Honda and Acura are recalling around 1.7 million vehicles across the United States due to defective steering gearbox components that could lead to steering failure while driving. The affected vehicles are all new models from 2022 to 2025.
According to a recall report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the steering gearbox turbines in certain Honda and Acura models may experience expansion during use, causing a thinning of lubricant between the gears and an increase in friction.
Additionally, the spring pressure setting in the worm gear of these vehicles is too high, which increases the load on the gear sliding, resulting in increased friction during steering and greater torque fluctuations. Drivers may experience abnormal noise or momentary “stickiness” when turning the steering wheel.
Between September 9, 2021, and September 19, 2024, Honda received over 10,000 complaints and warranty repair requests related to these issues. Fortunately, no injuries or fatalities have been reported so far.
To address these problems, Honda will replace the faulty parts for the affected vehicles free of charge, including adding lubricant and replacing the worm spring.
The recall statement mentions that the increased friction between gears can make steering more challenging for drivers, thereby increasing the risk of collision or injury. The recall applies to the following Honda and Acura car models in the United States:
Honda:
– 2022-2025 Honda Civic Sedan
– 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Sedan
– 2022-2025 Honda Civic Hatchback
– 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Hatchback
– 2023-2025 Honda Civic Type R
– 2023-2025 Honda CR-V
– 2023-2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid
– 2025 Honda CR-V Fuel Cell
– 2023-2025 Honda HR-V
Acura:
– 2023-2025 Acura Integra
– 2024-2025 Acura Integra Type S
American Honda will notify all registered owners of affected vehicles by mail in November and request them to bring their vehicles to authorized dealerships for repairs. Owners can expect to receive notifications in the coming weeks.
According to the NHTSA recall reimbursement plan, owners who have previously paid for steering gearbox parts repairs may be eligible for reimbursement. Honda encourages owners of affected vehicles to take their cars for repairs at authorized dealerships immediately upon receiving notification.
Owners can also call Honda authorized dealers at any time to inquire whether their vehicles require recall repairs. As of October 11, several Honda dealerships in the Los Angeles area indicated they are preparing for the recall but are awaiting further updates from American Honda on the required parts.
Honda has recently conducted multiple recalls. In December 2023, Honda recalled over 2.5 million vehicles in the U.S. due to defective fuel pumps, which could increase the risk of engine failure or stalling while driving. In February this year, Honda also recalled over 750,000 vehicles due to a defect in the front passenger seat airbag sensor, which could lead to inadvertent airbag inflation.
Vehicle recalls are a common occurrence, with many major automobile brands opting to issue recalls and provide free repairs to ensure customer safety.
Vehicle owners can check for any safety recall notifications on the NHTSA website or the CheckToProtect.org website established by the National Safety Council. By selecting their state and entering their license plate number or vehicle identification number (VIN), owners can easily check for any safety recall notifications related to their vehicles. ◇