Sticky steering wheel at highway speed 70mph and when you put enough force to make it turn it jerks and you have to over correct it and go the other way to maintain in the middle lane on the highway. Takes about 10-15miles to start doing it but does not go away at all once it starts. Happens everytime on the highway
2020 Honda Accord steering problems
severe Owners of the 2020 Honda Accord have filed 20 NHTSA complaints about the steering at roughly $700 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
20
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 Accord | 30 |
| 2017 Accord | 24 |
| 2018 Accord | 58 |
| 2019 Accord | 27 |
| 2020 Accord (this page) | 20 |
| 2021 Accord | 8 |
| 2022 Accord | 13 |
2crashes
The failure pattern owners describe
The most consistent complaint across these 20 narratives is sticky steering that occurs at highway speeds above 50 mph, typically after 20–45 minutes of driving once the car warms up. Owners describe the steering wheel locking or sticking in place, requiring jerking or substantial force to turn, then abruptly releasing and causing overcorrection or swerving. Some say the wheel feels loose at center, forcing constant left-right adjustment to stay straight; others call it a "notch" or "flat spot" in the steering.
One owner at 9,000 miles had the steering rack replaced by a dealership and reported the fix worked. However, multiple owners state visiting dealers 10+ times without resolution. Dealers consistently report inability to recreate the problem or state diagnostics show no codes—despite owners easily reproducing the issue during extended highway driving.
A secondary failure pattern involves multiple warning lights and safety systems failing together: TPMS, electronic power steering assist, steering angle, brake system warnings, and disabled cruise control and collision prevention. These failures occur intermittently and recur after restart.
One owner suspects heat from turbocharged engines is damaging the steering box and mentions seeing online reports of people replacing the steering component three times. No Honda recall or technical service bulletin has been issued for these complaints, which span 2018–2020 models.
Same Honda Accord steering reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2019
Failure modes owners describe
Sticky/Stuck Steering at Highway Speed
Steering wheel sticks or locks in place when driving straight on highways, requiring substantially increased force to turn. Once force is applied, the wheel releases abruptly, causing jerking and overcorrection. Typically occurs after 20–45 minutes of driving once the vehicle is warmed up, at speeds above 50 mph.
When: After 20–45 minutes of highway driving at speeds above 50 mph; some owners report initial onset at 9,000–19,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel sticks or locks requiring jerking/excessive force to move; Abrupt release causing overcorrection and swerving; Loss of smooth steering control; Wheel feels loose at center; driver must constantly adjust left and right to stay straight; Notchy or flat-spot sensation in steering; Car drifts left or right during straight driving
Repairs/costs cited: One owner reports steering rack replacement resolved the issue. Dealerships frequently state inability to recreate the problem during diagnostic visits; several owners report 10+ dealer visits without repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or technical service bulletins documented for this issue. One owner mentions complaint of similar 2014 recall.
Electronic Power Steering System Failure/Warnings
Multiple warning lights and assist systems fail simultaneously: tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) malfunction, electronic power steering assist warning, steering angle warning, brake system warning, and disabled driver assists (cruise control, emergency braking, collision prevention). Failures occur intermittently and recur after restart.
When: At 19,000–68,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Tire pressure monitoring system malfunction warning; Electronic power steering assist warning light; Steering assist reduced-errors light; Brake system warning light; Cruise control disabled; Emergency braking system disabled; Collision prevention system disabled; Steering becomes difficult to maneuver
Codes mentioned: Steer angle sensor code (mentioned as 'STEER ANGLE AT ZERO DEGREES')
Repairs/costs cited: No repairs completed. One dealership stated 'CUSTOMER CONCERN NOT DUPLICATED AT THIS TIME. NO SERVICE BULLETINS AT THIS TIME OR SERVICE NEWS ON THIS CONCERN.' Another stated failure was 'undetermined.' One owner mentions reduced braking power from rear caliper sticking.
Microadjustments and Loss of Steering Smoothness
Steering wheel exhibits intermittent micro-jumps and lacks the expected smooth, responsive feel. Owner with mechanical knowledge noted the steering box produces these issues; dealer diagnostic found no problem. Concern raised that heat from turbo engine may be damaging the steering system.
When: Intermittent; reported at 19,000 miles on a recently purchased vehicle
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel micro-jumps instead of moving smoothly; Steering feel becomes stiff or requires more force; Intermittent nature makes problem difficult to reproduce
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership technician unable to identify the problem. Owner suspects heat shield issue between steering box and exhaust on turbocharged engines; notes online reports of owners replacing steering component three times.
Synthesized from 20 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
While driving at highway speeds, the vehicles steering becomes locked in place requiring a substantial amount of force to turn with the road causing the car to jerk which then cause me to over correct. There are no warning lights that have come on. The vehicle has less then 60k miles. The problem has been reproduced by a Honda dealer. They stated that they don't know how the steering rack could…
Had steering trouble with your 2020 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 2020 Honda Accord?
It's a meaningful issue. 20 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $700.
At what mileage does the steering typically fail?
Based on the 20 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 16,793 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
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/2020/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.