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 2016 Honda Civic owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was drifting and failed to move as needed and continued to jerk. The contact forced the steering wheel into position however, the action would overcorrect the vehicle. The contact stated that while his wife was driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel was jerking and the vehicle was difficult to turn. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer again where it was diagnosed and determined that the power steering rack needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The approximate failure mileage was 47,466.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the contact became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, frequently becoming stuck in position, requiring that the steering wheel be manually returned to center. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. After investigating the failure, the contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V663000 (Steering), but the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 140,000. The VIN was not available.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became firm, and was sticking while turning in direction. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure was more noticeable while driving at highway speeds, and caused the vehicle to drift to either side, causing the driver to make additional adjustments to keep the vehicle driving straight. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was provided. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was 31,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel became firm, and was sticking while turning in either direction. The contact stated that the failure was more noticeable while driving at highway speeds, and caused the vehicle to drift to either side, causing the driver to make addition steering wheel adjustments to keep the vehicle driving straight. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer who was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure, but no assistance was offered. The failure mileage was 60,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized. There were no warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed that the steering assembly and rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired, but the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken back to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the failure was due to the steering shaft. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was contacted, but no assistance was provided. The failure mileage was approximately 54,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving 50 MPH, the steering wheel failed to respond immediately however, abruptly the steering wheel responded causing the vehicle to veer into the other lane. The contact stated that the failure was ongoing. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that after slowing down, the vehicle operated as designed. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer to be diagnosed; however, the mechanic was unable to duplicate the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 40,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while starting the vehicle, the electronic braking system, steering, alternator, check engine, and TPMS warning lights illuminated. After shifting into drive(D), the vehicle lost power steering functionality and became difficult to turn. The braking system warning light remained illuminated. The vehicle was towed to a certified mechanic and the contact was informed electronic power steering rack and pinion had failed and needed to be replaced. The vehicle had not been repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The approximate failure was 46,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, she became aware that the electronic power steering was not functioning properly, requiring the steering wheel to be manually returned to center after completing a turn. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. No warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the dealer or an independent mechanic. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 84,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated that while driving at highway speeds, the power steering started to fail. The steering wheel started to drift to the left or right and the steering wheel seized in that direction. The contact stated that excessive force was needed to steer the vehicle. The power steering function returned; however, the failure recurred intermittently. The contact had taken the vehicle to the dealer who was unable to identify the cause of the failure. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 67,000.
The contact owns a 2016 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving 70 mph, the steering wheel was making abnormal clicking sounds. Additionally, the steering wheel was stiff, and the vehicle was pull to the left while driving. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who was unable to determine the cause of the failure. The contact was referred to an authorized dealer for assistance. The vehicle was taken to the dealer to be diagnosed. The contact was still awaiting the diagnostic report. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 60,000.
Steering complaints in other Civic years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2016 Honda Civic?
NHTSA has 446 complaints about the steering of the 2016 Honda Civic, 41% of the model year's 1,082 complaints. The component named most often is steering wheel/handle bar (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2016 Honda Civic steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2016 Honda Civic, though it has 5 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 2016 Honda Civic steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 39,000 miles, and 27% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 4 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.