About 2000 miles after buying the car I noticed a shake in the steering wheel . We took it too the dealership for a rotate and balance. When we got it back I still felt the shake. We took it back again and they balanced them again (so they say) and still has a shake. I am a mechanic and have been for 12 years, so I took it to the shop and balanced them myself, and it still has a shake. It seems…
2012 Honda Accord steering problems
severe 51 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
51
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
3crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 51 steering complaints filed for the 2012 Honda Accord, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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
Owners have filed 51 steering complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
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
Steering problems dominate the complaint list for this generation Accord. The most common issue is a persistent steering wheel shimmy or vibration at 55–75 mph that appears as early as a few thousand miles and often within the first weeks of ownership. Owners describe visible wheel wobble and vibration felt throughout the vehicle; some report numbness and tingling in their hands after highway driving. Despite repeated dealer visits for wheel balancing, tire rotation, alignment adjustment, and steering rack pre-load tuning, the vibration does not resolve. Honda engineers have acknowledged the problem but offered only adjustments that owners say yield minimal or no improvement. Dealers eventually tell owners the shake is normal for this model or a road condition issue.
Power steering rack leaks are the second major complaint. Fluid seeps from the boot or internal seals starting around 10,000 miles and accelerates by 25,000–55,000 miles. Owners discover slow puddles in the garage or find hard steering as the fluid depletes. Replacement of the entire rack runs $1,600–$2,200. Warranty denials are common, and dealers now report only refurbished racks are available as new parts have been discontinued.
Additional steering troubles include hard steering that worsens over time, noises during turning, and rapid tie rod wear. Some owners also report sudden loss of steering control or steering seizure. The pattern suggests systemic design or manufacturing issues affecting steering durability and performance across multiple model years and owners.
Same Honda Accord steering reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011 · 2013 · 2014 · 2015
Failure modes owners describe
Steering wheel shimmy/vibration at highway speed
Steering wheel shakes, shimmies, or vibrates—often with visible wheel movement—typically between 55–75 mph. Multiple owners report it starts early (under 5,000 miles) and persists after wheel balancing, tire replacement, alignment, and adjustment of steering rack pre-load. Some owners report the vibration worsens when the car is out of warranty. Dealers sometimes claim it is a normal characteristic of the model.
When: Typically emerges under 5,000 miles; some report it from day of purchase or within first few months. Escalates and recurs throughout vehicle ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel shakes or shimmies at 55–75 mph; Visible wheel vibration; Vibration felt in steering wheel and throughout vehicle; Vibration occasionally accompanied by pulling to one side; Numbness/tingling in driver's arms after prolonged highway driving
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers perform wheel balancing, tire rotation, tire replacement, wheel alignment, and steering rack pre-load adjustment; none resolve the issue. Some owners report the engineer adjustment yielded only 90% improvement, with vibration persisting. Dealers eventually tell owners the vehicle is designed to shake or suggest it is a road condition issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda field rep stated sometimes wrong tires are installed. Honda engineers performed radial force balance, indexed all four tires, fine-tuned balance and alignment, and adjusted steering rack pre-load, claiming 90% improvement; owner reported vibration remained. Honda regional managers and representatives told owners the vibration is a normal characteristic of the 2012 Accord. No recall issued despite owner complaints.
Power steering rack leaks
Power steering fluid leaks from the rack, typically from the boot or seal area. Leaks occur at low mileage (under 55,000 miles in most cases). The fluid loss is slow initially, then accelerates. Some owners report cracked seals identified by dealers; others report the leak is discovered only during routine service. Replacement cost cited as approximately $1,600–$2,200.
When: First noticed between 10,000 and 55,000 miles; one case reports leaking since 25,000 miles with replacement at 41,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering fluid visible on garage floor or under vehicle; Steering becomes harder to turn; Whining noise from power steering system; Steering wheel feels stiff, especially at low speeds or when parked
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of power steering rack required. Quoted costs range from $1,350 to over $2,200. Some dealers have offered cost relief after owner push-back. One owner noted new parts no longer made and only refurbished parts available. In some cases, the power steering pump and reservoir also required replacement due to internal damage from leaked fluid debris.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealers initially told some owners the rack is not covered under warranty despite low mileage. One owner stated Honda refused a warranty claim at 53,000 miles and 7 years old. No manufacturer recall or TSB mentioned in narratives.
Hard steering (stiff power steering)
Steering becomes progressively harder to turn, requiring manual effort especially at low speeds, when parked, or making turns. Problem emerges around 40,000–42,000 miles. Owners often find power steering fluid is low or dirty. Technicians sometimes dismiss the issue or incorrectly attribute it to excessive fluid.
When: Emerges around 40,000–42,000 miles; worsens over time.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering requires excessive manual effort to turn, especially at low speed or when stopped; Pain in driver's hands from steering effort; Hard steering worse when air conditioning is on; Whining noise during turning or low-speed maneuvers
Repairs/costs cited: Fluid check and flush performed; eventually steering rack replacement required at cost around $1,350–$1,700. One owner was initially told too much fluid had been added; problem persisted. Technician later identified fluid had leaked into CV boot and steering rack.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific manufacturer response documented in narratives regarding hard steering; dealers performed routine service and repairs.
Steering rack boot seal failure
Rack and pinion boot tears, splits, or fails, allowing power steering fluid to leak and dirt to enter the rack. Diagnosed most often during routine service or after owner notices fluid leak. May be accompanied by violent shaking on turns.
When: Fails around 14,000 miles in at least one case; leaks discovered at 31,000 and 36,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering fluid leak from rack boot area; Violent shaking when turning, especially at low speed; Strange noises when turning steering wheel or applying brakes
Repairs/costs cited: Boot replacement performed; in some cases the entire rack must be replaced if internal damage has occurred.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific manufacturer response documented.
Power steering pump whining/noises
High-pitched whining or grinding noise under the hood, audible at idle and during all speeds, most pronounced during turns or when air conditioning is engaged. Noise continues regardless of vehicle speed. Often associated with low power steering fluid and pump wear or cavitation.
When: Reported after mileage accumulation; one case at approximately 36,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: High-pitched or grinding whining noise under hood; Noise audible at idle and during all speeds; Noise worse during turns, especially roundabouts; Noise present when air conditioning is on
Repairs/costs cited: Power steering flush performed; internal damage to pump identified. In one case, power steering pump, reservoir, and rack all required replacement. Debris in reservoir found causing fluid aeration.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific recall or TSB mentioned; dealers performed repairs.
Suspension/steering component wear and failure
Tie rods, ball joints, and lower suspension components wear out prematurely or fail suddenly. Tie rods wear rapidly, ball joints fail spontaneously without prior warning signs, and worn components cause shaking, vibration, and loss of steering control.
When: Tie rod wear reported as early; ball joint failure at 106,000 miles with no prior warning. One owner complained of tie rod wear from early ownership.
Symptoms owners cite: Shaking and vibrating on highway from worn tie rods; Pulling to one side; Loose steering wheel feel; Loss of steering control over bumps or uneven surfaces; Knocking noise associated with ball joints
Repairs/costs cited: One owner was charged for rod tightening but issue persisted; front left wheel subsequently came off vehicle after dealer service. Ball joint replacement recommended in at least one case.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No specific manufacturer response documented for tie rod or ball joint wear.
Steering system electrical/control issues
Power steering seizure or loss of steering control, sometimes occurring in conjunction with electrical faults (battery, alternator, instrument cluster illumination) or transmission issues (erratic shifting, RPM fluctuation). Vehicle may stall and lose steering and braking simultaneously.
When: Reported at 53,000 miles in one critical case; also reported at low mileage.
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering seized while driving at 30 mph; Loss of steering control causing vehicle to veer; Vehicle struggles to maintain straight line on highway; Brakes locked or failed to respond; Vehicle stalled; Instrument cluster indicators illuminated; Erratic transmission shifting and idle RPM fluctuation
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers were unable to diagnose on first visit; second dealer diagnosed battery and alternator issues and performed repairs, but failure recurred.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer was not notified of the critical steering seizure incident; Honda offered no assistance.
Synthesized from 51 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
The driver side lower ball joint spontaneously failed at 106000 miles. No creaking, whining, clunking, or any indication that it was failing. There were no cracks in the boot and the vehicle drove fine prior to the failure.
Tl* the contact owns a 2012 Honda accord. While driving 30 MPH, the power steering seized, the brakes locked and failed to respond, and the vehicle stalled. Also, the instrument cluster indicators illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer (nardy Honda smithtown, 559 middle county rd, st james, ny 11780), but the vehicle was unable to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not diagnosed or…
From day of purchase brand new, vehicle vibrates (shimmies) at speeds beginning at about 58 MPH and upward. The vibration is felt in the steering wheel, and the wheel can be seen visibly vibrating. Passenger can sense the vibration from sitting in the passenger seat. After four attempts to correct the problem, dealer has failed. *tr the dealer performed a wheel balance and replaced the…
Made an appointment for electric power steering torque sensor recall at schamburg Honda,schamburg ill for which I waited one hour in line and never got into service area. Dealer appears to purposely not want to make mandated repair.,
"takata recall" I started having issues with the car heavily vibrating when the car reached 60,000 which is a concern driving on the highway. If felt unsafe, I first brought it in while under warranty at only 30,000 miles, they said it was cracked seals in the steering rack. The car would shake uncontrollable, vibrate. They fixed it, again it happened at 55,000 miles, then again a few thousand…
Had steering trouble with your 2012 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 2012 Honda Accord?
It's a meaningful issue. 51 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 29 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 10,394 and 62,538 miles, with the median around 35,500. A quarter of owners report trouble before 10,394; a quarter make it past 62,538. 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/2012/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.