Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2013 Honda Crosstour owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
Complaint Summary: Steering system failure remains unresolved after Honda warranty repair. Complete loss of electric power steering. Complaint Details: I experienced a sudden and complete loss of electric power steering on my 2013 Honda Crosstour V6. The EPS warning light illuminated, steering effort increased drastically, and vehicle control at low speeds became difficult and unsafe. The vehicle was brought to a Honda dealership, which replaced the EPS control unit under Honda's warranty extension 19-036. However, after the repair, the power steering is still completely inoperative. The same original diagnostic trouble code (DTC 32-09) returned immediately, showing that the underlying defect was never resolved. …
When driving around 30 miles per hour the vehicle would still drive but it was extremely difficult to turn. I noticed the steering warning failure indicator was flashing on the dash, I could barely pull over to left to avoid cars from hitting me from the sides and came to a complete stop. (The car was still running, no steering) . I cycled the key and waited for a couple of minutes, the power steering light was off and the steering worked but only for about 100 meters, this happened about five times before I was able to drive it home. The issue has not reoccurred yet, I'm going to the dealer tomorrow for general maintenance but I was already told that it will be hard to diagnose if the issue is not present. I don't feel safe on this car, specially for long trips or highway speeds.
In August 2021, the Crosstour was traveling at approximately 60mph over a bridge, the steering wheel locked and became nearly impossible to turn. Control of vehicle was lost. Vehicle was brought to a Honda service center and evaluated. A code was generated, and the vehicle was under warranty, and the problem was supposedly fixed. February 2022, Crosstour was traveling at approximately 30mph when the steering began to feel unsteady and tight. The steering wheel locked again. Control of vehicle was lost. Vehicle was brought to the same Honda service center. The workers said no code was generated this time.
As I was driving out of the parking garage I could not turn the wheel of my vehicle and almost hit a cement pillar. A light popped on that had a steering wheel and a exclamation mark. This message had never popped up before. I looked in my owners manual and found it was the power steering sign. I thought my vehicle needed power steering fluid but found out it was automatic. I took it to the dealership and they stated I need a steering rack.
I was arriving home and when I turned onto my road the steering got impossible to turn. The steering trouble light come on. I stopped the car. We walked home. Next day I went to car and started it. The light was off and steering was back to normal. I live off of a curvey road will this happen again? I am afraid to drive it. Has Honda got a recall out?
Purchased in 2016. In 2018 with about 80K on the odometer I began to experience intermittent EPS failure. The first time I was driving on the highway and felt the steering get heavier. I pulled over and turned the car off. Checked for damage under the hood and saw nothing. Restarting the car, the issue went away. It occurred the next day and was intermittent for about two weeks, but now seems to be in failure 100% of the time. When the failure occurs the EPS warning light comes on and the steering becomes very heavy, as if there is zero power assistance from the EPS system. The steering is still functional, so the issue does not seem to be mechanical with a 100% steering failure, it's only the powered steering assistance that is failing. Car is still operable but very cumbersome while parking, however my wife cannot drive the car safely because the steering is too heavy for her. …
At 92,886 miles, cranked my parked car up to back out of the garage and noticed the EPS warning light was on and remained on. As I attempted to back out, I was completely unable to maneuver the vehicle. I've had older cars where you could at least muscle the steering when low on power steering fluid... Not so in this case. Very thankful I was not already on the highway as this would have been a life threatening situation. Absolutely no warning of any problem. This vehicle has never missed a service, has high quality synthetic blend oil, garage kept and always had the recommended service. The car is a beautiful completely unusable vehicle right now. I called a local auto service center and they said only Honda can address this situation and the repair starts at $3000. …
I was driving on a street going 35 MPH and all of a sudden my wheel locked up and I was unable to turn the wheel at all. I looked at the dash and the light with the steering wheel and the exclamation mark was on. I proceeded to drive at a slower speed because I was right up the road from my house. Luckily I had no turns to make. This is very unsafe and luckily I was not on the highway or traveling at a higher speed because this would have caused a major accident. I went home and parked my vehicle, the next morning I started the car to get the mileage and noticed that the caution light was off I proceeded to turn the wheel and it was normal. I drove my car to the auto shop. My car has been checked and it has power steering fluid and the mechanic stated all is well with it. My concern now is why did that happen and will it happen again.
No notable previous problems. Leaving a restaurant late in the evening, got into my car started and immediately the steering (EPS) indicator light was on and there was no power in the steering and the brakes were hard. I shut off engine and tried to restart two times to see if system would reset. No luck. Next day. Went back to parking lot, started car and hoping possible reset-no luck. I was parked- when this occurred thankfully. I had to have car towed to Honda. I am now looking at more than $ 3000 repair bill and $700 rental due to two weeks of diagnosing and work to repair. I am number 10 in the 2013 Crosstour steering complaints that are all similar. And have been reported. Are there more unreported occurrences? This is a big problem that no one has been injured. What has to happen before a recall is administered?
Upon driving home I turned a corner and immediately my steering went out and I could not steer the car at all. The car has electronic power steering and the system went out. If I would have been on the highway it could have been a very bad situation. I had I towed to Honda which said this is not under warranty and will cost $3000. The worst part is they can't seen to fix it, they put in a new system but can't seem to get the computer to acknowledge it. I have researched this and found many complaints for the accord/crosstours with this issue from 2013-2015 with the electronic power steering going out. Honda refuses to acknowledge the problem. Two weeks later I still have no car. This was a pre-owned certified car and I have had multiple electrical issues and it only has 72,000 miles.
Steering complaints in other Crosstour years
Frequently asked questions
How common are steering problems on the 2013 Honda Crosstour?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the steering of the 2013 Honda Crosstour, 43% of the model year's 49 complaints.
Is there a recall for 2013 Honda Crosstour steering problems?
No. NHTSA lists no steering recall for the 2013 Honda Crosstour, though it has 3 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 2013 Honda Crosstour steering problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 72,000 miles.
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.