Diagsheet

2019 Honda Civic · symptom sheet

Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks

  • 80owner reports
  • 53,000median miles
  • $4,250median quote
  • 1involved a crash

Newest report Aug 29, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

109 of the 425 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 80 of those describe sticky steering, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2019 Civic.

Tick what matches of 80 reports

77
25
42
10
7
14

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the steering rack (30 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the steering system covers the 2019 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 2019 model year.

What owners paid

8 of the 80 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $3,500 to $5,068.

$3,500$4,250$5,068
$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 45,218 and 65,000 miles, from the 15 reports that gave a mileage.

723
2124
3025
2226

What owners wrote

“Steering is sticking at speeds over 30 mph when turning wheel left, have to kind of force wheel back to 12 o'clock position or else the car will keep turning. Driving on highways where little adjustments are needed while driving requires me to almost have to jerk the wheel to keep the car straight. This is unsafe and makes my car scary to drive. Started around 45k miles”

Filed Mar 30, 2026 · 45,000 miles

“Steering wheel sticks with left turn. Once on the Highway the steering wheel is tough to bring back straight requiring constant micro readjustments even when going straight. When bringing the steering wheel back to the center from a left turn at slow and highway speed, the steering wheel clicks, notches, and catches making my car unsafe to drive on the highway especially.”

Filed Jun 19, 2024

“Steering wheel feels 'notchy' and 'sticky' especially when in the 12 oclock position. Making minor corrections is difficult especially at highway speed.”

Filed May 20, 2024

“Steering wheel sticks on left turns, has been doing this for a while and Honda dealer can’t find issue. On highway, in turns, parked as well. Forums show plenty of others with this issue on their civics equipped with Honda Sensing years 2016-2024+. One had a steering rack replaced under warranty. I was encouraged to make a report on here by plenty of the members.”

Filed Mar 24, 2024

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 1 of 80 reports involved a crash and 2 people were hurt. 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.

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