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full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Honda Accord steering problems
severe Owners of the 2015 Honda Accord have filed 77 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 55,000 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
77
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 Accord | 20 |
| 2012 Accord | 51 |
| 2013 Accord | 497 |
| 2014 Accord | 138 |
| 2015 Accord (this page) | 77 |
| 2016 Accord | 30 |
| 2017 Accord | 24 |
| 2018 Accord | 58 |
| 2019 Accord | 27 |
12crashes
1fire
8injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 77 steering complaints filed for the 2015 Honda Accord, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ 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 77 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.
Among the 18 model years of Honda Accord in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering steering on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
A RUBBING OR GROANING IS HEARD FROM THE DRIVERS FRONT AIRBAG MODULE WHILE TURNING THE STEERING WHEEL.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners describe multiple distinct steering failures in the 2015 Accord. The most alarming involves the steering wheel jerking or pulling sharply left or right without driver input—sometimes at highway speeds—causing vehicles to cross lanes, hit guardrails, or veer onto shoulders. Several crashes resulted from uncontrolled steering; in one case a vehicle lost steering at 75 mph and went off a bridge embankment.
Electronic power steering failures are common: the assist suddenly stops working, making the wheel stiff and hard to turn. Owners report intermittent failures requiring engine restarts to regain function, and some had power steering replaced multiple times without permanent fix. Warning lights (EPS, VSA, ABS) often illuminate together.
A widespread issue involves VSA solenoid module failure inside the ABS modulator. When it fails, owners see a cluster of warning lights (ABS, steering, VSA, forward collision, lane departure) and the entire $2,764–$3,800 modulator must be replaced—the solenoid cannot be serviced separately.
Some owners report the vehicle restarting unexpectedly while turning, or the steering wheel locking completely. One case involved rodent damage to the wiring harness. Steering wheel control buttons also fail to respond.
Dealers have struggled to reproduce these failures during diagnostics, and some told owners they found nothing wrong—despite videos and repeated incidents. Honda has not issued recalls for these reported defects.
Same Honda Accord steering reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Electronic Power Steering (EPS) Module Failure
Electric power steering system loses function or becomes inoperative, causing the steering wheel to become stiff and difficult to turn. Often accompanied by EPS warning light illumination. Owners report the failure can be intermittent or complete loss of assist.
When: Occurs across a wide range of mileages, from 8,000 miles to 130,000+ miles, with several reports in the 50,000–95,000 mile range
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes very hard to turn; Electric Power Steering warning light illuminates; Loss of power steering assist; Intermittent steering difficulty that may resolve after engine restart; Steering may fail suddenly while driving at highway speeds
Codes mentioned: DTC 53-02
Repairs/costs cited: Rack and pinion replacement ($2,000–$2,837); EPAS module replacement; electrical harness repair; in some cases multiple repairs have not resolved the issue permanently
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Some Honda dealers have replaced EPAS modules and steering racks under warranty; warranty coverage denied for out-of-warranty vehicles; dealer diagnostics may show no stored codes even when failure is present
Steering Wheel Unintended Movement / Loss of Control
Steering wheel jerks, pulls, or turns on its own without driver input. Vehicle may veer sharply left or right, cross lanes, or turn into guardrails, medians, or off the roadway. Some incidents involve complete loss of steering response to driver input.
When: Occurs across various speeds (25–75 mph) and mileages (29,000–95,000+ miles); some incidents happen within first few years of ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel jerks or pulls sharply left or right without driver input; Vehicle veers into opposing lane or off roadway; Steering wheel becomes difficult to turn or unresponsive; Multiple sudden direction changes in quick succession; Steering wheel locks or seizes; Vehicle pulls persistently to one side (often right)
Repairs/costs cited: Loose steering wheel column shaft reported by independent mechanic; alignment checks often show no issues; some dealers cannot reproduce the problem during test drives; independent mechanics have found rough front suspension and knocking sounds from steering column
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Some dealers claim the failure cannot be duplicated or reproduced; some diagnostics state issue is 'intermittent' and cannot be addressed; dealer service centers report being unable to determine the cause; manufacturer has been informed in some cases but refused to investigate or provide assistance
VSA/ABS Solenoid Module Malfunction
VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) solenoid valves inside the ABS modulator fail or fry, triggering multiple dashboard warning lights (ABS, steering, VSA, forward collision warning, lane departure warning). The solenoid cannot be replaced separately; the entire ABS modulator must be replaced at high cost. Braking and traction control are compromised.
When: Reported after icy/winter conditions in some cases; occurs across mileages from 54,000 to 100,000+ miles
Symptoms owners cite: ABS light illuminates; Steering system warning light illuminates; VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) warning light illuminates; Forward Collision Warning (FCW) light illuminates; Lane Departure Warning (LDW) light illuminates; Brake warning light illuminates; Brakes lock during wet conditions; Loss of traction control
Codes mentioned: VSA Brake Actuator Malfunction, ABS Solenoid Malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: ABS modulator with integrated VSA solenoids replacement ($2,764–$3,800); $150 brake fluid exchange required; diagnostic fees ($30–$250); owners report multiple online complaints; some owners replaced knuckle assemblies and ABS speed sensors before discovering the real issue was the solenoid module
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls issued as of complaint dates; manufacturer has not provided warranty coverage for out-of-warranty vehicles; Honda informed one owner that the vehicle was over warranty coverage and provided no further assistance
Steering System Electrical Faults and Restarts
Steering system causes vehicle to shut down and restart unexpectedly, particularly when steering wheel is turned to full lock. Dashboard lights flicker or multiple warning indicators illuminate during the malfunction. Parasitic electrical draw may precede failures.
When: Occurs at various mileages; some reports indicate multiple restarts when steering wheel is turned fully to one side
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle shuts down and restarts unexpectedly while driving; Power Steering light flashes before shutdown; Dashboard lights flicker; Engine surge; Multiple warning lights illuminate simultaneously; Vehicle may restart in the middle of a turn
Repairs/costs cited: One case involved parasitic electrical draw requiring multiple jump starts; Lock cylinder replacement ($660, not covered by extended warranty) was required in one case where key chipped and lock froze; considerable engine knocking reported after restart
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not contacted in most cases; no recalls issued for this failure mode as of complaint dates
Torque Sensor Failure
Torque sensor inside the steering system fails, causing complete loss of power steering assist. Failure can recur even after replacement. Wiring harness damage (e.g., rodent chewing) has been associated with this failure in at least one case.
When: Reported at 29,000 miles in one case; can recur within 31 miles of repair
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of power steering; Steering wheel becomes immovable or extremely difficult to turn; Vehicle loses power steering assist while reversing or moving slowly
Repairs/costs cited: Torque sensor replacement; one repair attempt failed and the same failure recurred after 31 miles; wiring harness damage from rodents discovered at a second repair shop; manufacturer warranty did not cover the failure
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer informed and told owner the vehicle was over warranty coverage; no further assistance provided
Infotainment / Steering Wheel Control Module Malfunction
Steering wheel-mounted audio and cruise control buttons become unresponsive. System firmware or module may require reboot/restart. Issue recurs even after dealer firmware updates or system restarts.
When: Reported early in vehicle ownership (under 9,000 miles); issue recurred on multiple dates (December 2015, January 2016) with multiple firmware updates attempted
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel audio volume buttons unresponsive; Station change buttons on steering wheel unresponsive; Touchscreen input unresponsive; System only works after multiple restarts or the next day
Repairs/costs cited: Firmware update/reboot/system restart; issue persisted after dealer attempted fixes on multiple occasions; owner documented problem with seven video recordings
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer performed firmware reboot and update multiple times; issue recurred immediately; no permanent fix provided; no recall issued
Synthesized from 77 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 3 most recent
My wheel is lock and I can't unlock it. For 3-4 days I've had to wiggle the wheel and keys jus to turn my car on. And it doesn't even let me do that any more
Power Steering did not work when I went out to my car. I took it to Honda and they replaced the power steering rod While I was driving it power steering failed again. Took it back to Honda - replaced electrical panel While I was driving power steering went out again. Back in shop with Honda and saying needs electrical harness repair. Dangerous to drive as you have no control over steering car…
I was driving at about 30 MPH when the steering wheel froze all of a sudden and Electric Power Steering Malfunction indicator turned on suddenly. The steering became very hard to turn left or right. I was on a road with light traffic so somehow pulled over to the side with manual strength and turned off power. When I turned back the vehicle, it seemed to be ok and I drove for about a mile, only…
Had steering trouble with your 2015 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 2015 Honda Accord?
It's a meaningful issue. 77 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 31 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 29,000 and 90,000 miles, with the median around 55,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 29,000; a quarter make it past 90,000. 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/2015/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.