The steering wheel will often stick while turning at high speeds on the high way, causing forceful correction of the steering wheel for it to un stick. This also happens at moderate speeds on city roads. The force required to unstick the steering wheel can cause sharp swerving motions with the car. This can be unsafe.
2020 Honda Civic steering problems
severe Owners of the 2020 Honda Civic have filed 27 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
27
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2016 Civic | 431 |
| 2017 Civic | 165 |
| 2018 Civic | 224 |
| 2019 Civic | 80 |
| 2020 Civic (this page) | 27 |
| 2021 Civic | 56 |
| 2022 Civic | 728 |
2crashes
4injuries
What stands out
Owners have filed 27 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
The 2020 Honda Civic has two major steering problem clusters. The most common is a sticky, notchy Electronic Power Steering system that develops around 30,000–64,000 miles. Owners describe the wheel sticking in place, requiring sudden forceful correction that causes jerking and lane drift—especially dangerous at highway speeds or in wet conditions. Many report no warning lights, and dealers confirm the EPS rack needs replacement, a repair costing thousands of dollars. Honda issued recall 24V744000 for 2022–2023 Civics with identical symptoms, but many 2020 owners say their VINs are excluded despite having the same failure.
The second critical issue is rodent damage to soy-based power steering wiring harnesses. Mice and rats have chewed through these harnesses, rendering steering immobile or dangerously unreliable. Honda dealerships acknowledge this is widespread, stock rodent tape as a temporary fix, and have case files on other affected owners—but Honda has not redesigned the wiring or issued a recall. One incident involved a head-on collision with a bus; another flipped the vehicle. Owners report the same rodent damage recurring after replacement, suggesting no permanent fix exists. Both problems create genuine safety hazards at highway speeds.
Same Honda Civic steering reports on nearby years: 2017 · 2018 · 2019 · 2021 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Sticky/Stiff Steering (Electronic Power Steering)
Steering wheel becomes sticky, notchy, or stiff, requiring excessive force to turn. Often occurs after 10-20 minutes of driving or at highway speeds. Wheel may stick in one position then suddenly release, causing overcorrection and lane drift. No warning lights in most cases. Owners and dealers attribute this to Electronic Power Steering (EPS) system or steering rack failure.
When: 30,000–64,000 miles; notably worse at highway speeds and in wet conditions
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel sticky or notchy when turning; High resistance then sudden release causing jerking/swerving; Difficulty maintaining lane position, especially at highway speeds; Overcorrection due to stuck-then-release behavior; Wheel may stick if held in one position; No warning lights or diagnostic codes in most reports
Repairs/costs cited: Electronic Power Steering (EPS) rack replacement mentioned; parts cost several thousand dollars. One owner paid $3,200 for EPS service and repair. Dealers report steering gear box or EPS internal failure on diagnostic.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Recall 24V744000 exists for newer Civic models (2022–2023), but some 2020 owners report their VINs are excluded despite identical symptoms. No manufacturer assistance offered to 2020 owners in most narratives.
Rodent-Damaged Power Steering Wiring Harness
Rodents, typically mice or rats, chewed through soy-based power steering electrical harness, rendering steering inoperable or unsafe. Multiple owners report this recurring problem at different times. Honda dealerships stock 'rodent tape' as a workaround and acknowledge other customers with the same issue, but no factory design change has been implemented.
When: As early as 20,000 miles; can occur multiple times within short periods
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel cannot be turned or becomes extremely stiff; All safety features inoperable when harness is compromised; Vehicle undriveable or barely steerable; Lane Departure and Steering warning lights illuminated (when intermittent); Intermittent steering failure that becomes recurring
Repairs/costs cited: Dealership replacement of power steering harness; one owner paid $700 for repair after rodent damage. Harness was replaced, but same issue recurred later. Dealership offers rodent-protective tape as preventive measure but does not replace wiring with non-soy material.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda is aware of the issue and has been aware for several years per owners. Class action lawsuits have been filed. Dealerships have case numbers but provide no status updates. Honda has not recalled or redesigned the wiring to eliminate soy-based insulation.
Steering Wheel Seizure / Loss of Steering Control
Steering wheel suddenly becomes immobile or unresponsive while driving, forcing driver to use extreme physical force or lose directional control. Incidents at highway speeds (65–70 mph and 53 mph) have caused crashes and off-road excursions. In one case, vehicle drifted left and hit a parked truck, flipping the vehicle. Another involved head-on collision with city bus.
When: As early as 10,000 miles; onset can be sudden and without prior warning
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel suddenly locked or seized; Vehicle unable to turn despite driver input; Jerking or sharp involuntary turns (right or left); Lane Departure Assist warning illuminated (some cases); Multiple unknown warning lights; Loss of vehicle control requiring driver strength or emergency maneuvers
Repairs/costs cited: In one case, electrical wiring harness chewed by rodents was diagnosed as cause. Second dealer opinion suggested manufacturing defect. Vehicles involved in crashes declared total loss; airbags deployed but did not fully inflate in one incident.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer notified; cases opened. No recalls issued for 2020 model. One dealer suggested it could be a manufacturing defect rather than rodent damage.
Steering Wheel Jerk / Unintended Steering Movement
Steering wheel jerks or moves involuntarily while driving, especially at highway speeds. Can occur in both directions (left and right). Often accompanied by Lane Departure warning and may be intermittent but recurring. Causes dangerous swerving.
When: 40,776 miles and above; can be intermittent then become recurring
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel jerks or turns independently left and right; Steering becomes increasingly difficult to turn; Lane Departure warning light illuminated; Steering Failure warning light; Swerving into other lanes; Intermittent failures that become recurring
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer diagnosed with no failures found despite owner's clear symptoms. Vehicle not repaired.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not informed in at least one case where diagnosis showed no failures.
Steering Drift / Pull to One Side
Vehicle drifts or pulls consistently to one side (typically left) while driving, especially at highway speeds. Steering may stick to one side making it difficult to correct. Issue occurs even after alignment service.
When: 50,000 miles and above; progressive onset after 45,000 miles in one case
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle drifts left or right; Steering sticks to one side; Abnormal ticking sound from steering; Difficulty maintaining straight line, especially at highway speeds; No warning lights
Repairs/costs cited: One dealer diagnosed defective power steering rack requiring replacement but part on backorder. Alignment service did not resolve the issue.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Manufacturer not notified in one case.
Steering Noise (Grinding/Clicking) with Handling Issues
Steering produces clicking or grinding noises during turns, sometimes accompanied by notchy feeling. In one case, grinding noise was misdiagnosed by dealer as brake issue, then rotor issue; actual cause was broken wheel bearing affecting steering geometry.
When: 17,000 miles at purchase; present from early ownership
Symptoms owners cite: Clicking or grinding sound during steering; Notchy feeling when turning wheel; Vehicle pulling or rattling on freeway; Rear tires not straight or moving around
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer initially blamed brakes, then rotors. Wheel bearing found to be broken. Issue persisted through multiple dealer visits while under warranty.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealer denied any steering issue while vehicle was under warranty.
Synthesized from 27 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
I was driving to work in the rain on the highway and I heard a big thump and I thought I had hit something and my wheel went sideways and I kept trying to keep my car on the road even though I didn’t hit anything.
Steering sticks to one side, especially at highway speeds. For example, if you're going around a left hand curve, you can let go of the wheel and the car will continue turning left. When changing the steering direction at highway speeds, especially to maintain lane position, the steering initially has high resistance, then seems to suddenly release and the vehicle darts to the side. Confirmed…
While driving 20 mile/hr. the car's steering wheel got extremely stiff and difficult to steer. Made an appointment with Hoda Village to fix the issue. After diagnosis, service manager told me that it was rates chowing on electric harness and informed me this was not covered under warranty. Repair cost me about $700.00. Unfortunately, now the same issue is occurring, I have check all over the…
Had steering trouble with your 2020 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 2020 Honda Civic?
It's a meaningful issue. 27 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 27 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 27,694 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/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.