2021 Honda CR-V · symptom sheet

Steering sticks, feels notchy or jerks

85owner reports
40,000median miles
$4,300median quote
1involved a crash

Newest report Sep 6, 2026 · checked Sep 9, 2026

113 of the 327 complaints on this car are about the steering system. 85 of those describe sticky steering, which makes it the most reported problem on the 2021 CR-V.

Tick what matches of 85 reports

sticks or catches when I steer

feels notchy or jerky

worse at highway speed

pulls or veers on its own

locks up or is hard to turn

no warning light came on

What got replaced

Owners who name the part that was replaced mention the steering rack (22 reports).

Recalls and investigations

No recall on the steering system covers the 2021 model year as of Sep 9, 2026.

NHTSA investigations into the steering system on the CR-V

EA23-003opened Nov 29, 2023

Steering · model years 2023 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

None of these investigations covers the 2021 model year.

What owners paid

8 of the 85 reports quote a price. Each dot is one quote. The middle half runs $3,600 to $4,661.

$3,600$4,300$4,661

$0k$2k$4k$6k$8k

When it happens

The middle half of failures fell between 18,000 and 47,000 miles, from the 23 reports that gave a mileage.

122

123

2324

2125

3926

What owners wrote

“When driving, the steering wheel sticks and I have to jerk it to correct. Sometimes it overcorrects making it dangerous. I only have 47000 miles on it. It is now doing it really frequently. Was only at high speeds, now all speeds. I took it in but dealer said they couldn't duplicate it. There is a recall but only for newer models. There needs to be one for older models also.”
Filed May 18, 2026 · 47,000 miles

“The car has the sticky steering issue that has already been reported by numerous owners of Honda Civic and CRV. The dealer said the unit needs to be replaced and the car is not safe to drive. There are no parts available and the car has been at the dealership for two months. If it involves a manufacture defect, why has there been no recall by Honda.”
Filed Aug 9, 2024

“Experiencing freezing/sticking of the steering wheel during driving at both slow and fast speeds. After inspection by a Honda dealer, the problem was able to be reproduced was determined that the vehicle requires a new steering gearbox. There were no warning lamps or messages that appeared to indicate this issue.”
Filed Jun 17, 2024

“Steering feels sticky and temporary requires extra force to get the wheel to turn”
Filed Jun 10, 2024

Should you keep driving it?

This page can't tell you that. 1 of 85 reports involved a crash and 1 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.