We bought the 2005 crv se in august 2005, noticed the pttr when we bought it. The dealership said they knew about it and were going to replace the tires. After 6 visits to the dealership(replacing tires, switching wheels, aligning, aligning, aligning, etc.)the problem still exists. I do not feel safe when driving this car because of the consistent pttr and awkward driving experience. Honda needs…
2005 Honda CR-V steering problems
moderate 23 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
1crash
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 20 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Pull to the right dominates these 23 complaints. Most owners describe either a sharp rightward steer under hard acceleration (torque steer)—with one reporting a 45-degree angle within 20 feet from a stop—or a constant, gentler pull present all the time, requiring unrelenting left-hand pressure to hold the wheel straight.
Owners tried standard fixes: alignments (some did this 4 to 6 times), tire rotations, wheel balances, and pressure checks. Dealers applied TSB work on upper spring seals and tire changes. Nothing worked. Multiple owners confirmed their own CR-Vs and other 2005 models on dealer lots had identical problems.
Honda's response: the pull is a vehicle characteristic, within spec, not a defect. Dealers admitted they knew about the issue but said there was no fix because Honda engineering would not acknowledge it as a problem worth correcting.
Secondary issues included steering column tilt adjuster that would not lock in place, letting the column flop up and down while driving, and one report of power steering fluid leaking from a hose. One owner's vehicle flipped during a rightward pull, another hit a curb hard enough to blow two tires, and one had the steering wheel slip from her hands under acceleration.
Owners felt unsafe, and some called for an NHTSA recall or enforcement action.
Same Honda CR-V steering reports on nearby years: 2006 · 2007 · 2008
Failure modes owners describe
Pull to Right (PTTR) — Acceleration/Torque Steer
Vehicle pulls or steers sharply to the right under acceleration, with severity increasing as throttle input increases. Multiple owners report the effect is negligible or absent during coasting, and alignment checks do not resolve it. One owner describes a 45-degree angle after 20 feet from a dead stop; another reports two lanes of rightward drift in three seconds. Owners and dealers attribute this to torque steer from the V-Tec engine.
When: Immediately noticeable within first weeks to months of ownership; occurs from 0–65+ mph under acceleration
Symptoms owners cite: Severe rightward pull during hard acceleration; Mild to moderate pull during gentle acceleration; No pull during coasting or constant speed; Pull present even on flat, non-crowned surfaces; Steering wheel may slip from hands if not gripped firmly; Vehicle drifts into adjacent lanes on highway
Repairs/costs cited: Wheel balancing, tire changes, wheel rotation, four-wheel alignment, and upper spring seal angle adjustment (TSB) performed at dealerships; none resolved the issue. One owner notes TSB #03-004 exists for 2002–2003 models only. Dealers state problem is within manufacturer specifications or characteristic of the vehicle.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda states condition is 'characteristic of the vehicle' and declines repair under warranty. TSB #03-004 referenced for earlier model years. Some dealers cite TSB implementation without resolution. No recall issued for 2005 model year.
Pull to Right (PTTR) — General/Constant
Continuous rightward pull regardless of acceleration, present during normal cruising and even on flat surfaces. Owners report needing constant left-hand pressure on steering wheel and inability to hold a straight line without active steering correction.
When: Present from purchase or early in ownership; constant throughout use
Symptoms owners cite: Constant mild to severe pull to the right; Vehicle drifts right if hands released from wheel; Uneven tire wear on right side; Requires continuous corrective steering; Problem persists on level roads
Repairs/costs cited: Alignment performed multiple times (up to 6 visits by one owner); tire rotation, tire replacement, wheel balancing, and pressure checks conducted; no fix achieved. Mechanics confirm alignment is within spec.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers state problem is within manufacturer specifications or inherent to front-wheel-drive vehicles. No repairs offered; referred to American Honda, which declined involvement.
Steering Column Tilt Adjuster — Lock Failure
Tilt adjustment mechanism fails to remain locked in position, causing steering column to move up and down while driving. Owner had to manually hold adjuster lock in place until it re-engaged.
When: 12,000 miles on one vehicle; 25,000 miles on another
Symptoms owners cite: Steering column moves vertically while driving; Tilt adjuster does not stay locked; Adjuster remains in dropped/unlocked position; Hazard when entering or exiting vehicle (risk of leg catch)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer inspection revealed no defect; stated tilt adjuster was functioning as designed. No repairs made.
Vibration in Steering Wheel
Steering wheel vibration at specific speeds (45, 50, 60–70 mph), persisting after multiple dealer interventions including strut replacement, wheel balancing, and tire changes.
When: Within first three weeks of ownership; noticeable at highway speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel vibration at 45 mph; Steering wheel vibration at 50 mph; Steering wheel vibration at 60–70 mph; Vibration does not resolve with balancing or strut service
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer replaced one tire, re-calibrated balancing machine, and replaced struts (claimed misinstallation by manufacturer). Vibration persisted after all interventions.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer stated vibration is 'characteristic of the vehicle' after dealership checked three other CR-Vs on lot and confirmed they exhibited same or worse vibration.
Power Steering Fluid Leak
Power steering hose leaks hydraulic fluid. Owner notes similar recall exists for Honda Accord but not for CR-V, and expresses concern about fire risk.
When: <UNKNOWN>
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering fluid visible leaking from hose
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued for 2005 CR-V; Accord has recall for same issue.
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2005 Honda CR-V?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the steering problem on the 2005 Honda CR-V?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 23 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $700 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 23 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 37,097 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $700 for steering repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to steering?
No active recalls currently cover steering issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2005/Honda/CR-V.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.