2020 Honda CR-V Steering Problems

National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration August 11, 2026. Dear Sir, Madame, I am writing regarding a safety issue with my 2020 Honda CR-V, purchased about one year ago. There is a serious issue with the steering column, and American Honda has declined assistance with repairs. I am seeking expedited assistance from NHTSA. This issue was first noted on the day I drove the vehicle to the Honda Dealership for maintenance (XXX). My daughter has been driving this vehicle, and did not report anything abnormal. I routinely schedule maintenance for her car when I have a day off. So I noticed this "sticking" of the steering wheel during my drive, especially at higher speeds and on the highway. However, I also notice a lunge during turns at lower speed. I asked the service advisor to test drive the car to assess this (and road noise - later deemed normal). The steering wheel actually gets stuck when making even minor (fine motor) adjustments during routine (straightway) driving conditions. It is a continuous problem, not intermittent, and it is easily noticeable to me and my wife. The service advisor who test-drove the CR-V with me and later provided the repair estimate is Eric Laurendeau (832). He suggested I reach out to American Honda for assistance. I reached out to Honda, who promptly declined any assistance. This CR-V has only 54,000 miles on it and is otherwise near-new. This car has been in one minor incident; the repair shop and insurance adjuster found no structural problems. This accident was the other driver's fault (not my daughter's). The estimated repair costs total $6657.41. I have a copy of the estimate. In my view this should be a safety recall, as it involves the steering column, and I do not feel comfortable allowing my [XXX] daughter to drive the car- and I cannot afford the repairs! Is there anything the NHTSA can do to help me with this??? Sincerely, [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11756296

Incident

Jul 30, 2026

While driving at highway speeds, my steering wheel physically binds, catches and then suddenly jerks when trying to make normal adjustments. This creates an unpredictable control hazard. This is similar to NHTSA Recall 24V-744 and Honda TSB 24-011. The internal steering gearbox is binding due to the same design & manufacturing tolerances.

NHTSA ID

11755882

Incident

Jun 1, 2026

While driving at higher speeds and I turn to the left the steering wheel would stick. It would take a second to unstick to be able to move the wheel back to the right. I took it into my local Honda dealership and they said my power steering has an issue and needs to be replaced. I researched and found multiple 2020 Honda CR-V have had this issue and Honda has issued a recall from 2022 and newer CR-V and not for the 2020's. I have logged a complaint with Honda of America. My Honda is only 6 years old with 65,670 miles on it.

NHTSA ID

11755444

Incident

Jul 24, 2026

My vehicle exhibits a "sticky" steering column and has done so for a few years now. Honda issues a recall notice for 2022 CRV models, but mine is a 2020. The recall number is 24V-744. In June of 2023 with 25260 miles on the vehicle and while still under warranty, I took the car to my local dealer and was told they could not reproduce the issue and the steering was functioning as designed. It has done it ever since! This recall needs to be expanded to incorporate 2020 models as well.

NHTSA ID

11754948

Incident

Jun 13, 2023

The steering rack has failed on the 2020 model and apparently I’m not alone. Other model years have noted this issue with “sticky steering” issues and newer models have recalls. Honda is failing at providing quality parts to this vehicle and causing dangerous situations on the road.

NHTSA ID

11749647

Incident

Jul 9, 2026

Every summer, on particularly hot days—typically after driving for about 10 minutes—the steering wheel feels as if it is jammed; turning it becomes extremely stiff and difficult. However, when the weather cools down, the steering becomes perfectly smooth again, with no issues whatsoever. Since my English proficiency is limited, I visited the dealership's service department; unfortunately, because the weather happened to be cool at the time, they were unable to detect any problems during their inspection.

NHTSA ID

11735691

Incident

Aug 15, 2024

Noticed problems with steering the vehicle. Initially the was not smooth when driving or turning and the steering would go through a very brief but light indecisive bump This problem started a week ago and has become worse. Plan to take car to dealer for diagnostics. Called Honda corporate and it looks like they may assist me with this

NHTSA ID

11733873

Incident

Apr 22, 2026

Choppy steering ,sticking, not smooth. Getting worse. It started when it was new . I did not know how lane departure assist worked,or felt. BUT EVEN IN THE OFF POSITION MY STEERING WAS STILL STICKY,AND CHOPPY. So I thought that this STICKY ,CHOPPY STEERING WAS NORMAL . It slowly has gotton worse , it has progressed to the point ,that I kmow that somthing is very wrong with my HONDAS steering. . I HAVE LOOKED INTO THIS PROBLEM ,IT IS NOW WELL DOCUMENTED THAT HONDA ,NEEDS TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT UNDER A RECALL ORDER. THIS is definatly a Honda Factory Defect in THEIR STEERING. PLEASE CALL ME [XXX] KRAUSE AT [XXX] . PS. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE IT. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11732060

Incident

Oct 15, 2020

I was driving the vehicle when all of a sudden all of the lights appeared on the dashboard.i took it in to the dealership and was told it was due to PO172 code.

NHTSA ID

11716066

Incident

Dec 19, 2025

Our steering rack has failed on our 2020 CRV with 23,000 miles on it. There are recalls out there for earlier CRV's as well as the 2023-2025 CRV'S. It cost us $5300 to repair it. If there is an obvious safety defect, why are the 2020's not covered in this recall. There is obviously a long standing safety issue here.

NHTSA ID

11713608

Incident

Jan 17, 2026

When driving at highway speeds, the steering is sticky and can get locked into a certain position. It can be overcome with moderate effort, but will become dangerous to drive if it gets worse. There are no warning lamps or messages related to this issue. I have taken it to the dealer and they refused to accept manufacturer responsibility for this. I took it to a trusted local independent mechanic who confirmed the issue and estimated it would cost roughly $4K to replace the rack and address the issue. Note that this issue has been identified by many other 2020 CRV owners, and the same issue has prompted a recall on 2023-24 Honda CRV models.

NHTSA ID

11696533

Incident

Mar 1, 2025

The steering wheel is sticking when returning to center when slightly turning left at high way speeds 65mph. There is a recall for this same issue on newer models.

NHTSA ID

11691026

Incident

May 8, 2025

After 4 4/2 years and 26,500 miles the steering became (slightly sticky ) It would take extra pressure to move the steering wheel. It also make clicking and creaking sound while turning at lower speeds 10 MPH or less. The dealer said the entire steering rack needed replacement due to some part that could not be replaced. The the was fine until the steering just started getting tight.

NHTSA ID

11687386

Incident

Aug 8, 2025

Sticky steering wheel issue like the recent recall on newer Hondas. This 2020 has about 50k and has recently been flashing the EPS / Steering Wheel light when it occurs. After slowing down the vehicle "behaves" normal

NHTSA ID

11681860

Incident

Aug 20, 2025

Although this 2020 Honda CR-V vehicle is not covered by the “sticky steering” recall we are experiencing the same symptoms reported by owners of newer model cars included in the recall. Our dealer says the only fix is to replace the entire steering box at a cost of $3,000. In addition the timeline to get and fix the problem is unknown because the part is on nationwide back order. The car has 60k miles on it. We have just had new tires and breaks installed, a front end alignment and all linkages checked. The problem unfortunately persists. Clearly there is a problem with the steering on this vehicle. We haven’t yet experienced an accident but the car pulls to the left at high speed and takes considerable force to get it corrected. The vehicle could easily veer into traffic in the other or oncoming lane on its own. The ability to recover in time to avoid an accident is questionable. I am unsure if other owners have reported similar problems with this model and year but I believe this is something the agency should be looking into and discussing with the manufacturer. Given the part is on nationwide back order is a clear indicator of a systemic problem

NHTSA ID

11675345

Incident

Jul 22, 2025

-Sticky steering with clicking noise and a tight pull -Steering failure would cause an accident -Problem has been reproduced and confirmed by a dealer; stating rack & pinion replacement -6/2025 -Reported October 2024

NHTSA ID

11671568

Incident

Oct 1, 2024

When driving at highway speeds, steering feels like it is stuck in particular position. Especially while navigating a slight left turn. Needing to use additional force to bring the steering back to center

NHTSA ID

11670606

Incident

May 20, 2025

The steering is binding up when turning and there is a clicking noise. I notice this a low speeds. Local mechanic inspected all suspension and drive train parts and said everything looked ok. He did not check the steering. I see this recall for later year models: The steering gearbox assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause excessive internal friction and lead to difficulty steering the vehicle. Will Honda extend this recall to cover 2020 CRVs as it seems to be the same problem. This seems to be a known defect and should be covered. I look forward to your reply. Thank you

NHTSA ID

11670146

Incident

Jun 30, 2025

My 2020 CR-V has developed a problem with the steering. When turning the steering wheel even slightly, the force to turn it increases and there is a clicking sound. The dealership confirmed the steering rack and gearbox need to be replaced. There is a recall for Honda's 2022 and 2023 CR-Vs for this same issue, but there are reports of the this issue going all the way back to the 2017 model. My car only has 50,000 miles. This is a known issue that can affect safety and Honda should extend their recall to include older models with the same steering problem.

NHTSA ID

11667371

Incident

May 21, 2025

Sticking steering wheel.Steering wheel sticks causing me to jerk wheel when turning curve.Yes, I took to Honda dealer and they ran test confirming problem. They said I need steering gearbox replaced. No warning lights occurred. About May 2024. It has gotten so bad now that I am afraid to drive it over 10 miles.

NHTSA ID

11666630

Incident

Jun 20, 2024

Back in April 2025 my 2020 Honda CRV started having an issue with the steering where it would get stuck or it felt like a grab while driving, this happened while driving around 35 mph and on the interstate going around 78 mph, it felt like it could've made me over correct but it went back to "somewhat normal". It happened several times then took it to dealer, they were able to reconstruct the problem. Ended up that I had to put $3300.00 into replacing the steering rack assembly. NO recalls on the 2020 but there are on the newer models.

NHTSA ID

11666473

Incident

Apr 18, 2025

The steering started having a sticky/pulling problem on 5/22/25. When driving and taking a left curved road at 30 mph, the steering tries to pull me back to the right. This can be felt in the steering wheel and another person confirmed this same issued that I described. I checked online and found that some 2020 Honda CRVs are on a recall for an issue with the worm gear expanding causing this same problem. My VIN doesn't show up on the recall list. I purchased the car new on 4/25/20 and have kept up on all maintenance, including fluid changes.

NHTSA ID

11663028

Incident

May 22, 2025

Subject: Recurring Steering Issue in Honda CR-V – Potential Inclusion in Recall In early 2023, we began experiencing a steering issue with our Honda CR-V. The steering would intermittently feel sticky or resistant, particularly at higher speeds and when navigating curves or corners. Over time, this issue was accompanied by a clicking noise. We took the vehicle to our local Honda dealership; however, they were unable to replicate the problem at that time. As the issue progressed, the vehicle became increasingly unsafe to drive. Eventually, the dealership acknowledged the problem and replaced the power steering rack under the manufacturer’s warranty. Approximately 18 months later, the same symptoms have reappeared: sticky steering at higher speeds, clicking noises, and an overall unsafe steering feel. Once again, the dealership has been unable to replicate the issue and has advised us to return when the problem becomes more consistent, which is concerning and unsafe. Upon researching, we discovered that Honda issued a recall (NHTSA Campaign#: 24V744000) affecting 1.7 million vehicles, including certain 2023–2025 CR-V models, due to a steering gearbox defect that can cause excessive internal friction and difficulty steering . While our vehicle’s model year is not currently included in this recall, the symptoms we are experiencing seem similar to those described. Request: We urge the NHTSA to investigate whether earlier model years of the Honda CR-V may also be affected by this steering defect. The recurrence of this issue, despite previous repairs, raises significant safety concerns. We believe our vehicle may warrant inclusion in the existing recall or prompt a separate investigation into similar steering-related safety issues in earlier CR-V models. Or at minimum help us resolve this continuous issue as we feel unsafe to drive our vehicle.

NHTSA ID

11658777

Incident

Mar 28, 2025

Sticky steering wheel - the steering sticks making it difficult to keep the vehicle driving straight. Vehicle has been taken to a local Honda dealership and we we're told the gearbox needs to be replaced and it would cost $5,000 to repair but there is currently a recall on the same vehicle 2 years and older with the same issue.

NHTSA ID

11626937

Incident

Nov 18, 2023

The contact owns a 2020 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and making slight right turns, the steering wheel was sticking and required to be manually steered to the center. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring intermittently. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure had progressively gotten worse, requiring the driver to use more physical force to turn the steering wheel to the center. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times. The dealer replaced the ABS module and the rack and pinion; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000.

NHTSA ID

11619312

Incident

Apr 1, 2023

Mileage

29,000 mi