Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2020 Honda CR-V owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
While travelling home from Champaign, IL on [redacted] towards Springfield, IL, we had been on the road for approximately an hour, when there was a loud metallic bang & I lost all steering control. The CR-V violently jerked to the right and exited the interstate at approximately 70mph (I was on cruise control), travelled down an embankment hitting several trees and came to a stop in trees on the edge of a farm pond. All airbags deployed, and per the Tow company, the engine and transaxles departed the vehicle and were found a short distance in front of the vehicle. The car stayed upright and continued straight after departing the roadway. what component failed & is it available for inspection - steering, exact component unknown. unknown if available for inspection, vehicle released to state farm 1/29 how was safety put at risk - caused severe crash with serious injuries. …
The contact owns a 2020 Honda CR-V. The contact stated while driving at various speeds and making slight right turns, the steering wheel was sticking and required to be manually steered to the center. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had been recurring intermittently. Additionally, the contact stated that the failure had progressively gotten worse, requiring the driver to use more physical force to turn the steering wheel to the center. The vehicle was taken to the dealer several times. The dealer replaced the ABS module and the rack and pinion; however, the failure persisted. The vehicle was taken back to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the rack and pinion needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 29,000.
The contact owns a 2020 Honda CR-V. The contact stated that while driving 10 MPH and coming to a stop, the steering wheel became loose. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed; however, no cause for the failure was found. The contact called the local dealer and was informed that the vehicle needed to be diagnosed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacture was not contacted. The failure mileage was 17,000.
At 29,100 miles on the odometer I started noticing a little difference in the steering, especially at low speeds. There were no dashboard warning messages. I took it to a local Honda Service Center (Vatland Honda) and they diagnosed the problem as "Electric steering rack internal failure" and an estimated repair cost approaching $6,000 after taxes and fees. They said there's no way to predict if or when the power steering would completely fail, but it could be a sudden event. I left with the impression that even total steering failure was a possibility. Because of the high cost estimate, I took it to a second Service Center (Coggin Honda) for an estimate. They checked the car and came to the same conclusion as the first Service Center. However, their cost of repair was lower ($5,375 including tax), and I had them repair the car yesterday (9/17/26). …
In [redacted] I began experiencing a sticking/notching sensation in the steering wheel. Because this involves the steering system and therefore raises an obvious safety concern, we contacted Honda Customer Service and opened Case #[redacted]. Honda Customer Service instructed us to take the vehicle to an authorized Honda dealer for evaluation. We took the vehicle to Fred Anderson Honda in Greenville, South Carolina where the steering problem was inspected, verified and documented. They determined it was a sticking gear box. During our research, we became aware of NHTSA Safety Recall 24V-744, which involves a steering gearbox problem on certain Honda and Acura vehicles, including certain 2023-2025 CR-V and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. Additionally, there are reported cases with other 2020 Honda CR-V along with previous years. The sticking/notching has gotten worse since being noticed. …
Although this 2020 Honda CR-V vehicle is not covered by the "sticky steering" recall we are experiencing the same symptoms reported by owners of newer model cars included in the recall. Our dealer says the only fix is to replace the entire steering box at a cost of $3,000. In addition the timeline to get and fix the problem is unknown because the part is on nationwide back order. The car has 60k miles on it. We have just had new tires and breaks installed, a front end alignment and all linkages checked. The problem unfortunately persists. Clearly there is a problem with the steering on this vehicle. We haven't yet experienced an accident but the car pulls to the left at high speed and takes considerable force to get it corrected. The vehicle could easily veer into traffic in the other or oncoming lane on its own. The ability to recover in time to avoid an accident is questionable. …
A warning on the dash that read, "All Wheel System Drive Problem," came up several times during the past few days on my 2020 Honda CRV with only 70,000 miles. It came without any prior warning and power was diverted from all four wheels to just the front wheels. It posed a safety risk because it came so suddenly, but I was able to drive carefully to the dealership. There is a Service Bulletin with Honda with the NHTSA (#23-031) located at [redacted]. This is a known problem with both Honda and the NHTSA, yet there is no active recall. The dealership charged $1260 to have this repaired, even though it's a drivetrain issue and not a common maintenance item. I would like the NHTSA to request a recall with Honda so that I can be reimbursed for this. I have attached a copy of the invoice that Honda provided for the services rendered.
Choppy steering ,sticking, not smooth. Getting worse. It started when it was new . I did not know how lane departure assist worked,or felt. BUT EVEN IN THE OFF POSITION MY STEERING WAS STILL STICKY,AND CHOPPY. So I thought that this STICKY ,CHOPPY STEERING WAS NORMAL . It slowly has gotton worse , it has progressed to the point ,that I kmow that somthing is very wrong with my HONDAS steering. . I HAVE LOOKED INTO THIS PROBLEM ,IT IS NOW WELL DOCUMENTED THAT HONDA ,NEEDS TO REPAIR THIS DEFECT UNDER A RECALL ORDER. THIS is definatly a Honda Factory Defect in THEIR STEERING. PLEASE CALL ME [redacted] KRAUSE AT [redacted] . PS. I AM NOW AFRAID TO DRIVE IT.
When driving at highway speeds, the steering is sticky and can get locked into a certain position. It can be overcome with moderate effort, but will become dangerous to drive if it gets worse. There are no warning lamps or messages related to this issue. I have taken it to the dealer and they refused to accept manufacturer responsibility for this. I took it to a trusted local independent mechanic who confirmed the issue and estimated it would cost roughly $4K to replace the rack and address the issue. Note that this issue has been identified by many other 2020 CRV owners, and the same issue has prompted a recall on 2023-24 Honda CRV models.
It all begins with sticky steering wheel and got worse. Took to the dealership they first diagnosed as "transmission mount". After working on the car they said "Power Steering Rack" needs replacing. I am the single owner of this vehicle with only 28000 miles and just over 3 years of ownership. I am stunned at the cost of this repair (not covered by Honda) and the fact that this part may not be available for a long while according to dealership and it is unsafe to drive the vehicle. This is for sure a defective vehicle to lose a power steering rack at 28K miles and just over 3 years. Thank you!
Steering complaints in other CR-V years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2020 Honda CR-V?
NHTSA has 43 complaints about the steering of the 2020 Honda CR-V, 12% of the model year's 356 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2020 Honda CR-V steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2020 Honda CR-V, though it has 7 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 2020 Honda CR-V steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 17,000 miles, and 67% before 25,000 miles.
Is it dangerous?
Owners linked 1 crash, 0 fires and 2 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.