ServiceNews Article - When removing and installing a cable reel, you need to keep both the cable reel and the steering angle sensor in position. If you don't , the VSA indicator may come on along with one or more VSA DTCs. And when you run the Neutral Memorization Procedure in the i-HDS, it won't complete.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2015 Honda CR-V steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2015 Honda CR-V have filed 45 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 11,800 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
45
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2011 CR-V | 10 |
| 2012 CR-V | 35 |
| 2013 CR-V | 15 |
| 2014 CR-V | 15 |
| 2015 CR-V (this page) | 45 |
| 2016 CR-V | 17 |
| 2017 CR-V | 57 |
| 2018 CR-V | 315 |
| 2019 CR-V | 184 |
1crash
What stands out
Owners have filed 45 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.
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.
Dealer Message - On December 2, 2015, Honda issued Service Bulletin 15-046 "Vibration While Driving and/or Stopped in Gear." This Service Bulletin and the product enhancements provided therein were intended to address complaints by some 2015 CR-V customers that they were experiencing unpleasant vibration.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗"Dealer message - On December 2, 2015, Honda issued Service Bulletin 15-046 "Vibration While Driving and/or Stopped in Gear." This Service Bulletin and the product enhancements provided therein were intended to address complaints by some 2015 CR-V customers that they were experiencing unpleasant vibration. In December 2015, several class action lawsuits were filed relating to the vibration issue. Among other things, the plaintiffs alleged that when they complained about unpleasant vibration, some dealers indicated that the vibration did not exist, was an unknown issue or could not be addressed. These allegations were disputed throughout the litigation."
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners report a systematic vibration problem across the entire 2015 CR-V steering and chassis. The vibration occurs primarily at idle in Drive mode (600-1200 RPM), during acceleration between 1000-2000 RPM, and at highway speeds (55+ MPH). Owners describe it as shaking felt through the steering wheel, seats, pedals, doors, and floor—severe enough to cause hand numbness, back pain, and fatigue on extended drives.
The Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) malfunctions when towing, over-correcting the steering and causing trailer sway at highway speeds despite the owner's manual omitting warnings about LKAS and towing. Several owners report the steering pulling strongly to the left or right, veering without input, or requiring constant correction. Some vehicles lose power steering entirely due to rodent damage to soy-based wiring coating, an issue Honda does not cover under warranty.
Steering-related electrical faults include the power steering assist light illuminating intermittently, locking the steering wheel without warning; steering angle sensor failures producing ratcheting noises; and airbag warning lights remaining lit after steering column replacement attempts. A dealer acknowledged one customer's complaint as a design error with no known remedy at 11,800 miles.
Honda service departments initially dismissed vibration as normal for a 4-cylinder or due to new tires, but later acknowledged it was a known issue under investigation with no fix available. Applied repairs (head rest replacement, motor mounts, radiator bushings, software updates) only relocated vibration or provided minimal relief. Several owners report being directed to wait for a future software update that never materialized.
Same Honda CR-V steering reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2016 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Idle and acceleration vibration—whole vehicle
Severe vibration transmitted throughout cabin, steering wheel, seats, and pedals occurring at idle (600–1200 RPM) in Drive mode and during acceleration (1000–2000 RPM). Owners describe it as a washboard or jackhammer sensation. Vibration also occurs during highway driving at 55+ MPH.
When: Begins within first few weeks to first 1000 miles; worsens over time
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel shakes visibly and audibly; Front and rear seat vibration; Pedal and shifter vibration; Door and console rattling; Hand numbness and fatigue from holding vibrating steering wheel; Back pain and leg numbness after short drives; Difficulty maintaining control at highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Honda applied TSB 15-046 (head rest replacement, motor mount bushings under radiator and transmission, rear tailgate modification). Repairs masked vibration in some areas but relocated it to steering wheel and passenger seat. Software updates and forced wheel balancing offered; dealer stated three separate causes with no fix yet available.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda acknowledged the issue as a known problem across 2015 models with no fix identified. Customer service directed owners to wait for future software update. Some dealers claimed it was 'normal for a 4-cylinder' or advised running the AC to mask it.
Lane Keeping Assist System (LKAS) malfunction during towing
LKAS over-corrects steering input when trailer hits bumps, causing dangerous trailer sway and loss of vehicle control at highway speed. Owner's manual contains no warning about LKAS use while towing.
When: Occurs when towing a 1100-lb trailer with LKAS enabled at 70 MPH
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel jerks back and forth; Trailer sways uncontrollably; Vehicle becomes difficult to control; Problem does not occur when LKAS is disabled
Repairs/costs cited: Owner turned off LKAS to restore safe towing; trailer pulled normally thereafter. No repair performed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: American Honda case #04800645 opened but no response reported. Owner's manual lacks towing-related warnings for LKAS.
Steering pull left or right—loss of directional stability
Vehicle pulls strongly to the left or right without driver input, requiring constant one-handed correction. Veering occurs during acceleration, at speed, and on curves. Some instances involve steering wheel turning opposite to driver input.
When: Occurs within first weeks of ownership through higher mileage (11,793–50,000 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Left or right pull under acceleration; Vehicle does not maintain center position without excessive intervention; Steering response does not reflect driver input; Dangerous veering on two-lane roads; Loss of control on curves
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer diagnosed power steering assist control module failure; vehicle was repaired but failure reoccurred. One dealer stated the cause was a design error with no known remedy. Most attempts resulted in no resolution.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One failure related to NHTSA Campaign 17V305000 (Engine); no recall applied. Most complaints not addressed by manufacturer.
Power steering loss—rodent damage to soy-based wiring harness
Power steering sub-harness chewed by rodents, causing abrupt loss of power steering assist. Soy-based wiring coating attracts rodents; traditional wiring on 2004 CR-V was not affected. Multiple repairs required on same vehicle.
When: First occurrence at 3020 miles; recurrences at 4434 miles, 5045 miles, 16,660 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering light illuminates without warning; Steering wheel locks or becomes extremely stiff; Difficult to turn wheel at highway speeds; Occurs while driving and while parked
Repairs/costs cited: Power steering sub-harness replaced twice; third failure resulted in tow and repair. One dealer applied electrical tape as temporary fix (deemed insufficient). Rodent-proof tape available but not offered by dealers.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda does not cover rodent damage under warranty. No recall issued. Dealers took no responsibility and denied rodent-proofing measures. Costs $250+ per repair.
Power steering assist control module failure—intermittent warning light
Power steering assist warning light illuminates intermittently, causing steering to stiffen without warning. Light may not illuminate until wheel is already stiff. Turning vehicle off and on may temporarily reset the issue.
When: Occurs intermittently at various speeds and during various driving conditions; no predictable pattern
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering warning light comes on sporadically; Steering wheel stiffens suddenly; Steering becomes very difficult at highway speeds; No warning before steering assist loss
Codes mentioned: Power steering system code
Repairs/costs cited: Mechanic advised electronic power steering motor replacement as only solution. No documented repairs completed in complaints reviewed.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No manufacturer response documented in narratives.
Steering wheel sensor noise and steering column defects
Ratcheting noise from steering wheel occurs during all turns. Dealer initially replaced steering wheel sensor; steering wheel controls subsequently failed. Upon second visit, steering wheel column required replacement. Airbag warning light illuminated shortly after column replacement.
When: At 11,000 miles (purchased February 2015, tested October 2015)
Symptoms owners cite: Ratcheting noise during turns; Steering wheel control buttons stop functioning; Airbag warning light remains illuminated after repair
Repairs/costs cited: Steering wheel sensor replaced 10/6/15; steering wheel controls repaired 10/7/15. Noise returned days later. Steering wheel column replaced 10/26/15. Airbag indicator light appeared 11/14/15; vehicle returned to dealer for diagnosis.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No response from Honda documented. Service advisors stated this was unusual for a new vehicle and expressed concern about manufacturing defects.
Uncontrolled acceleration and loss of braking during parking
Engine accelerated uncontrollably when owner attempted to turn off vehicle while parked. Brakes, horn, and power steering did not respond. Vehicle traveled approximately 300 feet before engine shut down.
When: During parking maneuver in department store lot
Symptoms owners cite: Engine accelerated without driver input; Brake pedal ineffective; Horn unresponsive; Power steering unresponsive; Grinding transmission noise; Vehicle continued moving uncontrolled
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle towed. Deployment computer inspection revealed no codes. Insurance investigating. Owner seeking Honda investigation of other computer systems.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Police deployment report obtained but full investigation by Honda not documented.
ABS module failure—warning lights and sticking rear brakes
ABS, traction control, and steering warning lights illuminated at startup. Dealer diagnosed ABS module failure but part was unavailable. Independent mechanic confirmed diagnosis and referenced Technical Service Bulletin C0044-4-9 (rear brakes sticking after bleeding with park brake set).
When: At approximately 89,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: ABS warning light illuminated; Traction control warning light illuminated; Steering warning light illuminated
Codes mentioned: ABS module failure code (per TSB C0044-4-9)
Repairs/costs cited: ABS module replacement required but part unavailable at dealer. Independent mechanic could perform repair at owner's expense. No recall coverage.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda confirmed no recall applies. Owner charged out-of-pocket for independent repair.
Engine control sensor corrosion—loss of power on hill
All warning lights illuminated while driving down a steep hill. Engine power dropped severely; vehicle barely made it home. Corrosion found between engine wire harness and sensor connector.
When: At 47,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Multiple warning lights illuminated simultaneously; Severe loss of engine power; Difficult to maintain vehicle speed
Repairs/costs cited: Crank sensor connector, O-ring, and intake manifold gasket replaced. Repair cost $1002.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer had no immediate explanation; initially claimed they could not reproduce issue by starting (without driving).
Synthesized from 45 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 0 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2015 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 2015 Honda CR-V?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 45 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?
Across the 26 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 3,450 and 31,000 miles, with the median around 11,800. A quarter of owners report trouble before 3,450; a quarter make it past 31,000. 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/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.