Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2017 Honda CR-V owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
I was going ~60-65MPH on the Ronald Reagan freeway east bound on a rainy day at ~ 3:40pm on 27th December 2022. I was going on the second from left lane between the Rinaldi and Porter Ranch exits. Unbeknownst to me this part of the freeway is notorious for flooding in the left lanes. I applied the brakes gently to slow down my car. Suddenly, I felt I lost steering, the car skidded the steering wheel turned left into the median barrier. The car then made a complete U-turn in the direction of traffic and flipped over one complete revolution. Fortunately, nobody was injured in the crash and other cars were not involved. There were no warnings and indication that the car was hydroplaning. The skidding safety feature was turned on. I released the car to the insurance company to recover monetary loss and I don't have any information on if it was inspected. …
The contact owns a 2017 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving 25 MPH, the steering wheel failed to turn in the intended direction. The contact stated that the steering wheel was sticking. The dealer was contacted by phone and made aware of the failure. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with steering gear box and rack and pinion failures. The contact was informed that the steering gear box and rack and pinon needed to be replaced. The contact referenced an unknown recall; however, the VIN was not associated with a recall associated with the failure. The manufacturer was contacted by phone and a case was filed. The contact was provided a loyalty discount towards the cost of the repair, however the dealer declined. The manufacturer was informed that the contact was not a loyal customer. The failure mileage was approximately 58,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel momentarily became difficult to turn, and the steering wheel was sticking. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where a diagnostic test determined that the electronic power steering unit was inoperable and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and requested goodwill assistance to repair the vehicle. The contact was provided a case number. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V663000 (STEERING). The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering suddenly turned independently, requiring the contact to manually return the steering wheel to the center. The vehicle returned to normal functionality, but the failure became a regular occurrence. 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 notified of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was 50,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the steering wheel momentarily became difficult to turn in either direction. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer and was diagnosed and determined that the electronic power steering unit was faulty and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not yet repaired. The manufacturer was not yet notified of the failure. The contact was informed that the VIN was not included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V663000 (STEERING). The contact stated that the vehicle had experienced the failure listed in the recall. The failure mileage was 30,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving at undisclosed speeds, the steering wheel seized, and was difficult to maneuver. The contact stated that the failure recurred consistently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where it was diagnosed with rack and pinion failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact discovered NHTSA Campaign Number: 18V663000 (Steering) however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 70,000.
The contact owns a 2017 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving approximately 35 MPH, the steering wheel became stiff. No warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed that the steering gear needed to be replaced. The contact was advised by the local dealer that the vehicle was unsafe to drive. The vehicle was not repaired due to the cost. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,000.
When driving short and longer distances, typically at speeds consistently over 35mph the steering wheel seems to "lock" in place or feels "stuck". There is also an associated creaking sound. The locking up/stuck is pretty easily resolved, SO FAR. This behavior started this summer and happened practically all summer any time I drove anywhere. (The fields below don't allow me to enter multiple dates/ranges.) My kids are almost 17 now and I cannot help them work on driving miles to get their licenses because I feel my car is unsafe to drive. This identical behavior has been pretty well documented in several years of the Honda CRVs on a Honda forum (https://www.carproblemzoo.com/honda/cr-v/steering-problems.php). The mentioned forum has examples where much more extreme results occur where steering locks up while turning and cars become undrivable. …
Steering feels "sticky" when trying to make small corrections to keep the car straight. By "sticky" I mean a little bit harder to move smoothly than normal to keep the car straight. Or there is more friction than normal when making small corrections to keep the car straight. The steering is not smooth when making small corrections to go straight. The "stickyness" only happens from center and between the 11 o'clock and 1 o'clock positions. Also feels like it does not want to move but then suddenly slips or jerks to the left or right from center. There is sometimes a faint noise from the steering column area with the stickyness - sounds like a little clunk, or squeak like when something is rubbing and needs grease or lubricant or worn out. When does it happen? Seems to happen more often after driving for a while like over 30 minutes. …
What I experienced was a multiple system failure. It began with a dead battery two years ago. When the engine was restarted the TPMS light came on along with the indicator light to get your car checked. The lights only came on intermittently at first and it didn't seem to affect the function of the car. I had assumed that when I replaced the battery, I had loosened a fuse. As time passed, the number of lights on the dashboard increased along with the duration of time they stayed lit up. Now, within the past 3 months, all the system indicator lights are on constantly, with the accompanying beeps, dings and sounds for each light. Yesterday, on the highway, my dashboard began to dim and the vehicle began to stutter. The dashboard indicator read Critical Failure Detected. Stop Driving When Safe. At the time I was on the highway in the right lane going 51 mph. This is unsafe. …
Related recalls
Steering › Electric power assist system
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Honda Civic and CR-V vehicles. The magnet that controls the torque sensor output signal for the electronic power steering system may not be properly secured, allowing the magnet to become dislodged.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the steering gearbox assembly, free of charge. The recall began November 9, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.
Steering complaints in other CR-V years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2017 Honda CR-V?
NHTSA has 65 complaints about the steering of the 2017 Honda CR-V, 4% of the model year's 1,776 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2017 Honda CR-V steering problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 18V-663 (electric power assist system, Sep 27, 2018). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2017 Honda CR-V steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 38,000 miles, and 35% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 3 crashes, 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.