NHTSA Complaint #10567647 — 2007 HONDA FIT

I'VE HAD THIS ISSUE NUMEROUS TIMES OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. WHEN THE AMBIENT TEMPERATURE IS BELOW APPROXIMATELY 45 DEGREES F, THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING MODULE RELAY MAKES A STRANGE CLICKING BUZZING SOUND IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE ENGINE STARTS. THE POWER STEERING WARNING INDICATOR LIGHT STAYS ILLUMINATED ON THE DASH AND THE STEERING WHEEL IS VERY STIFF AND DIFFICULT TO MOVE. THE CONDITION CAN BE REMEDIED BY TURNING THE KEY TO THE OFF POSITION, WAITING A FEW SECONDS AND TRYING AGAIN, ALTHOUGH THIS CYCLE MAY HAVE TO BE REPEATED A DOZEN TIMES BEFORE THE POWER STEERING COMES BACK ON. DRIVING THE VEHICLE WITHOUT THE ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING ACTIVE IS DANGEROUS AS IT'S OBVIOUS THE SYSTEM WAS DESIGNED TO BE HIGHLY ASSISTED. YOU COULD FIND YOURSELF IN A SITUATION WHERE YOU ARE STRANDED BY THIS ISSUE. APPARENTLY IT'S A COMMON ONE, SO MUCH SO THAT HONDA HAS ISSUED A SERVICE BULLETIN FOR IT WHICH CALLS FOR REPLACING THE EPS MODULE AT A COST OF $700+. LUCKILY I HAVEN'T HAD IT FAIL WHILE DRIVING BUT I'M AFRAID IT COULD AS IT HAS FOR OTHERS. IT'S OBVIOUS WITH THE FREQUENCY OF THIS ISSUE THAT THERE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT IN THE EPS MODULE WHICH SHOULD WARRANT A RECALL. *TR