Honda Motor Co. has announced a significant recall affecting nearly 1.7 million vehicles due to a manufacturing defect that may hamper steering control and increase the risk of accidents.
The recall, reported to government regulators last week, prompted a safety order from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) on Tuesday. The NHTSA highlighted that the issue lies within the steering gearbox assembly, which could have been improperly manufactured, resulting in “excessive internal friction.” This could make steering more difficult, thereby raising the chances of a crash.
The affected vehicles belong to model years 2022 to 2025, including certain models of the Acura Integra, Honda Civic, Honda CR-V, and Honda HR-V.
This investigation was initiated in March after the NHTSA received 145 complaints from Honda Civic drivers, who reported that their steering had a tendency to stick, requiring additional effort to turn the steering wheel.
Fortunately, as of the original announcement earlier this year, the NHTSA indicated that there were no reported accidents or injuries related to this steering problem. Moreover, Tuesday’s recall order also did not cite any accidents or injuries caused by the defect.
Honda plans to send notification letters to affected vehicle owners by November 18. Those owners can visit dealers, where the worm gear spring will be replaced and grease reapplied as necessary, all at no extra cost.
If you have questions or require further assistance, vehicle owners can reach out to Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. The recall identification numbers are SJS, MJU, QJT, and VJV.
