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 ↗2016 Honda Accord steering problems
severe Owners of the 2016 Honda Accord have filed 30 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 36,000 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
30
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2012 Accord | 51 |
| 2013 Accord | 497 |
| 2014 Accord | 138 |
| 2015 Accord | 77 |
| 2016 Accord (this page) | 30 |
| 2017 Accord | 24 |
| 2018 Accord | 58 |
| 2019 Accord | 27 |
| 2020 Accord | 20 |
3crashes
1fire
3injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 30 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.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2016 Honda Accord steering complaints cluster around six distinct failure modes. Electric power steering loss is the most common: steering wheel becomes heavy or locks without warning, sometimes at highway speeds, sometimes during parking. Owners report temporary resets after restarting the engine, but the problem recurs. Dealers repeatedly claim to find nothing wrong during inspection.
VSA/ABS module failure affects braking and traction control. Owners report the issue is widespread in 2013–2017 Accord model years and prevents passing state safety inspections. New modules cost $2,500, are backordered months, and none are available in stock. Honda has not issued a recall despite numerous NHTSA complaints.
Uncontrolled drifting—where the vehicle veers left or right at highway speeds without driver input—occurs on both straight roads and curves. Wheel alignment and tire service do not fix it; dealers blame road crown instead of the steering system.
Two documented steering wheel seizures resulted in crashes and injuries at low mileage. One owner reported a battery fire caused by a loose metal bracket contacting the positive terminal, resulting in temporary electrical shutdown of steering and engine.
Dealers consistently deny problems exist, even when owners return multiple times. Extended warranties mentioned for earlier model years do not clearly cover 2016 vehicles. Owners note this represents a serious safety risk, especially on highways.
Same Honda Accord steering reports on nearby years: 2013 · 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018
Failure modes owners describe
Electric Power Steering Failure/Loss
Complete or partial loss of electric power steering assistance, often without warning. Steering wheel becomes extremely heavy or locks up, making the vehicle difficult or impossible to control. Failures occur at various speeds and sometimes reset after restarting the engine.
When: Varies; some at highway speeds (35-70 mph), some during parking maneuvers, some at low city speeds (20-40 mph). Failures reported at mileage as low as 106 miles and up to 48,000 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes very heavy or impossible to turn; Loss of power steering control without warning; Steering wheel suddenly tightens or seizes; Steering wheel locks up during reverse or parking; Loose, choppy steering when returning to center; Loss of control feeling through steering column; Steering light illuminates on dashboard
Codes mentioned: Electric Power Steering code, Steering system warning light
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers often cannot find anything wrong during inspection. Some owners report temporary fixes after engine restart, but issues recur. Extended warranty approval mentioned in one case; no specific parts or costs cited for steering repairs.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Extended warranty of 100,000 miles offered for 2013 model year (mentioned for 2013 Accord); unclear if extended to 2016 model year. Owner reports vehicle not covered by battery sensor recall. Dealers claim no issues detected despite repeated complaints.
VSA/ABS Module Failure
VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) and ABS (Anti-Lock Brake System) modules fail, affecting braking and traction control. Owners report the issue affects millions in the 2013-2017 Honda Accord model years and prevents passing state safety inspections. No VSA modules available in inventory; Honda has not issued a recall despite widespread complaints.
When: Reported across 2013-2017 model years; specific mileage varies.
Symptoms owners cite: VSA light illuminates; ABS light illuminates; Traction control no longer functions; ABS system does not work; Loss of traction during driving; Brake assist failure
Codes mentioned: VSA system codes, ABS system codes
Repairs/costs cited: New ABS brake module quoted at $2,500 from dealer, on back order for 3 months. Owner shipped module to California for repair; out of vehicle for 3+ weeks awaiting repair. No VSA modules available in the States; Honda has not provided ETA for parts.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall issued despite numerous complaints. Honda corporate contacted by owners; no response action reported. Issue reported to NHTSA multiple times; no recall action taken.
Vehicle Drift/Uncontrolled Steering Response
Vehicle drifts left or right without driver input, sometimes described as sliding on ice or uncontrolled drifting. Occurs in straight-line driving and during curves. Wheel alignment and tire pressure checks do not resolve the issue.
When: At speeds ranging from 35-70 mph on highways and city streets. Lasts 20-30 seconds in one case.
Symptoms owners cite: Car drifts left or right uncontrollably; Vehicle slides as if on ice; No control felt through steering wheel; Vehicle veers into different lanes or off road; Continues despite wheel alignment and tire rotation; No warning lights in some cases
Repairs/costs cited: Wheel alignment performed; expensive Continental tires rotated front-to-rear. Drift persists after dealer service. Dealers blame road crown or hills rather than steering system defect.
Steering System Electrical Malfunction (Power Loss/Reset Events)
Temporary loss of electrical power to steering and engine systems, with automatic reset after seconds or engine restart. In one case, loss of power also caused battery fire due to a loose metal bracket contacting the positive terminal.
When: Reported at low mileage; one incident occurred with vehicle smoke entering cabin.
Symptoms owners cite: Dashboard loses electricity for 2-3 seconds; Engine stalls; Power steering control lost temporarily; Electrical components reset automatically; In one case: battery terminal caught fire (melted 1/4 of battery, other plastic engine parts slightly melted)
Repairs/costs cited: Battery fire case: metal bracket holding battery in place loosened and contacted positive terminal. Dealer charged $160 minimum for diagnosis. Battery replaced (partially melted); other plastic engine parts slightly melted.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Vehicle not covered under battery sensor recall per dealer. Dealership supervisor directed owner to bring in vehicle but charged for diagnosis without clear warranty coverage.
Steering Wheel Seizure
Steering wheel suddenly seizes or locks completely, rendering the vehicle unable to be steered. Occurs without warning and can result in loss of vehicle control and collision.
When: One documented crash at 35 mph and 106 miles on odometer; another seizure at 25 mph with 575 miles.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel seizes without warning; Complete inability to turn steering wheel; Loss of vehicle control; Vehicle crashes as a result
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle crashed into telephone pole at 35 mph; airbags deployed. Driver sustained neck, back, right arm, and left knee injuries requiring medical attention. Vehicle was destroyed. No repairs documented—vehicle was totaled.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not made aware of failures in these two cases.
Steering System Stiffness/Immobility
Steering becomes stiff, rigid, or immobile, particularly during low-speed maneuvers. Steering wheel cannot be turned, even with effort.
When: During parallel parking and low-speed reversing.
Symptoms owners cite: Steering becomes stiff or rigid; Steering wheel cannot be turned; Occurs during reverse and parking maneuvers
Synthesized from 30 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 2016 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 2016 Honda Accord?
It's a meaningful issue. 30 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 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 10,900 and 55,000 miles, with the median around 36,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 10,900; a quarter make it past 55,000. 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/2016/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.