I have had two major issues with my 2017 Honda Accord sport since buying it brand new that the Honda dealership will do nothing about even though I’ve specifically been told twice on two separate occasions that the car was manufactured defected. My mitigation systems has failed multiple times where it just stops responding losing control of the steering and accelerating on its own. One of those…
2017 Honda Accord steering problems
critical 23 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
23
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
6crashes
3injuries
1fatality
What stands out
No new NHTSA steering complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 3 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
Buyer takeaway: Multiple 2017 Accord owners report unexpected power steering failures—sudden loss of assist, complete wheel lock, and heavy steering—sometimes requiring emergency stops and resulting in crashes. Electrical glitches, ABS module backorders, and design issues (poor tire wear, alignment problems) also plague steering safety and reliability at varying mileages.
The 23 complaints describe a steering system that fails in ways that can strand you in traffic or worse. The most serious: sudden loss of electric power steering (EPS) assist, leaving the wheel heavy or unmovable, sometimes during highway driving. Owners describe the EPS light flashing, the system cutting out for seconds to minutes, then coming back—unpredictably. One owner had it fail twice on the same drive. Another reported the steering wheel locking solid at 55 mph, hitting a guardrail.
Dealerships have ordered replacement power steering racks at $5,000 under 30,000 miles. One owner had the EPS unit replaced in 2022 and it failed again in 2024. A few narratives blame ABS/VSA module failures—parts are backordered with no delivery estimate—that light up the dash with multiple warnings and kill traction control in wet weather.
Electrical connection problems appear in a couple reports: a faulty EPS harness plug, rodent damage to the steering harness. One owner couldn't drive for four weeks.
Less acute but persistent: steering wheel vibration present from new with no fix available, heavy steering during turns and parking that worsens when warm, and vehicle pull that persists despite alignment checks showing spec compliance. Multiple tire failures from unresolvable alignment issues, with mechanics stating major suspension components would need replacement to fix the underlying problem.
Same Honda Accord steering reports on nearby years: 2014 · 2015 · 2016 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
EPS System Loss of Function (Intermittent)
Electric power steering system fails without warning, leaving steering heavy or unresponsive. EPS indicator light illuminates during events. System sometimes restores after vehicle shutdown/restart, but failures recur.
When: Ranges from 16,000 to 158,000 miles; failures occur both during highway driving and low-speed maneuvers
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden steering stiffness making vehicle difficult to maneuver; EPS indicator light flashing; Complete loss of power steering function; No prior warning before failure; Intermittent restoration after vehicle restart; Recurrent failures on same vehicle
Codes mentioned: EPS diagnostic codes (specific codes not detailed in narratives)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships ordered replacement power steering racks; one owner reported $5,000 quote for complete rack replacement under 30k miles. One narrative mentions replacement of EPS unit in March 2022 with recurrence in October 2024.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls mentioned. Dealerships performed diagnostics but initially recommended reset; some dealerships proceeded to rack replacement due to safety concerns.
Steering Wheel Lock/Seizure
Steering wheel locks in place without warning during normal driving, preventing any wheel movement. Occurs both while vehicle is in motion and parked.
When: Ranges from low mileage to 158,000 miles; occurs at speeds from idle to 55 mph
Symptoms owners cite: Complete steering wheel lock during turns or straight driving; No warning before seizure; Lane departure warning light activation in some cases; Steering wheel locked when vehicle stationary (unable to start)
Codes mentioned: No specific codes provided in narratives
Repairs/costs cited: One owner involved in guardrail collision; another hit curb; another hit sidewalk. Independent mechanics could not diagnose root cause in some cases.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls found by dealerships. Manufacturer not notified in at least one case.
Steering System Electrical Failures
Power steering harness and connector failures interrupt EPS function. One case attributed to faulty electrical plug; one case to rodent damage to harness.
When: No specific mileage or timing patterns reported
Symptoms owners cite: Complete power steering loss during highway driving; EPS system non-responsive
Codes mentioned: No specific codes provided
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reported inability to drive for 4 weeks awaiting repair. Rodent damage repair reported at dealership.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One narrative states this is 'an ongoing issue that is known to Honda' with no recall issued.
Steering Heaviness/Stiffness
Power steering system operates sluggishly, requiring excessive effort to turn wheel. Condition worsens in warm/hot weather and at idle.
When: Under 30,000 miles in one case; occurs within 20 minutes of driving on warm days
Symptoms owners cite: Heavy steering feel during turns and parking maneuvers; Stiffness increases on warm/hot days; EPS light comes on intermittently with on-off cycling of steering assist; Unsafe rapid on-off cycling of assistance makes steering force unpredictable
Codes mentioned: EPS diagnostic codes (not specified)
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer diagnosis changed three times: first stated OK, then claimed rack smashed, then blamed loose wires on two soft-set terminals. Owner skeptical of $5,000 rack replacement due to diagnostic inconsistency.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recall information provided
Steering Wheel Vibration
Steering wheel vibrates excessively during driving and at idle across various road conditions. Dealer technicians confirmed the vibration but stated no fix is available.
When: Present on brand-new vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Excessive steering wheel vibration while driving; Vibration at idle; Occurs on streets and highways; Owner reports it doesn't feel safe
Codes mentioned: No codes provided
Repairs/costs cited: Suburban Honda technician verified the vibration but stated no fix available per Honda.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No fix available according to dealership; customer advised to accept condition
Steering Control Loss Associated with ABS/Traction Module Failure
ABS module failure triggers multiple warning lights including power steering light, traction control light, and brake light, resulting in loss of traction control and compromised steering response during emergency braking.
When: No specific mileage provided; reported as known issue in 2008-2017 model years
Symptoms owners cite: Multiple warning lights illuminate (ABS, traction control, brake, power steering, tire pressure); Traction control non-functional; Loss of vehicle control on wet surfaces; Vehicle slides uncontrollably during braking; Vehicle unstable on wet roundabouts and highway merges
Codes mentioned: ABS-related codes; specific codes noted as 'not specific' by owner, VSA (Vehicle Stability Assist) Module codes
Repairs/costs cited: ABS module replacement required but parts are backordered (wait times up to two years reported); used modules carry same premature failure risk. Multiple test/replacement cycles required before root cause identified.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No quick fix or part availability; backorder status with no estimated delivery date
Alignment Issues Unresolvable by Standard Service
Vehicle pulls to one side despite multiple alignment checks showing specs within limits. Two independent mechanics stated alignment cannot be corrected due to underlying manufacturing issue involving drivetrain/suspension mismatch.
When: Present from early vehicle operation through later ownership (22,442 miles in one case)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle pulls to left on flat roads; Consistent pulling despite multiple alignment checks; New tires wear excessively on inside edge (wear-out in under 2 weeks reported)
Codes mentioned: No diagnostic codes reported
Repairs/costs cited: Two independent mechanics stated major steering and suspension component swap required due to drivetrain/driveshaft being too large for vehicle frame. Owner incurred costs for multiple tire replacements ($174.88 each for Yokohama Advan Sport A/S XL in 2018).
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership alignment checks reported as within spec; no manufacturer response regarding design issue noted
Collision Mitigation/VSA System Malfunctions
Collision mitigation system and Vehicle Stability Assist (VSA) activate randomly or fail to respond when needed, causing loss of steering control and vehicle directional control.
When: Random timing; one incident occurred during highway driving at low speeds
Symptoms owners cite: Random illumination of mitigation systems failure messages; Loss of steering control during system failures; Vehicle accelerates on its own during system malfunction; VSA system unresponsive in emergency maneuvers; One incident resulted in off-road crash into ditch
Codes mentioned: Mitigation systems failure codes (not specified)
Repairs/costs cited: Owner reports dealership acknowledged vehicle was 'manufactured defected' on two separate occasions but refused warranty action.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership acknowledged manufacturing defect but declined warranty coverage
Multiple System Electrical/Computer Faults (Wet Weather Triggered)
After rain exposure, vehicle displays cascading warning messages across multiple systems. Power steering specifically loses function after restart following rain exposure, attributed by roadside assistance to moisture in computer system.
When: After rain event
Symptoms owners cite: Multiple system failure messages: emissions controls, tire pressure, collision avoidance, collision mitigation, power steering; Power steering loss of function (wheel immovable) on restart; Messages persist next day despite initial restoration; System messages intermittent
Codes mentioned: Multiple non-specific fault codes across various systems
Repairs/costs cited: Owner took video of messages for documentation. AAA technician suspected moisture intrusion into computer systems.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No dealer response documented
Belt Tensioner Failure Causing Steering Loss
Serpentine belt tensioner seizure causes belt to slip and fail, resulting in loss of power steering function.
When: No mileage provided
Symptoms owners cite: Belt slippage; Complete loss of steering power
Codes mentioned: No codes provided
Repairs/costs cited: Belt tensioner replacement required
Synthesized from 23 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
Had steering trouble with your 2017 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 2017 Honda Accord?
It's a serious issue. 23 complaints have been filed, including 6 reports involving a crash and 1 fatality(ies). We've classified it as critical based on NHTSA's reported outcomes.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 2,000 and 31,000 miles, with the median around 16,300. A quarter of owners report trouble before 2,000; 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/2017/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.