Honda Civic Probed in the U.S. for “Sticky” Steering
Though critically acclaimed, the latest Honda Civic is no longer the best-selling car in Canada—a title it held for 24 years in a row before slipping behind the Toyota Corolla in 2022. Now, it’s facing a steering issue that could tarnish its reputation as a safe and fun-to-drive car.
Last Friday, the U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) opened an investigation into the 2022-2023 Honda Civic after receiving 145 complaints about “sticky” steering in less than a year.
Owners admit to experiencing a brief loss of power steering assistance at times, typically when driving at highway speeds, which makes the steering wheel heavier and harder to manipulate. This affects handling and puts vehicle occupants at risk.
Honda is aware of the problem and has sent documents to the NHTSA. Fortunately, neither the automaker nor U.S. regulators have reported accidents or injuries so far. Still, it must be pretty annoying and unsettling for drivers to suddenly find themselves in a situation like that.
The complaints submitted to the NHTSA cover both the Civic Sedan (including the sporty Civic Si) and the Civic Hatchback, many of which have a low mileage. The cause of the problem has yet to be determined.
Based on the conclusions of its investigation, the NHTSA could force Honda to recall affected Civic models. Transport Canada would then likely follow suit. In the meantime, if you experience sticky steering with your Civic, the wise thing to do would be to have it checked by a local dealer sooner rather than later.