I brought the car used certified with 6,800 miles. After a week of driving, the car feels like it has a mind of it own,I don't have full control of the car. Every time I hit a bump the car will swing left and right. Or when I'm going over 55 MPH on the highway, the car moves left and right by it self. Something feels loose, I was driving local on 11/25/12 and made a left turn, the engine just…
2011 Honda Accord steering problems
severe Owners of the 2011 Honda Accord have filed 20 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 45,000 miles at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2007 Accord | 44 |
| 2008 Accord | 33 |
| 2009 Accord | 30 |
| 2010 Accord | 18 |
| 2011 Accord (this page) | 20 |
| 2012 Accord | 51 |
| 2013 Accord | 497 |
| 2014 Accord | 138 |
| 2015 Accord | 77 |
2crashes
When does it fail?
Of the 20 steering complaints filed for the 2011 Honda Accord, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 13 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report two major steering issues: chronic vibration and shimmy that dealers can't fix, and power steering rack leaks at unexpectedly low mileage.
The vibration problem shows up early in ownership—sometimes within six months—as shimmy and shaking in the steering wheel that spreads throughout the entire car. Multiple owners took their cars in five or more times for the same complaint. Honda dealers and factory reps have replaced tires (sometimes twice), wheels, axles, and rotors but found no cure. Factory representatives have admitted they cannot identify the root cause and refused warranty coverage, claiming the shimmy is "normal." Owners report the problem worsens as mileage climbs.
Power steering rack failures occur at 46k to 70k miles, well before or just at the edge of the 36k-mile warranty cutoff. Owners describe fluid leaks, cracking in the rack, whirring noise, and smoke from the engine bay. Repair costs run $600 to $1500 or more. Honda had recalls for this same defect on 2007–2010 Accords but not on the 2011 model year, despite the pattern of reports.
Owners also report sudden loss of power steering control during operation (steering becoming "uncontrollable" or locking up), intermittent power loss during rain, and one documented VSA modulator failure that resulted in simultaneous loss of steering and brakes at highway speed. These failure modes vary in frequency and cause, but all left owners without safe steering control at critical moments.
Same Honda Accord steering reports on nearby years: 2009 · 2010 · 2012 · 2013 · 2014
Failure modes owners describe
Steering shimmy/vibration
Steering wheel and front-end vibration that persists regardless of tire, wheel, axle, or rotor replacement. Multiple owners report the problem worsens with mileage and cannot be resolved by Honda dealers or factory representatives.
When: Early in ownership (6 months to 9k miles); worsens over time
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel shimmy and vibration; Vibration throughout entire vehicle; Problem occurs at 50+ mph on highway; Persists despite repeated tire balancing and component replacement
Repairs/costs cited: Honda replaced tires (Michelin Pilot, then Bridgestone Serenity) multiple times, balanced tires repeatedly, replaced both front axles, replaced both front rotors, replaced wheels with aftermarket BBS wheels. No resolution achieved.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda dealers and factory reps acknowledge the problem but state it is not related to tires, wheels, or drivetrain and claim it is 'normal.' Honda USA refuses to provide buyback despite dealer acknowledgment that the problem cannot be fixed.
Power steering fluid leak - rack and pinion
Power steering rack develops cracks or seal failures, allowing steering fluid to leak. Owners report this at low mileage (46k–70k miles). At least one case involved smoke and near fire risk. Prior recalls existed for 2007–2010 model years but not applied to 2011.
When: 46k–70k miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering fluid leak; Whirring noise from engine compartment; Smoke from right side of engine; Loss of power steering or reduced steering control
Repairs/costs cited: Rack and pinion replacement estimated at $600–$1500 or more. Owners note prior recalls for 2007–2010 Accords but not 2011 model year.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls for 2011 model year. Dealers note this is unusual for low mileage and deny warranty coverage if outside the 36k-mile warranty period.
Loss of power steering control during operation
Owner experiences sudden loss of steering control or sudden difficulty turning the steering wheel. In one case, steering became uncontrollable and the wheel turned in a circle at highway speeds. Another owner reported steering failure during a low-speed turn that resulted in vehicle striking objects and a parked car.
When: 104k miles (one case); varies for others
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel became uncontrollable; Steering wheel turned in a circle; Sudden loss of steering control; Difficult to turn steering wheel; Vehicle ping-ponged from curb to curb with no steering control
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed; not diagnosed or repaired in at least one case. Another case involved low-speed maneuver resulting in property damage and vehicle contact.
VSA modulator fault causing loss of steering and brakes
VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) modulator unit failed, resulting in simultaneous loss of steering and braking. Vehicle spun violently across highway. Trouble code indicated failing VSA modulator.
When: 104k miles (incident occurred at 11:39 a.m. on 8/15/2023)
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of steering; Complete loss of brakes; Violent spinning across highway; ABS warning light illuminated; Stability control warning light illuminated
Codes mentioned: VSA modulator fault
Repairs/costs cited: Scan tool revealed trouble code for failing or faulty VSA modulator. Vehicle spun multiple times on highway and came to rest in soft sand without striking other vehicles.
Steering difficulty during rain or wet conditions
Owner reports steering wheel became difficult to turn during rain or after driving through water. Battery warning light also illuminated. Problem occurred on multiple occasions but could not be reproduced by dealer.
When: 85k miles; multiple occurrences during rain
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel difficult to turn; Battery warning light illuminated; Intermittent failure during rain or wet driving conditions
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle taken to dealer; unable to duplicate failure and no repair performed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer unable to duplicate and did not repair.
Intermittent loss of power and electrical warning
Owner experiences loss of power and battery warning light illumination following low-speed turns in wet conditions. Power returns within seconds. Problem recurs but not consistently.
When: During rain while turning at 5 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Loss of power during turns in rain; Battery warning light illuminated; Power returns within 5 seconds; Intermittent occurrence during rain
Steering system vibration unrelated to steering column
Owner reports excessive steering vibration throughout vehicle. Multiple dealer visits (five or more) unable to resolve the issue.
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive steering vibration; Vibration travels throughout vehicle
Repairs/costs cited: Multiple dealer visits without resolution.
Front-end shaking at highway speeds
Front of vehicle shakes excessively at 50+ mph. Shaking is worst during the first few miles after starting but never fully resolves. Persists for over a year despite dealer inspection.
When: Onset at 50+ mph; persists over one year
Symptoms owners cite: Severe shaking of front end at 50+ mph; Worst during first 3 miles of daily driving; Requires slowing or stopping to feel safe; Continuous low-level vibration
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer reported nothing wrong.
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
The rack and pinion needs to be replaced with just over 63k miles. This appears to be a common occurrence amongst 2008-2012 Honda Accords but it appears Honda is ignoring the issue. I have included a forum of complaints from owners that have very low mileage. Could you please look into this? [XXX] [XXX] , [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C.…
At approximately 50+ MPH the front of the car shakes. This has been going on for almost over an year. I took it to the dealership, said nothing is wrong. It starts to shake so bad that you have to let up on the accelerator and almost stop, before you feel safe enough to continue on. Shaking is the worse for the first 3 miles at the start of the day but never seems to completely goes away. *tr
Had steering trouble with your 2011 Honda Accord?
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 2011 Honda Accord?
It's a meaningful issue. 20 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 13 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 20,000 and 56,057 miles, with the median around 45,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 20,000; a quarter make it past 56,057. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
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/2011/Honda/Accord.
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.