Our civic's steering became very 'sticky' around 6 months ago and the problem develops at speed. The steering gets jerky and momentarily gets locked in a position that we need to fight against. We had a service scheduled at Honda and asked them to inspect the issue and they are not able to diagnose the problem correctly. They are deflecting and are suggesting it could be caused by us running over…
2016 Honda Civic steering problems
moderate 423 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
423
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
4crashes
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 423 steering complaints filed for the 2016 Honda Civic, 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
Steering accounts for 40% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 12 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 423 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.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: 2016 Honda Civics have a widespread steering system defect that causes the wheel to stick or jerk, especially after 10–30 minutes of highway driving in warm weather, forcing owners to make dangerous corrections; Honda has not recalled the 2016 model despite identical steering racks failing on later model years that are under recall, and out-of-warranty repairs cost $3,000–$5,100.
The 2016 Honda Civic steering system is failing in large numbers, with owners describing the wheel becoming sticky or notchy—particularly after 10–30 minutes of highway driving. The problem is worst in warm weather above 70–80°F and improves or vanishes in cold weather, suggesting a thermal issue inside the electronic power steering (EPS) assembly.
Owners say the wheel sticks in the center position or during turns, requiring excessive force to overcome resistance. When it finally breaks free, it jerks suddenly, causing the car to swerve. Drivers then overcorrect, only to have the same thing happen in the opposite direction. At highway speeds (45+ mph), this creates a dangerous cycle of drift-and-jerk that demands constant attention and can result in unintended lane changes.
Dealers often cannot reproduce the issue during brief test drives—the problem takes 20+ minutes of highway driving to develop. No warning lights appear, and no diagnostic codes trigger even when the EPS rack is failing internally. Multiple owners report being told the steering rack needs replacement at costs between $3,000 and $5,100.
Honda issued a recall (18V663000) for 2017–2018 Civics with the same EPS assembly and identical symptoms. Newer generation Civics (2022–2024) also have active recalls for the same defect. The 2016 models use the same or nearly identical EPS components but have not been recalled, leaving owners to pay out-of-pocket for repairs on a known defect.
Same Honda Civic steering reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2017 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Sticky or notchy steering feedback at highway speeds
Steering wheel develops resistance or stickiness requiring excessive force to overcome, particularly in the center or straight-ahead position. Upon release, wheel jerks suddenly, causing lane drift and forcing overcorrection. Owners describe feeling 'notches' or 'grooves' the wheel wants to settle into.
When: Typically after 10–30 minutes of driving; worse at highway speeds (45+ mph); worsens in warm/hot weather (above 70–80°F)
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel sticks or feels notchy, especially near center position; Requires excessive force to overcome resistance and turn wheel; Sudden jerk or release when force is applied; Causes unintended lane drift and swerving; Driver must repeatedly overcorrect to maintain lane control; Problem occurs intermittently but becomes more frequent over time with extended driving; No warning lights or diagnostic codes appear on dashboard
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement of steering rack assembly (part number 53560-TBA-A01, 53650-TBA-A01, or later iterations 53650-TBC-A21, 53650-TBC-A22). Labor approximately 5 hours. Total cost reported by owners: $3,000–$5,100 including parts, labor, alignment, and inspection.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda issued TSB 17-014 (software update) for some cases; recall 18V663000 exists for 2017–2018 Civics with same EPS assembly but does not cover 2016 models. Newer generation (11th gen, 2022–2024) Civics have active recalls for identical steering issue. Honda goodwill program case denials reported due to vehicle age despite low mileage. Most dealers unable to reproduce issue during short test drives and reluctant to invest diagnostic time.
Loss of power steering assist or steering stiffness
Steering wheel becomes abnormally stiff or hard to turn, resembling manual steering with no power assist. In severe cases, steering feels like it is 'fighting' the driver or pulling in the opposite direction of intended turn.
When: After extended driving (20+ minutes) at highway speeds; more pronounced in hot weather
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes stiff or requires excessive force to turn; Feels like power steering assist has failed or is inconsistent; Steering wheel resists turning in one direction more than the other; Driver experiences difficulty maintaining lane position at highway speeds; Steering may resist straightening after a curve; No warning lights or error codes present
Repairs/costs cited: Steering rack assembly replacement. Owners report no codes trigger even when power steering rack is failing or losing pressure.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda dealers acknowledge internal EPS rack failure upon diagnosis but no recall applies to 2016 model year. Some owners reported Honda service technicians stated problem was 'known' but no recall issued.
Clunking or clicking sounds from steering mechanism
Audible clicking, popping, or clunking noise emanates from steering rack or mechanism when wheel is moved or when sticking/jerking occurs.
When: When steering wheel is moved, particularly during sticking events; heard at parking speeds and highway speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Clicking or popping sound when turning steering wheel; Clunking noise from steering rack during sticking episodes; Noise coincides with jerking or resistance in wheel; Sound most noticeable during parking maneuvers and course corrections at highway speeds
Repairs/costs cited: Associated with steering rack assembly failure; replacement required.
Temperature-dependent steering degradation
Steering stickiness and notchiness significantly worsen in warm or hot ambient temperatures (above 70–80°F) and improve or disappear in cold weather below 60°F, suggesting thermal expansion or fluid viscosity issues within the EPS system.
When: Occurs primarily in summer months and warm weather; minimal or absent in winter or cold conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Sticky steering significantly worse on hot days; Problem worsens as ambient temperature rises; Issue nearly resolves in winter or cold weather; Owner reports removing undertray slightly extends driving time before issue appears, suggesting thermal management problem
Repairs/costs cited: Steering rack assembly replacement. One owner noted removing undertray provided minimal temporary relief, suggesting thermal cooling issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda has revised the EPS rack part number at least twice since 2016 (moving from 53650-TBA-A01 to 53650-TBC iterations), indicating awareness of the defect, but no recall issued for 2016 models.
Intermittent electrical system reboot or loss of power steering during driving
In rare cases, steering system experiences complete loss of power assist, with vehicle electrical system cutting out and rebooting while vehicle is in motion, resulting in loss of power steering assist and brake assist simultaneously.
When: Intermittently, particularly during turns
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle loses power steering assist suddenly while driving; Electrical system cuts off and reboots while vehicle is in motion; Dashboard warning lights illuminate briefly; Brake assist also lost during reboot event; Steering wheel becomes rigid; Vehicle restarts on its own before coming to stop; No persistent diagnostic codes found after reboot; Nearly caused collisions in some cases
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported the issue resolved after having the steering rack replaced, but causality unclear.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall or documented TSB for this specific symptom pattern.
Synthesized from 423 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Steering wheel sticks while attempting to drive straight causing the car to either drive to the right or left. This happens while driving for approximately 30 minutes or so and especially has an effect on the vehicle at higher speeds. Multiple forums and over 60+ complaints on this and no recall yet?
There is a jerky/sticky issue with the steering while driving. The steering wheel seems to get stuck and I end up almost over correcting to get it to unstick. I’ve read multiple complaints of this issue and my car’s year is 2016 purchased in October 2025.
When the adaptive cruise control (acc) and the vehicle lane keeping assist system (lkas) are engaged simultaneously, the vehicle will react unpredictably under certain conditions. The vehicle may brake suddenly, rapidly decelerate, and quickly depart the highway when approaching exit ramps. The situation occurs during daylight and nighttime hours with clean cameras and radar window. Driver…
Steering wheel has some extra resistance (sticking, stiff and jerky) when making small corrections at any speeds, resulting in extra pressure being applied to break the resistance, resulting in sharp (hard) correction changes. When make small steering adjustments it has resistance, then suddenly becomes easy. This can cause oversteering when correcting.
Steering at 40 plus MPH gets stiff making it difficult to stay in lane
Had steering trouble with your 2016 Honda Civic?
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 Civic?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 423 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 129 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 26,000 and 53,000 miles, with the median around 40,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 26,000; a quarter make it past 53,000. 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/Civic.
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.