Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2019 Accords with a customer complaint of a clicking noise from the steering gearbox. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2018 Honda Accord steering problems
severe Owners of the 2018 Honda Accord have filed 58 NHTSA complaints about the steering, typically surfacing around 15,000 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
58
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2014 Accord | 138 |
| 2015 Accord | 77 |
| 2016 Accord | 30 |
| 2017 Accord | 24 |
| 2018 Accord (this page) | 58 |
| 2019 Accord | 27 |
| 2020 Accord | 20 |
| 2021 Accord | 8 |
| 2022 Accord | 13 |
2crashes
2injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 58 steering complaints filed for the 2018 Honda Accord, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 50,000-75,000 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 58 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 - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2019 Accords with a customer complaint of a clicking noise from the steering gearbox. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2019 Accords with a customer complaint of a clicking noise from the steering gearbox. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2019 Accords with a customer complaint of a clicking noise from the steering gearbox. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Dealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2018-2019 Accords with a customer complaint of a clicking noise from the steering gearbox. To better understand the cause of this condition, AHM would like to collect specific parts from the vehicle prior to you attempting a repair of any kind.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2018 Accord has a well-documented steering problem hitting owners starting around 5,000–15,000 miles, though it can appear later. Most commonly, the steering wheel sticks or feels "notchy" when centered, requiring extra force to move, then suddenly jerks free—causing overcorrection and swerving. This happens most at highway speeds (55+ mph) on longer drives, especially after 1–3 hours of driving, in cold weather, or after the car sits for a bit. Owners say turning off lane-keep assist, adaptive cruise, and Honda Sensing doesn't fix it; the problem goes away only when the engine shuts off and cools.
Some owners report the steering wheel actually freezes in place temporarily, creating a dangerous inability to correct drift. Others describe constant sawing motions needed to keep the car straight, or the vehicle wandering side-to-side on its own. A handful report sudden power-steering loss and extreme stiffness.
Dealers replace steering racks and gearboxes (part numbers like 53600-TVA-A18, 53620-TWA-A28, and others) at costs around $2,100–$6,200+, yet the problem returns for some owners within months. No recall or technical service bulletin exists. Many complaints reference multiple online forums full of identical reports. One owner notes a 2017 Accord with 28,000 miles doesn't exhibit the symptom, suggesting a 2018-specific design fault rather than normal wear. Owners describe this as a serious safety issue that makes highway driving stressful and unpredictable.
Same Honda Accord steering reports on nearby years: 2015 · 2016 · 2017 · 2019 · 2020
Failure modes owners describe
Steering stick-slip / notchy feel at center
Steering wheel sticks or feels frozen when centered, requiring extra force to break free, then suddenly jerks, causing overcorrection. Most common complaint across narratives.
When: 5,000–15,000+ miles; after 1–3 hours of highway driving; cold weather; on longer trips
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel sticks or freezes at dead center; Requires extra force to move from centered position; Suddenly jerks free causing swerve or overcorrection; Constant need for small corrections to stay in lane; Vehicle wanders side-to-side; Problem resolves when engine shuts off and cools
Repairs/costs cited: Steering rack/gearbox replacement (part numbers 53600-TVA-A18, 53620-TWA-A28, 53620-TVC-A67, 53620-TVC-A68, 53600-TVA-A19, 53620-TVC-A64, 53620-TWA-A28). Cost $2,100–$6,200+ reported; problem recurs in some cases within months.
Power steering system loss / extreme stiffness
Power steering assist suddenly disables or fails, making steering wheel extremely difficult or impossible to turn. Occurs intermittently and without warning while driving.
When: Intermittent; reported at 40 mph, 70 mph, and at 160,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Power steering warning light illuminated; Steering wheel becomes extremely firm/tight; Steering wheel nearly impossible to turn; Loss of steering assist while in motion; Warning message 'power steering disabled' or 'electric power steering system' appears
Codes mentioned: C1250-52 (internal malfunction of electric brake booster ECU)
Repairs/costs cited: Steering gearbox and rack-and-pinion replacement; one owner quoted $6,233.73. Dealers unable to duplicate failure in some cases.
Lane-keep assist / automated steering malfunction
Lane-keep assist system and road-departure mitigation steering the vehicle unpredictably, including toward adjacent vehicles, into lane edges, or away from false lane markers (tar patches, skid marks).
When: Highway speeds; appears to worsen on longer trips
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle steers toward edge of lane or adjacent vehicles without driver input; System registers tar patches and skid marks as lane markers; Vehicle attempts to leave lane or steer into nearby trucks; Lane-departure warning triggers repeatedly (sometimes 10+ times in 15 minutes); Occurs even when lane-keep assist is disabled
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA Campaign 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); no steering-specific recall found.
Sudden unintended braking / collision mitigation false activation
Collision mitigation braking system (CMBS) engages without hazard, applying brakes suddenly at highway speeds or when no obstacle is present, nearly causing rear-end collisions.
When: Highway speeds (40–65 mph); on cruise control; intermittent and unpredictable
Symptoms owners cite: Brakes apply suddenly with no obstacle ahead; Adaptive cruise control disengages unexpectedly; Multiple warning lights appear (collision mitigation, adaptive cruise, lane departure); Vehicle whiplash from sudden stops; Occurs near railroad tracks, highway signs, or following other vehicles
Repairs/costs cited: Dealers report 'gunk on sensor' cleaned off; owner reports problem likely to recur.
Suspension / wheel-tracking issues (including camber failure)
Vehicle exhibits poor tracking, wandering, or inability to maintain straight line; rear camber fails prematurely, causing rapid tire wear and alignment problems.
When: 24,000–46,000 miles reported for premature camber failure; steering/tracking issues early (15,000 miles)
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle wanders or drifts side-to-side while driving straight; Constant steering corrections needed; Rear camber failure (reported at 46,000 miles with chunks of tire rubber missing); Rapid, uneven inner-wall tire wear; Suspension feels like struts are worn or bottoming out; Vehicle hops or bounces around when hitting bumps
Repairs/costs cited: Tire replacement and wheel alignment quoted at $1,000+. Camber repair cost not specified; may be out of warranty.
Synthesized from 58 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 1 most recent
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Accord. The contact stated while driving at approximately 70 MPH, the steering wheel was constantly sticking. The failure caused the steering to become difficult to turn. There were warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was informed of the failure and confirmed that there were no recalls on the VIN related to steering. The vehicle had not been diagnosed or…
Had steering trouble with your 2018 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 2018 Honda Accord?
It's a meaningful issue. 58 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 28 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most steering failures cluster between 9,600 and 38,200 miles, with the median around 15,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 9,600; a quarter make it past 38,200. 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/2018/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.