2021 Honda Civic · symptom sheet
Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks
- 50owner reports
- 36,200median miles
- 0involved a crash
Newest report Sep 28, 2026 · checked Oct 2, 2026
68 of the 145 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 50 of those describe sticky steering, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2021 Civic.
Tick what matches of 50 reports
Sticky steering on other Civic years
Report counts are for each model year on its own, so a newer car has had less time to collect them. Model years with too few reports of it for a sheet: 2014, 2015, 2020, 2024, 2025, 2026.
What this problem usually is
Sticky steering is a wheel that catches or hangs for a moment before it turns, then moves in a small jerk. It's different from a wheel that's simply heavy: owners here describe a notch, and many say it's worst when making small corrections at highway speed.
What got replaced
Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the steering rack (13 reports).
Recalls and investigations
No recall on the steering system covers the 2021 model year as of Oct 2, 2026.
NHTSA investigations into the steering system on the Civic
Momentary increased steering effort. Closed jan 28, 2025, led to recall 24V-744.
Momentary increased steering effort. Closed nov 30, 2023.
Alleged steering lockup. Closed dec 30, 1994.
None of these investigations covers the 2021 model year.
When it happens
The middle half of failures fell between 24,400 and 58,000 miles, from the 10 reports that gave a mileage.
What owners wrote
“Sticky steering, especially when itâs hot or humid. The issue has been going on since the car was at 60k miles, taken in multiple times and they donât see and issue. Itâs at 117k now issue still present. Same issue as the 2022-25 that got a recall”
Filed Aug 5, 2026 · 60,000 miles
“Steering is becoming sticky while on roadway. Seems like it is developing hard spots.”
Filed Dec 31, 2024
“While driving the steering wheel sticks occasionally and, without warning causes me to over-react and jerk the steering wheel.”
Filed Oct 9, 2024
“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.”
Filed Oct 9, 2024
Should you keep driving it?
This page can't tell you that. 0 of 50 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. How reports land on this sheet.
Guide Taking it to a shop? How to describe this problem so it gets found