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 2005 Honda CR-V owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Under acceleration,... And only under acceleration,... The 2005 CR-v... "torque-steers"... To the right! The harder the acceleration,... The harder it pulls to the right!... If this car was being driven by a person that was not paying proper attention to their driving... They would definitely have an accident!... The car would go to the right and go off the road,.. Or hit anything that was to their right!.. I.e. Another car, pedestrian,... Tree,... Etc. This problem May very well have existed from day one,... However it has virtually always been driven... "gently"... For best fuel mileage.. It was only after a mechanic replaced a faulty "anti-lock braking-system module" that this was discovered. After the ABS module was replaced, it was test-driven. (I.e.) accelerate, then brake,... Repeat. Under this harder than normal acceleration, the torque-steer was discovered. …
Tl* the contact owns a 2005 Honda CR-v. While driving at approximately 20 MPH, the vehicle veered independently to the right. The failure recurred multiple times. The vehicle was taking to an independent mechanic, and the torque steer needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. Also, while braking, the driver side rear brake failed. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where the anti lock braking system module was replaced. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The approximate failure mileage was 25,000.
The locking mechanism for the tilt steering wheel not stay in a locked position. Mine will not longer stay in the lock position at all. It remains in the dropped down unlocked position causing the steering wheel to move up and down while the vehicle is in motion. It is also a hazard when getting out of the car as you can catch your leg with it and possible injure your leg.
I purchased a 2005 Honda CR-v in March of 2005 after doing extensive vehicle research, visiting two (2) dealerships and test driving two (2) CR-vs. After having the opportunity to drive the vehicle for a couple hundred miles, I noticed a constant pull to the right (pttr) at all speeds and rates of acceleration. During my initial research on the CR-v, as well as post-purchase visits to vehicle forum websites, I realized that the vehicle was experiencing torque steer. The pttr is only present when the accelerator is engaged manually or via cruise control. There is no pttr while the vehicle is coasting. The disappointing thing about this condition is that - during purchase and price negotiations - I asked the sales person and sales manager about CR-v torque steer issues directly. Their response to me, quite simply, was that they were not familiar with any such condition. …
Purchased 2005 Honda CR-v new after asking specifically about reported pull to right read about on the web. Took salesperson's word that it wasn't a problem; drove off the lot and the car wanted to center or caster about 5 degrees to right of center; it's acutally harder to steer left than to steer right. Bare minimum foot on gas pedal also causes the steering wheel to point right by this amount though the pttr happens at coasting as well. Alignment performed by martin Honda, newark de two days after taking delivery. Stated toe alignment off, swapped tires, and say that some steer error is normal due to crowned road. Amazing, since the problem is experienced every bit as much on the majority of roads in my area, which as it happens are not crowned at all. …
I purchased a 2005 Honda CR-v on July 11, 2005. After briefly driving the vehicle I noticed a severe pull to the right (later found out this is called ts (torque steer) during acceleration from a stop up to sixty-five miles per hour. In less than three seconds the car was two lanes to the right (safety hazard). I drove the vehicle in a parking lot with the grade to the left and the vehicle still pulled uphill to the right (so much for road crown pull). On 7/26 spreen Honda of loma linda, ca, where the vehicle was purchased, had it aligned by the Saturn dealership (owned by spreen owner) with no appreciable difference. On 7/28-7/29 spreen had preutt''s wheel alignment of redlands do a second alignment with no appreciable difference. The vehicle continues to pull to the right. …
Purchased 2005 Honda crv for teenaged daughter in December 2004. Her mother drove the car for the first time on March 5, 2005 and was unfamiliar with the severe torque steer present in the vehicle. After making a right turn onto a major highway under hard acceleration, the steering wheel slipped from my wife's hands and the car struck the curb on the right side of the road. This blew both tires on the right side. At my own expense, I had all four tire replaced and a four-wheel alignment done at an independent dealer. Torque steer is still very prevalent. I took the car to the dealer yesterday and I was told there was nothing wrong with the car that the pulling to the right was characteristic of the crv. To the point where it steers you into a curb!?? I am told there is no fix for this condition. Now I am out $600 for repairs, and I'm not so sure I want my daughter driving this car.
New Honda 2005 crv lx AWD. Vehicle drifted to right of road and pulls to the right with acceleration, more acceleration = harder pull. It is bad. Honda dealer performed 2 tsbs to correct (tire change out and upper spring seal angle) but neither fixed problem (they admit there is a problem still and are waiting for Honda engineering to call them. They also checked 2 other crvs on their lot and both had the same problem) this is a potential safety issue -- imagine cruise on, up a hill and the vehicle downshifs from 5th to 3rd to regain speed, pulling, causing the un-alert driver to change lanes/off-road, or to over compensate one-handed.
Tl contact owns a 2005 Honda crv. While driving 45 MPH, the tilt adjuster that controls different settings to adjust the steering column failed. The steering column loosened and moved up and down while driving. The contact had to hold the tilt adjuster lock in his hand while driving until it locked back into place. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and they determined that the tilt adjuster was functioning as designed. No repairs were made. The contact is in the process of notifying the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 12,000 and current mileage was 42,000.
I bought a 05 Honda crv se and I changed the tires to Goodyear assurance for better grip for the winter. The vehicle with correct tire pressure pulled to the right. The vehicle than was checked to fault in alignment twice (once from the Honda dealer and again at professional tire shop) and found no fault. The vehicle continued to pull to the right as well as having too much torque steer when it starts to accelerate from the a light or a complete stop. The vehicle is not even half a year old.
Steering complaints in other CR-V years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2005 Honda CR-V?
NHTSA has 23 complaints about the steering of the 2005 Honda CR-V, 5% of the model year's 479 complaints. The component named most often is linkages › tie rod assembly (1 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2005 Honda CR-V steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2005 Honda CR-V, though it has 12 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 2005 Honda CR-V steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 6,000 miles, and 79% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 0 injuries 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.