Diagsheet

2016 Honda Civic · symptom sheet

Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks

  • 351owner reports
  • 40,000median miles
  • $4,000median quote
  • 2involved a crash

Newest report Sep 2, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

442 of the 1,078 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 351 of those describe sticky steering, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2016 Civic.

Tick what matches of 351 reports

320
132
204
59
42
40

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the steering rack (72 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the steering system covers the 2016 model year as of Sep 9, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into the steering system on the Civic

EA23-003opened Nov 29, 2023
Steering · model years 2022 to 2024

Momentary increased steering effort. Closed jan 28, 2025, led to recall 24V-744.

NHTSA summary
On November 29, 2023, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this Engineering Analysis (EA23003) to assess allegations of momentary increase in steering effort in model years (MY) 2022-2023 Honda Civic, 2023MY Honda CR-V, and 2023MY Acura Integra vehicles (subject vehicles). The complaints received by ODI alleged that the subject vehicles experienced a momentary increase in required steering effort (described as “sticky steering”) occurring mostly at highway speeds after driving for an extended amount of time; these complaints could not be duplicated during dealer service technicians’ quick test drives. The complaints had been received over the previous two years with most occurring with low vehicle mileage. The steering gear of these vehicles is aided by an electrical power assist unit. This power assist unit inputs force on the steering rack via a worm gear and worm wheel assembly. During PE23005, Honda stated this condition of momentary increase in steering effort occurs due to two factors within this power assist unit. First, during manufacturing, the steering worm wheel goes through annealing and component conditioning processes. These processes cause internal stress and strain within the steering worm wheel. This strain is slowly released over the first few months of the vehicle life. Over time, the released strain causes deformation of the teeth on the worm wheel, causing the worm gear to catch on the worm wheel. This catching results in the dri
PE23-005opened Mar 17, 2023
Steering · model years 2022 to 2023

Momentary increased steering effort. Closed nov 30, 2023.

NHTSA summary
On March 17, 2023, The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened Preliminary Evaluation (PE23-005) to access the alleged defect of momentary increase in steering effort in model years (MY) 2022 and 2023 Honda Civic vehicles. The complaints report that the momentary increase in steering effort (described as "sticky steering") occurs mostly at highway speeds after driving for a certain amount of time. The reports have been received over the past 2 years with most occurring with low vehicle mileage. The steering gear contains a unit that includes a worm gear and a worm wheel. Honda stated this condition of momentary increase in steering effort occurs due to two factors within this unit. During manufacturing, the worm wheel goes through annealing and component conditioning processes. These processes caused internal stress and strain within the worm wheel. This strain was slowly released over the first few months of the vehicle life. Over time, the released strain caused the deformation of the teeth on the worm wheel, causing the worm gear to catch on the worm wheel. This results in the consumer’s momentary increased in steering effort. Also, the manufacturing process did not guarantee consistent grease application and therefore, some vehicles within the scope received too little grease which contributes to the momentary increase in steering effort. Analysis of all relevant data indicates that the subject condition occurs early in the vehicle’s life primarily in winter mont
PE94-055opened Jul 20, 1994
Steering · model years 1993

Alleged steering lockup. Closed dec 30, 1994.

NHTSA summary
There is no summary currently available

None of these investigations covers the 2016 model year.

What owners paid

42 of the 351 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $3,000 to $4,000.

$3,000$4,000$4,000
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 26,000 and 59,000 miles, from the 124 reports that gave a mileage.

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5323
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4426

What owners wrote

“steering is sticking causing over correction when occurs. Most noticeable at highway speeds. Has been happening last 10,000 miles or 8 months.”

Filed Apr 18, 2024 · 10,000 miles

“Steering, same as other complaints. Intermittent sticking of the steering wheel. Constantly have to force steering wheel in order to maintain lane. Steering wheel seems to lock, have to force it to stay straight. Problem started couple years ago, at about 35K miles, and at 70K it is getting worse. And the cost---ha-unreal!!!”

Filed Jun 8, 2023 · 35,000 miles

“My 2016 Honda Civic is having issues with the steering. When driving the car at 50 mph or above, the steering wants to pull to the left and it feels sticky and hard to turn back to keep in the lane and you have to turn hard and feel you will over correct and run off road. The car has about 50,000 miles on it. This is a safety issue because it make me over correct when driving. No warning lights are on.”

Filed May 30, 2022 · 50,000 miles

“The car steering wheel stick and is jerky when driving. There are multiple sites with forum and videos of people experiencing the same issue.”

Filed Dec 12, 2021

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 2 of 351 reports involved a crash. Owners who file are the ones who had a bad experience, and nobody checks their reports. If the problem affects steering, braking, power or a fire risk, treat it as a safety fault and have it inspected before a long or high-speed drive.

File your own report with NHTSA. Complaint counts are how a problem gets an investigation.

Other problems on this car