general problems of the 2018 Honda Civic - part 1

Vehicle: 2018 Honda Civic ex sedan VIN: [xxx] mileage: approximately 150,000 miles component: steering / electric power steering (eps) I am reporting a potentially serious steering safety issue with my 2018 Honda Civic ex sedan. The steering wheel has developed a sticky/notchy feeling when turning to the right. When making a right-hand turn, the steering does not feel smooth and at times feels as though something is holding or resisting the steering wheel while it is turned. The steering feels normal when turning left. The problem occurs at both low and high speeds, but it becomes significantly more noticeable at higher speeds. It is especially noticeable when taking highway exit ramps or other longer right-hand curves where I have to maintain the steering wheel in a right-turn position. During these situations, the steering can feel like it is resisting my steering input rather than moving smoothly. Normal right-hand turns at lower speeds also exhibit the problem, although it is less noticeable. The left side does not exhibit the same behavior. This is concerning because the steering behavior is inconsistent between left and right turns and becomes more pronounced at highway speeds. A steering system that sticks or resists steering input during a highway curve could cause the driver to make an unexpected additional steering input or overcorrect, potentially increasing the risk of losing control of the vehicle. The vehicle currently has approximately 150,000 miles. I have checked the vehicle’s VIN for open recalls and there are currently no unrepaired recalls associated with the VIN. I am reporting this issue because I believe the steering behavior may represent a safety defect, particularly given that the problem occurs during normal driving and becomes more pronounced at highway speeds. I am requesting that NHTSA review this complaint for possible similar steering/eps issues affecting other 2018 Honda Civic vehicles. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(.

2018 Honda Civics have a steering defect. This was recalled in 202q2 to 2023 in NHTSA campaign number 23v704. This is the exact problem I experience in my vehicle. The steering wheel gets sticky at freeway speeds, and it feels unsafe. As of now no recall exists. Drivers experience a momentary "sticky", "notchy", or catching feel in the steering wheel. This requires unexpected extra force to overcome and can lead to jerky or delayed steering corrections.

Steering catches and sticks while driving and you have to tug to get it to release to get control back. This has happened several times that has caused me to almost wreck numerous times. I do not feel safe driving it but it is my only vehicle. Dealership said it is more than likely the epf system, or the electrical steering system that is faulty.

Steering sticks when driving in straight line for extended time. Requires extra effort to make small adjustments also becomes jerky when making adjustments.

Steering wheel sticks with minor adjustments makes it dangerous when driving . Research shows it's already a recall on other years of the same model.

Steering wheel at speeds usually above 25mph causes the steering wheel to feel stuck. This is a big safety issue as this causes over correction, leading me to steer into other lanes. No warnings, ect. I just purchased the vehicle last weekend so I have not had a chance to get it into the shop just yet but after researching this seems to be a common problem. This is a road hazard that can absolutely cause accidents. From my understanding there has been a recall issued on newer models but not on the 10th gen Civics. This needs addressed and a recall absolutely should be issued.

Steering wheel started notching after taking left turns. The wheel would not smoothly return to center and would stick which would lead me to over correcting the steering wheel to get it unstuck. This often made it extremely difficult to stay in the lane and take tight turns. The problem started when I would go above 60 mph, but it started occurring more frequently as I continued to use my car. Additionally, the notching would become more intense if I used my car multiple times a day. I took it to get diagnosed at Honda and they confirmed that there was an issue with the sensor in the gear box assembly that caused it to malfunction while I was driving. They recommended that I replace my gear box assembly and get an alignment performed. This problem seems similar to the recall posted in service bulletin 18-102, however, the dealership could not confirm if it was related since the part in my car did not match the effected parts included in the bulletin.

‘sticky’ steering has developed over the last few thousand miles driving this vehicle. It began with the car resisting turning when driving straight. More force than expected is necessary to turn the car and it is unpredictable for when it occurs, which raises a major safety concern. When I discussed this issue with Honda they said it’s likely the whole rack and pinion and they knew it was such because many other drivers of this car had the same issue. There is clearly a fault with this part in the car failing, thus causing many drivers of this car to have to get this repair. Over the past few years, this part has been on back order due to the frequency of this part failing. The fact that Honda is aware of the issue and has done countless replacements of this part indicates there is a substantial fault with a critical part of the car for safe driving. This car has been in no accidents or hit/run over anything that would warrant the rack and pinion to fail. Something like a tie rod or control arm is a more typical replacement, but the whole steering rack failing is questionable for the integrity of the part.

The steering get sticky when on highway speeds.

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.

This is a huge issue across the board with Honda vehicles regarding sticky/notchy steering when exceeding speeds of 50 mph. There should be a recall on the 10th generation Honda Civics because the steering wheel sticks and causes overcorrection to unlock the steering wheel, creating a huge safety risk for the driver, passengers, and everyone else on the roadways, which could cause serious accidents and probably already has. The Honda dealerships don't care about these problems and are trying to capitalize on thousands of dollars from consumers instead of creating a recall and fixing this very dangerous known steering issue. Please help with this safety issue as there are a lot of unsafe Hondas traveling on the roads each day.

Steering sticks requires, force to turn wheel at times. This is an ongoing problem, not a one time occurrence.

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.

After car warms up ,steering wheel is hard to turn when turning wheel at speed , it feels like it is stuck requiring more force to turn which in turn causes over correction. Wheel does not turn smoothly. It feels like it is stuck in a notch that requires extra force to move it out of notch making it difficult to do small adjustments to stay in lane.

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.