Honda recently announced a recall affecting nearly 1.7 million vehicles across the United States due to a significant steering issue. The recall, however, is not confined to the U.S., as approximately 240,000 vehicles in Canada and an additional 58,000 in Mexico are also impacted. This makes the recall a North American issue, affecting several of Honda’s most popular and high-performance models.
The recall was initiated after Honda identified a problem with the steering gearbox worm wheel in certain models. According to Honda, the worm wheel may swell during vehicle use, causing the grease film between the worm wheel and worm gear to thin out. This can lead to issues with the steering, making it more challenging for drivers to control the vehicle. Additionally, the worm gear spring preload, which helps regulate tension, was found to be set too high in these models. This increases the sliding force between the worm wheel and worm gear, which exacerbates the steering difficulties. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has expressed concern, noting that such steering problems could elevate the risk of accidents and potential injuries due to the increased steering effort required.
A total of 1,693,199 vehicles are affected by this recall. Among them are the 2022-2025 Civic Sedan and Civic Sedan Hybrid, produced between February 16, 2021, and September 3, 2024, and March 21, 2023, and August 30, 2024, respectively. The recall also includes the 2022-2025 Honda Civic Hatchback and Civic Hatchback Hybrid models, assembled between February 9, 2021, and August 14, 2024, as well as May 25, 2023, and February 4, 2024. Additionally, the 2023-2025 high-performance Civic Type R models, built from March 1, 2022, to August 29, 2024, are impacted. Honda’s luxury counterpart, Acura, is also affected with the 2023-2025 Acura Integra and 2024-2025 Integra Type S models included in the recall. The popular Honda CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, CR-V Fuel Cell (2023-2025), and 2023-2025 HR-V models are also listed as affected vehicles, with production dates spanning April 26, 2022, to August 23, 2024.
The steering issue stems from an inadequate annealing process and a high-load single unit break-in during the production of the worm wheel, as detailed in Honda’s recall notice. Honda’s first complaint regarding this fault was received around three years ago, making this recall a response to ongoing customer reports and safety concerns.
Honda plans to notify registered owners of the affected vehicles starting November 18, 2024. The notification will be mailed directly to owners, instructing them to bring their vehicles to authorized Honda dealerships, where the worm gear spring will be replaced at no cost. This recall aims to rectify the steering issues, enhancing vehicle safety and ensuring a smoother driving experience for Honda customers across North America.