and therefore, some vehicles within the scope received too little grease which contributes to the momentary increase in steering effort. Analysis of all relevant data indicates that the subject condition occurs early in the vehicle’s life primarily in winter months. Additionally, the subject vehicles need to be driven in a straight line for a period of time, possibly until the vehicle is warmed up, to recreate the condition. The condition does not illuminate a malfunction indicator light (MIL). Some complaints allege Honda dealerships are unable to recreate the condition or state this is a normal vehicle operation. However, Honda released Service Bulletin 23-037 in July of 2023 which accurately describes the condition. To address this issue, Honda directs dealerships to remove the electronic power steering (EPS) gearbox and replace with a new gearbox.  Further, Honda stated that the worst case steering effort from all warranty returned parts tested was 2.4 pounds. ODI complaint traffic remains steady. ODI has received 13 crashes to date, 11 of which allege roadway departure due to not being able to overcome the momentary increased steering effort prior to their vehicle leaving the roadway. The remaining 2 incidents claim overcorrection of the steering wheel. PE23-005 has been upgraded to an Engineering Analysis (EA23-003) to further assess the scope, frequency and potential safety related consequences of the momentary increase of steering effort.  Further the scope has been expanded to include assessment of the Acura Integra and Honda CR-V models. To review the ODI reports cited in the Opening Resume ODI Report Identification Number document, go to NHTSA.gov.

Following a drivetrain repair at Gary Yeomans Honda, the vehicle was returned to me in an unsafe driving condition. Specifically, the technician left unsecured heavy metal tools (a pry bar and screwdriver) loose in the engine bay, failed to torque a structural fastener, and rendered the rear brake light completely non-functional while incorrectly marking it as operational on the inspection sheet. Additionally, the inspection sheet indicated a red-flag warning to 'inspect transmission for leaks' that was categorized as a mistake upon return.

NHTSA ID

11751684

Incident

Feb 13, 2026

During a collision on July 7, the airbag initiated but did not deploy. The car is available for inspection upon request. The safety of the driver was put at risk because the airbag did not deploy when intiated. The driver is not injured, but the car cannot be driven due to the airbag posing a risk to the driver. No one has inspected the vehicle. A call was made to Honda Headquarters on Friday, July 10 to report the critical safety and restraint system failure. The car was functioning properly before the accident, there were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms of the problem prior to the failure. The airbag deployment warning was lit after the accident. And there is a systems warning that appears on the dashboard as well when the vehicle is turned on.

NHTSA ID

11751487

Incident

Jul 7, 2026

Premature Head Gasket Failure at 75,000 miles

NHTSA ID

11742830

Incident

Jun 8, 2026

steering feels sticky & i have to apply force just to keep the steering wheel centered when traveling at a high rate of speed as it feels as if the steering wheel is stuck causing me to over correct my steering. when driving through a curve, my steering wheel gets stuck and i can let go of the wheel and it will remain in place. this happens every single time i drive. i have taken my car to the dealership when the recall came out and it was "fixed" temporarily however the issue has since returned. ive informed honda and they state it's my alignment.

NHTSA ID

11738321

Incident

May 16, 2026

The headgasket failed prematurely at 76,000 miles causing coolant to begin leaking out of the vehicle. The safety of myself and others is put at risk because a head gasket blowing caused the car to lose power on the way home from work which has caused me to have to slow down and not be able to start again. This causes other vehicles to have to break or go around me on the highway. The car is a 2023 Honda Civic. This premature head gasket failure is a known issue. The warnings appeared at 5PM when I was leaving work as soon as I started the car. Every light in the car went off. The vehicle was brought to the Honda Dealership in Lawrence, KS. They showed that the head gasket blew. The Vehicle is available for inspection upon request at the Honda Dealership in Lawrence, Kansas.

NHTSA ID

11734647

Incident

Apr 13, 2026

I bought a 2023 Honda Civic Sport from Carvana four months ago. Ever since I bought the car I have been experiencing sticky steering and rattling in the front of my car. It is constant, and even worse at high speeds. I had it diagnosed at Honda, and the Power Steering Rack needs replaced. As far as I can tell from all of my research online this is a KNOWN issue with my vehicle, but there is no recall on the issue yet. My vehicle is out of warranty, and the dealer wants to charge me $4000 for the new part. That’s an astronomical amount of money for someone to pay, when 1.6 Million vehicles are experiencing the same issue. I don’t have $4k laying around to just drop to replace my steering rack. There is also an ongoing lawsuit against Honda, for the issues with their steering racks. Every mechanic I have spoken to, says the steering rack should not need replaced on a 2023, with only 66,000 miles.

NHTSA ID

11731682

Incident

Dec 18, 2025

The contact owns a 2023 Honda Civic. The contact stated that there was a lot of play in the steering wheel while driving. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the VIN was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V704000 (Steering). During the visit, it was determined that the steering rack did not need to be replaced. The recall was marked closed and the contact noticed that there was still a lot of play in the steering rack. The vehicle was returned to the dealer to be diagnosed, and it was determined that the steering rack had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired because the VIN was no longer under recall. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The failure mileage was approximately 800.

NHTSA ID

11731499

Incident

Apr 16, 2023

Mileage

800 mi

My vehicle's Maintenance Minder system—the sole official schedule for maintenance per the Owner's Manual (Pages 649-658)—was corrupted by an authorized Honda dealer. The Service Advisor stated that sometimes technicians reset all the Maintenance Minder codes rather than just the applicable ones. Honda Corporate admitted this is a possibility when I followed up after the service. They stated that resetting all the codes rather than the ones that apply, can affect when and how future Maintenance Minder Codes appear. Honda provided contradictory information: first stating that the Maintenance Minder state cannot be reconstructed to accurately alert the owner to future necessary maintenance, then subsequently stating that reconstruction is possible if 'deemed necessary.' This leaves the owner with a corrupted safety maintenance system, with the remedy apparently contingent on Honda's discretion rather than the owner's right to accurate maintenance alerts. Without accurate alerts, critical maintenance items (brake fluid, coolant, transmission fluid) may not be serviced at proper intervals, increasing risk of component failure. Attached: Service invoice (RO #189526, 04/03/26) showing dealer added unscheduled Coolant Flush (Item 5) to my B1 request and reset ALL codes. Manual (pp. 649-658) confirms Item 5 is a separate sub-item triggered only by the system, not mileage. Honda Corporate emails admit resetting all codes corrupts future alert accuracy but offered contradictory remedies (first 'cannot fix,' then 'if deemed necessary'). This systemic failure—dealers bypassing the algorithm and Honda failing to enforce corrections—leaves owners with corrupted safety maintenance data, risking missed critical service intervals.

NHTSA ID

11730282

Incident

Apr 3, 2026

Service Bulletin - There is a dull creaking, rubbing, popping, or clicking noise coming from the front of the vehicle while turning at low speeds potentially due to the bump stop contacting the top of the front damper body.

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2022-2023 Civic LXs, Sports, EXs, EX-Ls or Tourings equipped with an automatic transmission with a customer complaint of DTCs C1110-13 (Left-Rear Electric Parking Brake Actuator Circuit Open) & C1100-94 (Electric Parking Brake Actuator Malfunction) stored. Customer may also notice intermittent or persistent warning lights on the MID (Multi-Information Display) such as brake system problems, LKAS (Lane Keeping Assist System), and ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) lights. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect certain parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

Dealer Message - American American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2022-2023 Civic LXs, Sports, EXs, EX-Ls or Tourings equipped with an automatic transmission with a customer complaint of DTCs C1110-13 (Left-Rear Electric Parking Brake Actuator Circuit Open) & C1100-94 (Electric Parking Brake Actuator Malfunction) stored. Customer may also notice intermittent or persistent warning lights on the MID (Multi-Information Display) such as brake system problems, LKAS (Lane Keeping Assist System), and ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) lights. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect certain parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

Dealer Message - American American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2022-2023 Civic LXs, Sports, EXs, EX-Ls or Tourings equipped with an automatic transmission with a customer complaint of DTCs C1110-13 (Left-Rear Electric Parking Brake Actuator Circuit Open) & C1100-94 (Electric Parking Brake Actuator Malfunction) stored. Customer may also notice intermittent or persistent warning lights on the MID (Multi-Information Display) such as brake system problems, LKAS (Lane Keeping Assist System), and ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) lights. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect certain parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

Dealer Message - American American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2022-2023 Civic LXs, Sports, EXs, EX-Ls or Tourings equipped with an automatic transmission with a customer complaint of DTCs C1110-13 (Left-Rear Electric Parking Brake Actuator Circuit Open) & C1100-94 (Electric Parking Brake Actuator Malfunction) stored. Customer may also notice intermittent or persistent warning lights on the MID (Multi-Information Display) such as brake system problems, LKAS (Lane Keeping Assist System), and ACC (Adaptive Cruise Control) lights. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect certain parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.

Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2023-2025 Accords, 2022-2025 Civics & Odysseys with a customer complaint of a detached or loose rearview mirror bracket/slug from the windshield. Failure between the mount spring and bracket will not be accepted. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.