NHTSA Complaint #11221846 — 2013 HONDA CROSSTOUR

PURCHASED IN 2016. IN 2018 WITH ABOUT 80K ON THE ODOMETER I BEGAN TO EXPERIENCE INTERMITTENT EPS FAILURE. THE FIRST TIME I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY AND FELT THE STEERING GET HEAVIER. I PULLED OVER AND TURNED THE CAR OFF. CHECKED FOR DAMAGE UNDER THE HOOD AND SAW NOTHING. RESTARTING THE CAR, THE ISSUE WENT AWAY. IT OCCURRED THE NEXT DAY AND WAS INTERMITTENT FOR ABOUT TWO WEEKS, BUT NOW SEEMS TO BE IN FAILURE 100% OF THE TIME. WHEN THE FAILURE OCCURS THE EPS WARNING LIGHT COMES ON AND THE STEERING BECOMES VERY HEAVY, AS IF THERE IS ZERO POWER ASSISTANCE FROM THE EPS SYSTEM. THE STEERING IS STILL FUNCTIONAL, SO THE ISSUE DOES NOT SEEM TO BE MECHANICAL WITH A 100% STEERING FAILURE, IT'S ONLY THE POWERED STEERING ASSISTANCE THAT IS FAILING. CAR IS STILL OPERABLE BUT VERY CUMBERSOME WHILE PARKING, HOWEVER MY WIFE CANNOT DRIVE THE CAR SAFELY BECAUSE THE STEERING IS TOO HEAVY FOR HER. THIS FAILURE HAS BEEN REPORTED IN THE 2013 ACCORD AS PE14033. THE ACCORD IS THE SISTER CAR TO THE CROSSTOUR (A PREVIOUS MODEL OF CROSSTOUR WAS CALLED THE ACCORD CROSSTOUR), SO IT SEEMS LIKELY THEY SHARE THE SAME CAUSE AND IN MY OPINION THE CROSSTOUR SHOULD BE COVERED BY THE SAME TSB 15-055 ISSUED BY HONDA FOR 2013/2014 ACCORDS.