Steering Problems of Honda Pilot - part 1

During a routine trip thru the [xxx]/[xxx] section of [xxx] our 2025 Honda Pilot suddenly lost power steering capability, we could hardly control the vehicle and had to manage an exist to a side street. We received a message on the dash board of a lost of power steering assistance and to notify the dealer. We shut the car off, restarted and gained control of the vehicle less the lane departure feature. At this time we made an appointment with fred beans in abington for service, we have lost confidence in the vehicles safety after this incident. Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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I was driving on a somewhat bumpy road (due to construction works in that location), when suddenly several warning lights came on. Driver assist was disabled, power steering and electrical braking were disabled as well. I was driving at 10mph (this was at a roundabout) so was able to control the vehicle and safely navigate it to a place where I could park. I turned off the vehicle and waited a few moments. When I turned it back on the warning lights cleared and I had power steering wheel/brake control as normal. I brought the vehicle to a certified Honda service station first thing in the morning. The report states an error code c0051-96 has occurred. The wheel sensor was recalibrated and the vehicle was cleared to drive by a Honda certified technician.

The steering wheel became extremely difficult for my husband to turn. Power steering went out on my 2025 Honda Pilot trailsport. Numerous warnings were then displayed on the vehicle's dashboard screen, it was impossible to drive, and caused us to have to get towed. We had it towed to a Honda dealer for repair, where it was discovered that the steering wheel had more turns in one direction than the other, the shaft boot was misplaced, non-factory pins on the steering rack were noted, and the clock spring was stuck reading 508 degrees. Furthermore, the steering wheel rack gearbox had to be replaced following a steering angle sensor failure in my 2025 Honda Pilot trailsport. This is a serious safety issue and should have never have happened in such a new vehicle. This incident not only put my family's lives at risk, but also everyone else on the roadway. Why did my vehicle that I bought brand new and have only serviced at Honda have non-factory parts?.

While driving my 2025 Honda Pilot at normal road speeds, multiple warning messages suddenly appeared on the dashboard, including steering system warnings. The steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn and felt as though it had locked, creating a serious safety hazard. I had very limited ability to steer the vehicle and could have lost control, especially if this had occurred at higher speeds or in traffic. The vehicle had to be towed to a Honda dealership for inspection. I was informed there were issues involving the steering system, including the steering rack/rack and pinion, and an alignment was recommended. The estimated repair cost was approximately $5,900, and I was told the warranty would not cover the repair even though this appears to be an internal component failure. The failed components are available for inspection upon request. I believe this is a serious safety defect because a sudden loss of steering control while driving could easily result in a crash, serious injury, or death.

Started up vehicle, and (all the bashboard warning lights illuminated),tsa,check engine light,power steering, brake lights. . . . . All of them. Doors won't lock, and the raido stays on, even when the vehicle is completely turned off. Vehicle purchased on:12/02/2024. 3 miles on the odometer. Currently 14,000 miles. . Honda corporation attempting not honor the warranty. $8400 dollars, to fix,and to contact my insurance company, and claim rodent damage; I, wouldn't have to pay, the insurance company will cover the cost.

While driving roughly 15 mph, my car displayed emergency messages, brake applied automatically by the vehicle and the power steering failed. In order for me to get out of the way of traffic in an intersection, I had to veer to the opposite side of the road passing oncoming traffic. The following lights were displayed "tsa, hill start assist problem vehicle may roll upon brake release, vehicle stability assist problem reduced traction and handling, brake system problem brake system reduced, electric power steering problem steering assist not available do not drive" vehicle has had no issues and only has 6,460 miles on it. Car is currently waiting to be towed to the dealership.

On xxx, while my wife was driving our 2017 Honda Pilot elite (VIN: [xxx]) southbound on [xxx], approaching the intersection with [xxx], the vehicle experienced a complete engine stall due to the auto idle stop feature. The engine shut off at a stop but failed to automatically restart when she released the brake to proceed. All dashboard warning lights flashed, and the vehicle became inoperable in the middle of traffic, creating a significant traffic jam at a busy intersection. My wife was able to restart the vehicle manually by shifting to park and pressing the engine start/stop button. This is part of a persistent safety defect with the auto idle stop (idle stop-start) system. The vehicle has stalled multiple times in traffic and on highways since new. Honda performed TSB 23-008 (pgm-fi idle stop software update/product update campaign) on xxx at autopark Honda in cary, nc, but the issue was not resolved. I also replaced the battery in November 2024 at the dealership's recommendation, but the no-restart/stall problem continues. I normally keep the auto idle stop feature disabled for safety, but my wife forgot on this occasion. **cause:** unknown (per Honda tsbs 23-008 and 23-009, the issue relates to excessive cylinder pressure and/or low cranking torque after idle stop engages; prior fixes have not resolved it). This defect creates a dangerous situation where the vehicle can unexpectedly lose power in traffic, increasing collision risk. I have reported this to the dealership multiple times and am seeking resolution under TSB 23-009 (warranty extension). Information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(b)(6).

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The 3. 5l v6 engine in this vehicle suffered a sudden, catastrophic internal mechanical failure due to premature connecting rod bearing wear. The engine stalling occurred abruptly while actively driving, which created an immediate safety risk as the vehicle lost propulsion, power steering assistance, and power braking assistance. This forced a dangerous emergency maneuver to navigate through moving traffic to get to the side of the road. Prior to the engine failure, there were no persistent dashboard warning lights or clear messages indicating an imminent mechanical failure. The first distinct symptom was a brief, sudden metallic knocking sound from the engine bay immediately before the vehicle lost all power and stalled. An authorized dealership has since inspected the vehicle and dropped the oil pan, physically confirming a massive accumulation of metal shavings and bearing debris inside the block. The dealership verified that the complete destruction of the engine block is identical in nature, symptom, and cause to the manufacturing defects described in NHTSA recall campaign 23v-751. However, this vehicle's specific VIN was excluded from that original recall parameter. This catastrophic failure directly corresponds to the ongoing office of defects investigation probe pe25008 regarding extensive v6 engine rod bearing failures. The failed engine block remains fully intact at the service center and is available for regulatory inspection upon request.

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Slowed down to turn right into a parking lot, power steering suddenly disabled and multiple warning lights appeared on dash. Warning messages stating auto brake system disabled, lane departure assist disabled, hill assist and start disabled, and more warning lights. Steering suddenly became difficult and dangerous with moving traffic behind me. Pulled into a parking lot and restarted car multiple times. After more than 10 minutes and restarting vehicle, power steering came back.

A stuck ignition lock cylinder on a 2005 Honda Pilot. Hello I purchased this car from the second owner and they had the ignition lock replaced less than 2 years ago. This device has now failed again. Its a poor design by Honda and was never fixed or recalled. This has lead countless people to be stranded. With repairs upwords of $500.

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Vehicle: 2026 Honda Pilot elite awd current mileage: ~3,850 miles persistent component defect and failure within the steering column assembly, specifically involving the steering clock spring (cable reel assembly). The vehicle experiences an audible clicking, rattling, and binding sensation during normal steering wheel rotation. Authorized Honda dealership warranty repairs have failed to remedy the issue due to replacement parts failing immediately upon installation.   chronology of failures: 1- 05/04/2026 (2,078 miles): vehicle brought to hennessy Honda for stiff steering and a loud clicking noise. Technicians noted the steering cable gear was making noise and binding. The column was adjusted.   2- 05/20/2026 (2,509 miles): clicking worsened significantly across full left-to-center rotations. The dealership diagnosed a defective clock spring and replaced the cable reel assembly (part: 77900-t20-e61).   3- 06/08/2026 (3,847 miles): the brand-new replacement part failed immediately. Vehicle returned with identical clicking and a new "whoosh" plastic scraping noise. Dealership replaced misadjusted steering column trim pieces to stop the scraping but confirmed the steering wheel click remains active.   safety risk: the dealership service department explicitly stated that the current production batch of factory replacement clock springs contains an inherent manufacturer defect, meaning new replacements fail out of the box. The clock spring maintains the continuous electrical connection to the driver’s steering wheel airbag, horn, and driver-assist controls. A mechanically binding ribbon cable reel presents an imminent risk of snapping or shorting out. If the cable fails on the road, it will instantly deactivate the driver's front airbag, rendering a critical safety restraint system useless in a crash.   requested action: compel Honda to investigate 2026 Pilot manufacturing lines, fast-track an updated/redesigned cable reel part number, and issue a safety recall.

Intermittent severe shaking in steering wheel while driving at various speeds. No warning. Vehicle has less than 500 miles.

Vehicle: 2026 Honda Pilot elite awd current mileage: ~3,850 VIN: [xxx] ——— defect summary: persistent component defect and failure within the steering column assembly, specifically involving the steering clock spring (cable reel assembly). The vehicle experiences an audible clicking, rattling, and binding sensation during normal steering wheel rotation. Authorized Honda dealership warranty repairs have failed to remedy the issue due to replacement parts failing immediately upon installation.   chronology of failures: 1. [xxx] (2,078 miles): vehicle brought to hennessy Honda for stiff steering and a loud clicking noise. Technicians noted the steering cable gear was making noise and binding. The column was adjusted.   2. 05/20/2026 (2,509 miles): clicking worsened significantly across full left-to-center rotations. The dealership diagnosed a defective clock spring and replaced the cable reel assembly (part: 77900-t20-e61).   3. [xxx] (3,847 miles): the brand-new replacement part failed immediately. Vehicle returned with identical clicking and a new "whoosh" plastic scraping noise. Dealership replaced misadjusted steering column trim pieces to stop the scraping but confirmed the steering wheel click remains active.   safety risk: the dealership service department explicitly stated that the current production batch of factory replacement clock springs contains an inherent manufacturer defect, meaning new replacements fail out of the box. The clock spring maintains the continuous electrical connection to the driver’s steering wheel airbag, horn, and driver-assist controls. A mechanically binding ribbon cable reel presents an imminent risk of snapping or shorting out. If the cable fails on the road, it will instantly deactivate the driver's front airbag, rendering a critical safety restraint system useless in a crash.   requested action: compel Honda to investigate 2026 Pilot manufacturing lines, fast-track an updated/redesigned cable information redacted pursuant to the freedom of information act (foia), 5 u. S. C. 552(.

The contact owns a 2025 Honda Pilot. While the contact’s wife was driving approximately 70 mph, the steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn in either direction. The driver was able to forcefully steer the vehicle over to the shoulder. After turning off and restarting the vehicle, the steering failure was self-corrected, and the vehicle operated normally. The driver was able to continue driving without any additional failures. The cause of the failure was not yet determined. The local dealer and manufacturer were notified of the failure, and a service appointment was scheduled. The failure mileage was 8,000. The VIN was not available.

The contact owns a 2018 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving 75 mph on the interstate, the vehicle started shuddering. The vehicle was pulled over safely to the side of the road. The awd, hill descent assist, power steering, and check engine warning lights were illuminated. The contact checked the manual and continued to drive. While driving days later, there was an abnormal fuel odor coming from the vehicle. The contact continued driving approximately 20 mph. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed. The failure was associated with the fuel pressure pump. The lower fuel pressure pump was previously replaced. The vehicle was towed to the local dealer, and the contact was informed that the high-pressure fuel pump needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 167,320.

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The contact owns a 2025 Honda Pilot. While driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle suddenly decelerated, and the steering wheel started jerking. The messages eps failure, lane keep assist, and adaptive cruise control failure were displayed. The contact safely pulled over to the side of the road. The vehicle was towed to a dealer, but was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 3,200.

The power steering system software problem undriveable. The awd failed said undriveable. Only 30k miles on it and it just locked and couldnt steering right to left in the middle of traffic. Could have caused a bad accident lycjuly my kids weren't in the car. The computer software took over completely made my car uncontrollable. Have a video of all warnings that came on.

My steering is making loud clicking noises when turning the vehicle left or right at low speeds. It sounds like loud pops. It is especially prevalent once car has warmed up and driven. It is very prominent when reversing and turning the wheel or moving forward and turning the wheel and also when parked and turned the wheel left or right. I brought this to my dealership’s attention and they confirmed the issue and said it is a faulty clock spring so they replaced it. After they replaced it, the noise is still there. The clock spring was not the cause of the noise. I’m afraid this will become a major safety issue with preventing the ability of the steering wheel to operate safely.

The vehicle previously experienced a steering wheel locking issue and was taken to the dealer for repair. The dealer stated the issue was repaired on December 11, 2024. On February 24, 2026, while driving on a public street, the vehicle hesitated or jerked slightly during acceleration and then appeared to operate normally. After a few minutes, multiple warning messages suddenly appeared on the dashboard, and the steering wheel became extremely difficult to turn and effectively locked while I was driving. I immediately activated my hazard lights. I was unable to safely pull over because the steering wheel would not respond properly, which placed me and other drivers at risk. I had to continue driving slowly until I found a side road where I could safely stop. I turned the vehicle off. When restarting, the warning messages reappeared. After several minutes, the warning lights cleared, and the steering wheel was no longer locked but felt loose and unstable ("wobbly"). I cautiously resumed driving. After several minutes, the steering began to feel normal again. The following warnings were displayed: hill start assist problem, trailer stability assist problem, hill descent control problem, adaptive cruise control problem, lane keeping assist problem, collision mitigation braking system problem, road departure mitigation problem, low speed braking control problem, auto high-beam problem, electric power steering system problem – steering assist not available, and "stop. Steering assist reduced. Stop driving when safe. " the failed component appears to be the electric power steering system and related driver-assistance systems. The vehicle is available for inspection. The problem was previously addressed by a dealer but has reoccurred. No prior warning lights were present before this incident. The failure occurred suddenly while driving.

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On 1/18 I was dropping my daughter off at chicopee high school when I took left to front street I heard a snap and the car took me to the right direction causing my rim to be damaged. The tired rob broke. I called roadside they tow the car to curry Honda in chicopee mass. Today when I called cury Honda one of the managers insisted that I hit a poth hole without me explaining and saying this never happened when online there’s been customers complaining with the same situation 2023 -2025 with Honda Pilots experience the same issue. It’s a safety matter where it could been worse me in the car with 4 of my children,.

Received warning message 'electric steering assist failure' Saturday January 10th 2026 12:00-noon driving approximately 5mph, released the accelerator to begin pulling into a parking spot and the power steering failed. The vehicle was very difficult to turn but I was able to avoid hitting anything. Drove around for ~2 hours making multiple stops at multiple stores with no issues until. . . Same day, Saturday January 10th 2026 1:55 driving approximately 5mph, released the accelerator to begin pulling into a parking spot and the power steering failed. This was a safety risk to my family and to the pedestrians in the parking lot. Saturday January 10th 2026 1:55 I immediately called wilde Honda waukesha wisconsin, which is the dealership that I bought it from (6/25/25 delivery date) they asked me to bring the vehicle in on Monday Monday January 12 2026 1:46pm justin green - service advisor called and stated that they can see that its an electrical issue but cannot diagnose fully. He stated that they needed to bring in a more advanced technician so I would need to bring it back the next day. Tuesday January 13 2026 1:51pm justin green - service advisor called to inform that they were unable to replicate the issue and that my keys are at the front desk. 2:45 spoke with service manager who advised me to continue driving the vehicle and bring it back if it happens again. He suspected that because it was snowing the day of the incidents, that the issue may have been caused by moisture.

The car is making a knocking sound while driving at low speeds (ex. Pulling into the garage, reversing into a parking spot) while turning the wheel. The 2023 Pilot is currently at the dealership being inspected. I have come across many other posts, with video, confirming this exact sound with the same assessment - all pointing to the steering rack (although some fixes only being temporary so the part itself might be defective). This is a newer lease and I am not convinced it is safe to drive in with this issue.

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Power steering high pressure line leaking on exhaust and almost caused fire dangerous. Lines need to be recall or replace.

All of the lights on the dash came on and the power steering stopped working while driving on the highway. I was in the number one lane and had to merge across four lanes to pull over with no power steering. I shut the car off and waited a few minutes. The lights were still on the dash but the power steering was working. This is the second time this has happened in the last two weeks.

I began driving the vehicle and the steering locked up. An error message presented stating that there was an issue with the steering and to see the dealer. This is a severe safety issue. Kids were in the car and this could have lead to a severe accident. It has been inspected and confirmed by fox Honda grand rapids. There were no indicators/warnings prior to the incident.

My vehicle has 1,500 miles on it. Last time I drove it from work back home was Friday 11/21 and nothing was wrong. Got back in the car Sunday 11/23 and my engine light was blinking and all kinds of warnings were displaying such as engine, break, and steering problems. My wife and I noticed the car vibrating a lot and I had to drive 20mph. If not the car felt like it was going to shut down.

Tonight, 11/8/2025 at 7pm mt, while traveling straight at 25-30 mph, power steering suddenly failed and vehicle reported that awd failed with only front wheels powered. Many other failure warnings simultaneously appeared on dash (collision detection, lkas, parking assist, etc). The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. My family's safety was put at risk. Sudden loss of power steering is very surprising to the driver, combined with the dash reporting a multitude of failure warnings all at once. If we had been driving on the freeway at speed or in the middle of a turn this would have been a very serious safety issue, easily leading to a collision given the sudden change in steering input needed. If traveling in snow or ice, losing awd suddenly would also have been a serious safety issue. No one has inspected the vehicle since the incident, this just happened tonight. The vehicle has only 5,700 miles on it, was serviced by the dealer within the last couple hundred miles to repair all outstanding recalls, and I have had no other issues with the vehicle. There was no warning about and issues with the vehicle prior to this incident. The only thing out of the ordinary immediately prior to the incident is that my phone wasn't able to pair to the infotainment system (which never happens).

Steering locked up with all warning lights lite up. No control over vehicle. Yes this put all people in the vehicle at risk of death or injury. This happened at an intersection while making a turn-no other vehicles were at the intersection- if there had been or had this happened entering an interstate highway or turning onto a high speed road could have been hit from several directions. Not repeated. Must have been confirmed by dealer as they hooked up the computer with Honda headquarters and said the starter was at fault. No prior symptoms. It is available for inspection. Killing the engine and restarting cleared the dash lights and was able to turn afterwards.

Engine failure while on highway traffic in construction zone caused engine shut off, losing power steering and odd braking. I was driving on a split 4 lane highway (2 lanes each direction), with a large ditch median between the directional lanes. My direction had construction cones for several miles limiting traffic to 1 lane, still at a 65 mph speed limit with heavy semi traffic. The right lane was closed for construction, so all traffic was lined in left lane, though maintaining the speed limit. A few hundred yards into the construction my check engine light came on, and then after a minute or so it started blinking but there was no place to pull over safely. I reduced speed and semi traffic was lining up behind me. Then the engine and rest of car shut off, losing power steering. I ended up weaving into the construction part and was finally able to stop but not without danger to myself and others. Motor would restart but sounded terrible and I did not feel safe driving further and did not have faith it would make it far, especially since I'd have to re-enter the highway construction traffic. I had it towed to local mechanic, who diagnosed the problem as a piston rod bearing spin/stuck, or in other words a spun/slipped rod/crank bearing.

Driving down a 4 lane highway in alabama, warning lamp came on stating “ stop steering assist reduced. Stop driving when safe”. Multiple other warnings lights came on—-brake system, steering system, cruise control, lane departure, stability assist system, hill assist, trailer stability assist system(see multiple photos attached). When it was safe to do so, I pulled over…the steering was very difficult to manage. If I had to make a turn in traffic or had to make a sudden turn to avoid an accident, I would not have been able to do so as there was no power steering. I turned the car off, let it sit for several minutes and the steering assist warning was off and I appeared to have power steering but several others lights were still on. Took the car the the closet dealer and only code found was a low voltage code but nothing repaired as all warnings lights were off by then.

The contact owns a 2005 Honda Pilot. The contact stated that while driving 25-35 mph, the vehicle slowed down unexpectedly, and the brake pedal was hard and slow to respond when depressed. The contact stated that the steering wheel was pulling to the left, and it was difficult to correct the steering wheel. The vehicle was difficult to control. The vsa light was illuminated. There was a triangle with an exclamation mark symbol displayed on the instrument cluster. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the vsa module had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired because the parts were on backorder. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 173,273.

I am reporting a serious safety issue with my vehicle related to the steering system. The steering cable reel is binding up, causing difficulty or resistance when turning the steering wheel. This issue affects steering at any speed, making driving unpredictable and unsafe. I am very concerned for my safety, as this could lead to a sudden loss of steering control, putting myself and others at risk. I have brought the vehicle to the dealership, and they have confirmed the problem. They will be replacing the steering cable reel. However, I know there has been many issues with the 2025 Honda Pilot's, and I believe this issue could be another potential defect and may affect other vehicles as well. It needs to be investigated to prevent possible accidents.

Our 2024 Honda Pilot started with a grinding noise in the steering. Our Pilot only has 011,208 miles on it. We took to the dealer and they said the steering rack needs replacing but its ok to continuing driving. The dealer will order the part. Its beend 3 weeks still no part. What happens on all these Pilots if the steering rack freezes up?.

Unknown.

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While driving straight, my 2019 Honda Pilot activates collision “brake” warnings and applies steering wheel torque when there are no vehicles or obstacles present. The system intervenes unexpectedly and repeatedly. The attached documents show that I reported this issue to a Honda dealership and Honda customer relations (case #16094868). No diagnosis has been completed yet. This is a safety concern.

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