All of the lights on the dash came on and the power steering stopped working while driving on the highway. I was in the number one lane and had to merge across four lanes to pull over with no power steering. I shut the car off and waited a few minutes. The lights were still on the dash but the power steering was working. This is the second time this has happened in the last two weeks.
2025 Honda Pilot steering problems
moderate 28 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $700 · see steering across all vehicles →
Complaints
28
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$700
What stands out
Owners have filed 28 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.
Among the 21 model years of Honda Pilot in our records for steering problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2025 Honda Pilots are reporting four distinct steering-related issues across 27 complaints. The most critical is complete or severe power steering assist failure—the steering wheel locks or becomes impossibly stiff to turn, sometimes while driving at highway speeds or during parking maneuvers. Multiple owners describe simultaneous cascade failures of brakes, AWD, traction control, and engine management when the steering fails, with dashboard lights flooding the display and "DO NOT DRIVE" warnings appearing. Some vehicles recover after shutdown and restart; others require towing.
The second issue is steering noise: clicking, creaking, or popping sounds from the steering wheel area during slow turns, beginning around 1,500 miles. This noise worsens after the vehicle warms up and in warm weather. Dealerships have replaced clock springs and steering racks, yet the noise returns within days. One service advisor admitted this is a known design flaw and warned against further repairs, saying attempts to fix it can make it worse.
Third, owners report mechanical steering failures—steering lock-up, binding, or jerking during normal driving. One confirmed diagnosis involved a defective inner tie rod at 19,000 miles.
Fourth, owners describe electrical cascades: multiple safety system failures triggered by dusty conditions, moisture, railroad crossings, or low-speed deceleration. Dealers reset codes, top off oil, or suspect moisture but cannot identify root causes. No recalls or technical service bulletins are mentioned in these narratives.
Same Honda Pilot steering reports on nearby years: 2023 · 2024
Failure modes owners describe
Electric Power Steering Assist Failure
Complete loss or severe stiffening of power steering assist, rendering the steering wheel unresponsive, difficult to turn, or locked. Multiple owners report sudden failure during low-speed maneuvers, parking, or highway driving. Dashboard displays 'Electric Steering Assist Failure' or 'EPS Failure' messages. Steering function sometimes returns after vehicle restart.
When: Between 130 miles and 19,000 miles; incidents occurring during normal driving, turning, parking, or deceleration
Symptoms owners cite: Steering wheel becomes difficult to turn, extremely stiff, or entirely unresponsive; Steering wheel locks in place; Loss of power steering assist at low speeds (5 mph) and highway speeds (70 mph); Dashboard warning messages: 'Electric Power Steering System Problem - Steering assist not available'; Steering function sometimes returns after vehicle restart; Simultaneous warning messages for brake system, AWD, collision detection, LKAS, and other safety systems
Codes mentioned: EPS Failure, Electric Power Steering System Problem, Electric Steering Assist Failure
Repairs/costs cited: Dealerships unable to diagnose root cause on multiple occasions; one owner reported inner tie rod and alignment defect at 19,000 miles (estimate provided but vehicle not repaired); one steering cable reel replacement documented; dealership service notes indicate inability to replicate issue or identify assignable root cause
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls identified in narratives; one dealership suspected moisture due to snow; service managers advised continued driving with return visits if issue recurs; Honda corporate field representative allegedly instructed dealership to stop repair attempts
Steering Noise: Clicking, Creaking, and Popping Sounds
Audible clicking, creaking, popping, or knocking noises originating from the steering wheel area or steering column during turning maneuvers at low speeds. Noise typically worsens in warmer temperatures and after the vehicle has warmed up. Present from 1,500 miles onward. Repairs attempted include clock spring replacement and steering rack replacement, but noise persists or returns within one week.
When: Begins around 1,500–2,000 miles; consistent during low-speed turns, parking lot maneuvers, and reversing; worsens when ambient temperature exceeds 70°F or after driving for approximately one hour
Symptoms owners cite: Clicking or popping noise from steering wheel area during turning; Creaking or knocking noise from steering wheel area; Noise prominent during reversing and forward low-speed turns; Noise occurs both while vehicle is in motion and parked; Noise worsens in warmer temperatures; Noise becomes worse over time; Noise recurs approximately one week after dealership repair attempts
Repairs/costs cited: Clock spring replacement attempted on multiple vehicles; noise persisted after repair; steering rack replacement performed on one vehicle (noise returned by 7,000 miles); clock spring adjustment attempted; dealership service personnel acknowledged this as a known design flaw on some Honda vehicles and recommended owners not pursue repairs due to risk of worsening the issue
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Dealership service advisor stated this is a known problem affecting multiple vehicles; one dealership contacted Honda corporate field representative who instructed them to stop repair attempts despite warranty coverage; no recalls issued
Cascading Electrical System Failures
Multiple simultaneous failures of critical vehicle control systems including power steering, braking, AWD, traction control, and engine operation. Triggered by dusty/dirty conditions, moisture, electrical disturbances, or low-speed deceleration. Dashboard displays multiple warning messages across safety systems. Vehicle may become undriveable or require shutdown and restart to restore function.
When: Between 130 miles and 36,000 miles; incidents occur during normal driving, after railroad crossings, in dusty/snowy conditions, during deceleration to stops, or after phone connectivity issues with infotainment system
Symptoms owners cite: All dashboard warning lights illuminate simultaneously; Engine warning light; Brake system warning: 'Brake performance may be reduced' or brake failure; Power steering failure simultaneous with brake failure; AWD failure: vehicle reports only front-wheel drive available; Loss of ability to change gears or start engine; Loss of acceleration and driving mode selection; Loss of driver panel access and steering while driving; Multiple safety system warnings: collision detection, LKAS, parking assist, vehicle stability assist, hill start assist, trailer stability assist, hill descent control; Dashboard displays 'DO NOT DRIVE' in large red letters; Vehicle unable to restart for extended periods (up to one hour) before spontaneous recovery; Steering and brake function return after vehicle shutdown and restart
Codes mentioned: Multiple simultaneous system faults, Low oil pressure warning, Orange steering wheel with exclamation mark, Red battery logo
Repairs/costs cited: Service dealers unable to identify root cause; oil level topped off (no leak found) on one vehicle; dealership reset codes and declared issue resolved; alternator failure documented on one vehicle (owner states dealership refused warranty repair past 36,000 miles); repeated towing documented due to stranding in dangerous conditions
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No recalls or service bulletins mentioned; dealers offered only code resets; one dealer speculated moisture from snow as cause; service managers stated inability to find problem and suggested owner 'may have drove it too hard'
Steering Rack and Tie Rod Defects
Mechanical failure of steering rack or inner tie rod components causing steering malfunction, steering lock-up, or noise. One confirmed diagnosis of defective inner tie rod and alignment at 19,000 miles. Multiple narratives reference steering rack defects observed online and in dealership diagnostics.
When: Between 19,000 miles (confirmed diagnosis) and unspecified mileage for other reports
Symptoms owners cite: Steering locks up or becomes unresponsive; Difficulty or resistance when turning steering wheel; Steering system failure during low-speed turns; Steering cable reel binding; Steering jerking during normal driving
Repairs/costs cited: One vehicle diagnosed with defective inner tie rod and inner tie rod alignment at 19,000 miles; estimate provided but vehicle not repaired; steering cable reel replacement documented at another vehicle; other vehicles referenced online reports of steering rack defects but no confirmed repairs documented in these narratives
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: No warranty or recalls documented for inner tie rod failure at 19,000 miles; no manufacturer response documented for other steering rack defects
Synthesized from 28 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 4 most recent
I was driving and I began slowing down as I approached a red light. My vehicle suddenly stopped. I was unable to turn the vehicle back on nor change the gear. When I would press the start button while pressing the brakes, some dash lights would turn on but again I was not able to change the gear. After several attempts of turning the car on, the car started and I was able to change gears to…
I began driving the vehicle and the steering locked up. An error message presented stating that there was an issue with the steering and to see the dealer. This is a severe safety issue. Kids were in the car and this could have lead to a severe accident. It has been inspected and confirmed by Fox Honda Grand Rapids. There were no indicators/warnings prior to the incident.
My vehicle has 1,500 miles on it. Last time I drove it from work back home was Friday 11/21 and nothing was wrong. Got back in the car Sunday 11/23 and my engine light was blinking and all kinds of warnings were displaying such as engine, break, and steering problems. My wife and I noticed the car vibrating a lot and I had to drive 20mph. If not the car felt like it was going to shut down.
Had steering trouble with your 2025 Honda Pilot?
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 2025 Honda Pilot?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 28 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 28 complaints filed, steering issues most often appear around 10,067 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/2025/Honda/Pilot.
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.