general problems of the 2018 Honda Civic - part 1

I am experiencing an intermittent "sticky" and stiff steering sensation while driving my 2018 Honda Civic ex-t at highway speeds (between 60–70 mph). While attempting to maintain a straight line on the freeway, the steering wheel resists minor, smooth adjustments and feels briefly locked or stuck. When I apply extra physical force to override the resistance, the steering suddenly releases, which frequently causes the vehicle to over-correct and drift in the lane, creating a major safety hazard. Additionally, the steering column has recently started making an audible clanking sound during operation. A licensed mechanic performed a full visual inspection and a wheel alignment, confirming that all physical suspension, tires, and mechanical steering components are tight and structurally healthy. This is an internal electronic or mechanical defect within the electronic power steering (eps) rack assembly itself, identical to the steering defect already recalled on 2022–2025 Honda models.

When driving, initial steering input requires excessive torque to initiate direction, causing oversteer which has to be readjusted with opposite input. I consider this a safety concern.

Same exact issue as NHTSA recall 24v-744, needs to be extended to cover this generation of Honda Civics. Steering sticks while driving, causing driver to use more than normal force to unstick wheel. This causes over corrections while driving. Occurs at all speeds. Requires constant corrections every 2-3 seconds while driving. Fatiguing to drivers and dangerous with how abrupt the sticking wheel breaks free. Taken to Honda dealer who was able to recreate issue but this model year is not covered under the recall for model years 2022-2025 for the exact same issue. So I was told that no repair would be covered. First appeared around 60,000 miles and seems to worsen in warm weather. This presents a danger to the driver and others on the road with the inconsistent steering behavior and constant input need to maintain a straight driving line.

While driving, the steering sticks and has gotten worse over the past 2 weeks. Took to a Honda dealer and they diagnosed the electronic power steering rack needs replaced/gear box, $3500-5000 estimated. Then told us if we continue to drive it we could wreck and end up in a ditch. Our teen drives this car and now we are without a car and out $22,000, which we paid 2 yrs ago for the used car. We are asking the car be covered in the recall 18-102 for repairs. Otherwise I go to the news and internet. This was inspected by a Honda dealer, noted now in the paperwork. No other warnings present.

My steering wheel sticks. It stick's when I'm going fast and slow and turning. It pulls me to the left and right and feels like it's taking over. I have to correct it and I'm worried I'm going to wreck. I'm going to a Honda dealer to be diagnosed June 23.

The steering wheel sticks. When turning the steering wheel at high speeds (over 45 mph) the steering sticks and abruptly comes free causing the car to swerve.

The vehicle's steering wheel gets stuck in place causing jerkiness while driving at medium to fast highway speeds. The steering wheel does not return to center automatically and you have to "break" the steering wheel loose from it's stuck position. The constant stuck position of the steering wheel causes distrust in the vehicle and that it will be ultimately stuck in a position to cause an accident. It also poses a risk that the vehicle can start veering in an unwanted direction and an overcorrection can also cause an accident. The vehicle can be inspected upon request. The problem has not been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center, it also has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance or others, but I have researched this issue with similar Honda vehicles and it seems to be a very common issue that needs to have an official recall issued for and fixed by Honda.

Steering feels catchy.

Steering becomes stiff and requires higher force to make minor corrections. Most notable at highway speeds. No eps warning lights, car has been aligned, brakes and suspension checked. Vehicle has between 59,000 and 60,000 miles on odometer. Dealer diagnosed as worn out steering system, coded as internal failure.

The electronic power steering (eps) gearbox assembly exhibits a severe binding, catching, and sticky sensation at highway speeds after the vehicle warms up. The steering wheel gets stuck in the center position, requiring constant physical force to break it free to maintain the lane. This results in continuous overcorrection, vehicle weaving, and an inability to track straight, which is easily mistaken for poor road or wind conditions but creates a severe lane-drift safety hazard. The issue does not trigger any warning lights or diagnostic trouble codes. Coggin Honda diagnosed the failed unit and found that Honda has revised this specific steering rack part number (53650tbaa03) three separate times (from ending in a00 to the current a03), demonstrating engineering awareness of a component defect that closely mirrors the newer 2022–2025 Honda steering recalls. Note that this vehicle's odometer reads 30,532 miles and this steering issue was felt for some time now and has gotten worse over the years. The problem was officially diagnosed on 6/3/2026.

The steering wheel is sticky when resetting position after turning left. This is a major safety issue as it requires force to get the steering out of that locked up position. This forces overcorrection and the car sways everytime. I can confirm 100s of people with Civics have this issue on reddit, youtube and other Honda forums however the recall only applied to 2022 and above (known issue but somehow recall didn’t apply to pre 2022 cars). This is a major flaw from a reputed company that sells 100s of thousands of cars. If I can see so many complaints online, I can imagine how many common people (elderly and disabled included) that don’t report and are especially at high risk of this. I sincerely request further investigation and enforcing better safety practices in this situation. Thank you very much.

Steering sticks at highway speeds, causing car not to steer properly. Police pulled me over thinking dwi. Please notify me of recall. Noticed the 2017 was recalled for that reason. . .

While driving the vehicle on a long straight road the steering would bind while driving straight. When moving the steering wheel to make any slight adjustments it'd stick and force me to over or understeer left or right of center making the vehicle very unsafe to drive and hold a straight course on the highway. I've only noticed this happening at highway speeds. It was very scary to drive because it'd happen every 10 to 15 seconds while trying to get it into a center position(which was impossible) on a very straight road causing the vehicle to essentially be swerving from one side of the lane to the other for the last couple of hours of a 3+ hour drive. I hope Honda does the right thing in recognizing how dangerous an issue this is and doesn't wait until too many people die or have accidents due this common vehicle issue preventing it from being able to be driven straight.

Steering rack failed the car when driving steering wheel gets stuck and you have to turn it and it will jerk loose and the car jerks. Very unsafe due to the car can lose control. Yes confirmed at ryan Honda at monroe la no warning. A month ago it started.

Steering wheel feels sticky when making slight adjustments to the left or right, causing me to have to overcorrect to shift.

My 2018 Honda Civic is experiencing dangerous steering wheel sticking/binding while driving at highway speeds, accompanied by heavy creaking at full turn. My VIN is not included in the existing electronic steering rack recall, but the vehicle is exhibiting the exact mechanical failure symptoms described in campaign 18v663000.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while operating the vehicle, the steering wheel was firm and was sticking while turning. The contact referenced NHTSA campaign number: 18v663000 (steering); however, the VIN was not included in the recall repair. The vehicle was driven to the dealer, where it was confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 59,700.

When driving at speeds over 45 mph, the steering wheel gets stuck and more effort is needed to overcome creating an over correction issue. In researching the issue, apparently it is a very well documented issue. There are no warning lights on the dash.

The vehicle experienced a failure of the steering system, specifically the steering gearbox. The steering intermittently sticks, binds, and resists input, followed by sudden release, causing unpredictable response and difficulty maintaining control. The vehicle also pulls unexpectedly, creating a serious safety hazard, especially at highway speeds. The vehicle is unsafe to operate and is currently at a dealership for inspection. Prior to failure, symptoms included increasing steering resistance, inconsistent feel, and intermittent sticking, which worsened over time until the vehicle became undrivable. The issue has been diagnosed and confirmed by an authorized dealership, which determined the steering gearbox requires replacement. The dealership indicated the failure was not due to misuse, damage, or lack of maintenance. There are similar steering-related failures reported in comparable vehicles; however, this vehicle is excluded based on VIN eligibility. Despite similar failure, no recall coverage has been provided. This failure creates a high risk of loss of control and potential crash, with no warning lights or alerts prior to failure. The estimated repair cost exceeds $4,300 including parts and labor. The manufacturer has been contacted, but no resolution has been provided. This failure occurred during normal operation and was not caused by driver input or external damage. The sudden loss and return of steering control creates a dangerous condition that could result in a crash without warning. Given similar reported issues, this warrants investigation into a potential safety defect.

Problem presented in April 2026 at 34,300 miles on odometer. The vehicle steering sticks or locks at the 12 o'clock position at highway speeds. A high degree of effort is required to overcome the steering stiction resistance to make small steering adjustments to maintain vehicle course. This anomaly results in overshooting the desired steering adjustment which could potentially cause a accident such as a sideswipe crash or loss of control leaving the roadway. There have been no dashboard warning indicators. The local Honda dealer inspected the car and stated that the steering gearbox needed to be replaced at an estimated cost of $4,025.

When driving in highway or street, the steering feels very stiff. It’s difficult to turn and, especially hard when driving in the highway making small adjustments. When turning left and holding corners the wheel likes to bounce. Took it in the dealership and diagnosed to be the steering rack assembly, and want to charge me 5500 for it. I just bought the vehicle not even 3 days old and I have to spend an extra 5 grand to ensure I’m safe when I’m driving and it’s not right. This is dangerous because if I can’t control the wheel I can lose control and hit someone else. There were no warnings, which was why I purchased the vehicle. The dealership at Honda confirmed my suspicions and diagnosed it as a bad steering rack assembly, and is charging a lump some of money for the fix. The car only had 47000 miles and this should not be an issue I should be dealing with. Honda needs to resolve this as it’s very dangerous to be driving like this especially on a vehicle with very low miles.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. There was an abnormal clicking sound coming from the steering wheel. No warning lights were illuminated. In addition, the contact stated that the failure had occurred while making a right turn. The contact stated that excessive force was needed to turn the steering wheel. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or the dealer. The contact stated that the failure was a known failure with the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The contact was advised to contact the NHTSA hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 142,000.

I have noticed a slight resistance or “sticky” feeling in the steering, especially when driving at highway speeds or while making gentle turns. The steering does not always feel smooth when making small corrections near the center or during curves. At times, the steering wheel feels like it briefly resists movement and then releases, requiring a small additional input to continue turning smoothly. This has occurred intermittently and is more noticeable during continuous driving. The vehicle remains controllable, but the steering does not always return as smoothly as expected, which can affect driving comfort and precision.

Steering wheel gets stuck, jerky. Steering is jerky when traveling in a straight line, at different speeds. For example when traveling at 45 mph in a straight line, if you need to make a slight correction to stay in your lane the steering wheel seems to lock causing you to exert more force to turn it and then it releases causing you to over correct. I know other owners that have the same problem. This in my opinion is a safety concern and should be investigated.

I have recently purchased a 2018 Honda Civic lx at 39k miles and now at 42k miles and only six months of owning the vehicle I am experiencing the sticky steering at 35mph or faster due to the worm gear in the eps gearbox assembly in 18v-663, NHTSA recall 18v-663, however my VIN was not listed as eligible. I was able to have the fuel pump recall replaced immediately after I purchased it in September of 2025. But now find myself with the plagued steering issue that notches at center when you try to lane correct or bend into a turn. It is alarming and while manageable at slower speeds in town, I intended to use this car to teach my daughter to drive. I am concerned for the safety and chance of over correcting while driving already hazardous winter conditions in northern maine that this poses a legitimate risk at highway speeds. Thank you taking my report with consideration. Please take care.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel became firm and was sticking while driving forward. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds and making a left or right turn, the steering wheel was sticking. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact related the failure to NHTSA campaign number: 18v663000 (steering). The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and test-driven. The dealer informed the contact that the steering wheel was pulling, and that the failure was associated with the steering rack. Additionally, the dealer diagnosed the vehicle and determined that the steering rack was rusted. The dealer recommended that the steering rack be replaced, and an alignment was performed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted and declined to cover the repair because the VIN was not under recall. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

The steering issue in my 2018 Honda Civic has put my safety and that of others at severe risk by causing unpredictable sticky and jerky movements at highway speeds, potentially leading to loss of control and crashes—I’ve had to fight the wheel multiple times on la freeways just to stay in my lane, and it’s only getting worse with heat buildup. The problem has not yet been reproduced or confirmed by a dealer or independent service center, as I’m in the process of scheduling that amid Honda’s stonewalling, but it’s identical to widespread eps failures reported in similar models. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance reps, or anyone else yet—Honda’s dodging responsibility despite knowing about these defects since 2016 per the burgos v. Honda lawsuit. There were no warning lamps, messages, or other symptoms prior to the failure; it just started jerking out of nowhere during high-speed drives, first noticed today based on my best recollection. This is a blatant manufacturing flaw Honda’s covering up for older Civics while recalling newer ones for the same damn thing—force them to expand the recall before it kills someone. Approximate incident date: 03/02/2026. No crash occurred.

The electric power steering gets notchy and sticks instead of smooth turning. This causes the car to drift left and right in the lane. The hotter the day and longer the drive, the worse the problem gets.

The steering wheel is very sticky/notchy at highway speeds. Makes steering difficult especially with minor adjustments. Very unsafe as it can stick and cause you to drift if you’re not on top of the steering or even overcompensate.

Have the dangerous sticky steering while traveling down the road where steering wheel needs to be “broke free” to make minor corrections. Aware that there is a recall on certain years and models of the Honda’s for the electronic steering rack recall replacement, it isn’t covered on other select years. Honda has diagnosed yet another vehicle not covered by this recall (mine) and is now wanting me to pay $4500 out of pocket for a new steering rack.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving and turning the steering wheel, the steering was sticking and turned in the opposite direction, reducing the maneuverability of the vehicle. The contact was able to turn the steering wheel to the intended direction. There was no warning light illuminated. The dealer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the VIN was not included in NHTSA campaign number: 18v663000 (steering). The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.

The vehicle steering wheel sticks when turning, makes a noise, sometimes it doesn’t. Feels like when turning the steering wheel is like stuck and doesn’t return to the straight position. It happens only in one direction, turning right. This has been happening for at least 5 years. Took it to the dealer at least 3 times. They changed left side ball joint, in warranty. But still doing it. After the third time I gave up. Last year a mechanic outside the dealer changed the left cv axle, nothing changed. Changed sway bars, shock absorbers, still doing it. Today went to a different shop, they say is the rack and pinion or eps?. I have been having this problem for a really long time, even before the warranty was over.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda. The contact stated that while driving the steering wheel became "sticky" making it stiff. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering gear needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 30,000.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel was sticky, making the vehicle difficult to maneuver. There was no warning light illuminated. Upon investigation, the contact discovered NHTSA campaign number: 18v663000 (steering); however, the vehicle was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and confirmed that the VIN was not included in the recall. The contact was also informed that there was a TSB on certain model vehicles related to the same failure; however, the vehicle was not included. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.