Steering is becoming sticky while on roadway. Seems like it is developing hard spots.
2021 Honda Civic steering problems
moderate Owners of the 2021 Honda Civic have filed 56 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
56
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
| Model year | steering complaints |
|---|---|
| 2017 Civic | 165 |
| 2018 Civic | 224 |
| 2019 Civic | 80 |
| 2020 Civic | 27 |
| 2021 Civic (this page) | 56 |
| 2022 Civic | 728 |
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What stands out
Steering accounts for 42% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 7 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 56 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
Owners of 2021 Honda Civics describe a sticky steering feel that appears around 20k–30k miles and worsens with highway driving and warm weather. The steering wheel sticks in the center position or during turns at speeds above 45 mph, requiring sudden excessive force to break free—then lurches or over-corrects once unstuck. Owners report this makes lane-keeping exhausting, increases the risk of unintended swerving, and creates unpredictable vehicle behavior that is difficult to explain to other drivers.
Multiple owners note Honda issued a recall (24V744000) for 2022–2025 Civics citing inadequate grease in the EPS gearbox, yet their 2021 model VINs are excluded despite identical symptoms. Several dealers have confirmed the issue as steering rack or EPS gearbox failure; replacement costs range from $4,000 to $5,400. One owner reported the steering gearbox was replaced under warranty but the identical problem returned. Owners outside warranty have been refused service despite safety concerns.
One complaint describes complete power steering loss at highway speed with a U0416(68) diagnostic code (vehicle dynamics control module data error), resulting in loss of vehicle control during freeway exit. A second incident involved intermittent power steering assist failure at 55 mph without prior warning lights, leaving the driver unable to determine when the system would fail.
Same Honda Civic steering reports on nearby years: 2018 · 2019 · 2020 · 2022
Failure modes owners describe
Sticky EPS Gearbox / Steering Rack
Electric power steering system exhibits sudden resistance or sticking sensation during driving, particularly at highway speeds (45–70 mph). The steering wheel becomes difficult to turn, requires excessive force to break free, and then jerks or over-corrects once unstuck. Issue worsens with prolonged highway driving, warm weather, and cold conditions. Many owners report the steering wheel sticks in the center position or during turns, making lane-keeping exhausting and unpredictable.
When: Typically manifests at 20k–30k miles; worsens over time. More noticeable on longer highway drives and after vehicle is warmed up. Occurs at highway speeds (45–70 mph).
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel sticks mid-turn or in center position; Excessive steering effort required to overcome resistance; Jerking or swerving upon unsticking; Difficulty maintaining straight-line control; Momentary increase in steering effort followed by over-correction; Difficulty with minor lane adjustments; Hitching or catching sensation when turning; Constant need to make corrections to stay in lane
Codes mentioned: U0416(68) (Invalid data received – vehicle dynamics control module, reported in one instance with complete power steering loss)
Repairs/costs cited: Owners report Honda dealers diagnosed the issue as steering rack/EPS gearbox internal failure. Replacement cost cited at $4,000–$5,400. One owner had steering gearbox replaced under warranty; issue recurred identically. Owner out of warranty at 54k miles refused service on grounds of warranty expiration despite safety concern.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda has issued a recall (NHTSA Campaign 24V744000) for 2022–2025 model year Civics for inadequate grease in the EPS gearbox. Owners report their 2021 model VINs are not included in the recall despite exhibiting identical symptoms. Multiple dealers unable to replicate the failure or provided no diagnosis.
Complete Power Steering Loss (Electrical Malfunction)
In one reported instance, the electronic power steering system completely lost functionality while the driver was exiting a freeway at highway speed. Dashboard speed displayed 0 mph and multiple warning lights (power steering, emergency braking, suspension, etc.) flashed simultaneously. Steering wheel had no resistance, making small inputs result in unpredictable jerky vehicle movement and loss of vehicle control.
When: Single instance; mileage not specified in narrative.
Symptoms owners cite: Complete loss of power steering assist; No resistance in steering wheel; Unpredictable jerky steering response; Multiple warning lights on dashboard (power steering, emergency braking, suspension, vehicle dynamics control); Dashboard speed gauge displayed 0 mph; Loss of vehicle control during highway exit
Codes mentioned: U0416(68) (Invalid data received – vehicle dynamics control module)
Power Steering Assist Intermittent Failure
Electronic power steering assist intermittently fails during driving, requiring increased manual effort to steer the vehicle. The malfunction occurs at highway speeds (55 mph) and resolves temporarily, only to reoccur regularly. No warning lights precede the failure.
When: Unknown mileage; one report at 18,480 miles with drift and warning lights.
Symptoms owners cite: Increased steering effort at highway speeds; Electronic power steering assist not functioning properly; Intermittent failure and recovery; Vehicle drift (one instance); Warning lights for brakes, adaptive cruise control, stability control (one instance)
Repairs/costs cited: One instance: dealer reset battery but could not replicate; vehicle not repaired.
Synthesized from 56 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 7 most recent
My car has sticky steering when making turns and has a difficult time making micro adjustments. This appears to be the same issue that there is a recall for but my VIN is not recalled. This is a huge safety issue as the steering is more difficult to control on the highways, turning on and off ramps, driving straight, etc. I find myself having to pull the wheel back to center to straighten it out…
Steering is sticking. Honda has recalls for this exact issue for but not for 2021. The steering wheel sticks left or right and has to be forced out of the direction. Same exact symptoms as the current steering recall.
I drive on the highway everyday to get to work and my steering makes it impossible to drive in a straight line it takes every bit of effort to remain in my lane and when I make a slight adjustment it reacts too much. It is unpredictable and it becomes obvious to drivers around me and makes me look like a bad/crazy driver. It becomes so overwhelming to drive to and from work that I don't want my…
The steering has recently started sticking at random times while gradually turning left at around 55 mph. When it unsticks on its own it’s a slight jerk back to the right. In at aid if it doesn’t correct on its own I would have no choice but to go into the other lane and possibly hit oncoming traffic. This could absolutely cause an accident. The vehicle has not been inspected or taken to the…
Rodents chewed thru the main computer cable while car was parked in our car port. When I went to start car it started but immediatley the warning lights on dash began flashing that the road assist features, brakes and steering were not operating.Called road side assistance for a tow to Arrowhead Honda were they replaced main computer cable and reprogrammed computer. This is the second time this…
The steering wheel occasionally sticks and requires me to keep tugging at it to unstick it, then readjust the wheel again to straighten my car up on the road. On highway road trips I've taken (6 or so hours one way), it is an almost constant tug of the wheel for the whole drive. It happens both while driving straight and when going around curves.
Had steering trouble with your 2021 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 2021 Honda Civic?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 56 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?
Based on the 56 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 45,296 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/2021/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.