2018 Honda Civic steering problems
313 of the 751 complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Honda Civic name the steering (NHTSA’s “Steering” heading — the steering column, rack, pump and power assist). Filed under the same heading: 1 recall. Every figure below is a document in a federal file, linked; none is a failure rate, and none is a verdict on any one car.
What owners filed about the steering
Source: NHTSA complaint database9 of the 313 reports a crash · 0 a fire · 0 injuries. Self-reported, unverified.
Filed per year: 2017: 1 · 2018: 2 · 2019: 6 · 2020: 4 · 2021: 10 · 2022: 19 · 2023: 53 · 2024: 84 · 2025: 68 · 2026: 66
Half of the 59 owners who gave an odometer reading reported the steering problem between 30,000 and 80,000 miles. A median of reports, not the life of a part.
751 complaints in all about the 2018 Honda Civic, 66 filed in 2026. The whole picture, every system →
Counts are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many of these were sold; nothing here is a rate. NHTSA groups complaints coarsely, so “Steering” means the same area of the vehicle, not one fault.
Across model years: Honda Civic steering problems, every year on file →
In owners’ own words
Source: NHTSA complaint databaseFiled with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, about the steering. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed; unverified reports — what was said, not a finding that it was true.
I just got this car in November 2020 (I’m the second owner and it was originally a lease). It only has 27,400 miles on it. Within the past week I’ve started feeling and hearing a clicking and jerking in the steering wheel when I turn/correct instead of a smooth transition.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Civic. The contact stated while driving various speeds, the steering wheel became difficult to turn. There was no warning light illuminated. The vehicle was not taken to the local dealer or independent mechanic for diagnosis or repairs.
I just bought this car. The problem happens after you've been driving for a bit on the highway. The steering starts to stick and it takes a bit of effort to turn (like it's stuck) and when you do end up turning the steering wheel, you overcorrect. This is extremely aggravating and doesn't feel safe.
While driving down road, the steering feels like it a hick in it and acts like it kindly locks steering wheel while in motion while in all speeds, make it hard to drive in traffic. Like this isn't any play in steering like most other cars have.
Steering would become "stuck" and you would have to force the vehicle to turn while in motion and the steering wheel would making a clicking sound. Would happen about 20-30 minutes after being driven. Took into a Honda dealership and they said it is the power steering rack is failing
What is on file about the steering
Source: NHTSA recalls, investigations and manufacturer communicationsRecall filed under this heading
- 18V663000 CriticalSep 27, 2018 · 54 vehicles
- 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. During a full lock turn, the dislodged magnet may cause steering assist to be applied in the opposite direction.
Other systems with a record on the 2018 Honda Civic
Source: the same files- fuel system problems 179 complaints
- electrical problems 61 complaints
- engine problems 58 complaints
Common questions
Source: NHTSA complaint database, recalls and manufacturer communicationsAre steering problems common on the 2018 Honda Civic?
They are documented: NHTSA holds 313 owner complaints naming the steering on this model year (42% of everything owners filed about it), and 1 recall is filed under the same heading. Whether it is a problem on one particular car is a diagnosis, not a count, and a count says nothing about how many were sold.
Is there a recall for the steering on the 2018 Honda Civic?
Yes — one campaign is filed under this heading: 18V663000. A recall is matched by VIN; check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
When do steering problems show up on the 2018 Honda Civic?
Owners who gave an odometer reading reported it at a median of 51,128 miles; half of them between 30,000 and 80,000. That is when reports cluster, not the life of a part.
What does NHTSA's "Steering" heading cover?
The steering column, rack, pump and power assist. Owners choose the heading when they file, so it says which area of the vehicle the complaint is about, not which part failed.