Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (power steering, steering column, rack and pinion).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2012 Honda Accord owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
ABS,Traction Control, Brake Light steady stay on. Have taken vehicle to numerous mechanics. ISSUES can NEVER BE RESOLVED. Lights will stay on no matter what. I HAVE TO CHANGE THE BRAKES LIKE EVERY 4-6 months. Alignment also has to keep getting done. I don't know if that's because the issue with whatever is causing the braking issues haven't been resolved. Also the oil has to be changed like every 4,000 miles. . I also was driving down the road one day and heard this LOUD bang almost like a gunshot and out of the blue the trunk torque rods and the clips broke spontaneously.
I bought my Honda 2012 as a used vehicle about 1 1/2 ago. I have had the tires replaced all the way around almost twice. I have had it in the shop multiple times for a vibration and noise that starts at about 60 mph and seems to lessen when I get to around 75 mph. I also have had to get the tires aligned multiple times, once within 2 weeks time and the steering seems to get looser and looser. Still been unable to figure out why this is happening by my mechanic.
My ABS, TRACTION CONTROL, BRAKE & TPMS LIGHTS have been ON for the past few months. My tire air pressure is fine. The dealer claims I need to replace the VSA MODULE at the cost est @ $1900. After my personal investigation, I have learned Honda has had numerous customer complaints of these same issues on 2012-2013 Honda Accords.
Twice in the past couple of months my car has turned off while in drive and I lost power steering/braking. Both times were luckily in my apartment parking lot. They occured about 10-15 seconds after backing out and putting it in drive. The second time I almost slid into a car driving by since I wasn't able to brake.
ABS, Traction Control and Brake lights on. Diagnosed by 2 mechanics told ABS module is bad, which affects braking and is hazardous. Also told this should not be happening with so little mileage on vehicle 50K. There needs to be a recall for this issue!!!!
1) When starting the car ( cold ) it makes a rattling sound that goes away after a few seconds and does not make this sound again until the car cools off 2) sometimes when driving the steering wheel shakes during acceleration
Check Engine Light Due to Low Engine Oil Level, Radio/Climate Control Display May Go Dark, major issue is "No Start" Due to Ignition Switch Failure and fuses keep blowing so many issues and problems
The timing between shifts on the automatic shifts are good sometimes and when air conditioning is on it makes noises and causes the car to have latency in gear shifts, the front wheel hub covers fall off causing the tire to roll over the plastic and rip it off the body , the coolant system is definitely compromised because the car overheats too fast especially in hot weather, the debris from the road get caught up in and around the engine and air filtration system from the wheel covers being faulty the parking break doesn't work well and it's been having the same problem since the day I bought it off the show room floor also the tie rods wear out so fast causing major problems while on highway shaking and vibrating the car and steering wheel, also the car burns oil so fast that you have to change the oil and filter at max 3000 miles, being that the newer models are having timing belt …
Sudden loss of steering control causing vehicle to veer from the intended path of travel.
Power steering rack is leaking. Need to replace power steering rack. This is my second repair. I currently have 55,000 miles on what was a brand-new 2012 Honda Accord coupe. Power steering rack is leaking. Need to replace power steering rack. This is my second repair. I currently have 55,000 miles on what was a brand-new 2012 Honda Accord coupe. I first noticed the problem 10 months ago and had it repaired. That did not solve the problem. Because it is a very slow leak I am estimating the problem existed well before I discovered it. I am confident I got a bad power steering rack from the manufacturer. Hey experienced whining sounds going around turns especially roundabouts. I'm convinced this is a faulty parts because Honda power steering rack steve not go bad at 45 to 50,000 miles. Hondas corporate customer response about the situation has been lackluster to say the least. …
Steering complaints in other Accord years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2012 Honda Accord?
NHTSA has 51 complaints about the steering of the 2012 Honda Accord, 14% of the model year's 373 complaints. The component named most often is rack and pinion (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2012 Honda Accord steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2012 Honda Accord, though it has 8 recalls for other components. If the problem is widespread, a repair may still be covered by an extended warranty or a manufacturer service bulletin — ask a dealer.
At what mileage do 2012 Honda Accord steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 24,000 miles, and 53% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 0 fires and 1 injury to steering problems on this model year. If you notice symptoms, have the car checked before driving further.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.