2010 Honda Fit Steering

Just purchased the car and it suffers from "Memory Steer". After a turn, the steering does not return to neutral, but the steering wheel requires input to straighten out. Alignment, Strut Bearings and Ball Joints checked OK, suggesting the binding is in the steering column, Steering Rack or perhaps the Electric Power Steering. The problem occurs at all speeds.

While driving, the steering wheel intermittently locks up or loses power making control of the vehicle extremely difficult while driving straight and near impossible when it happens while turning.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 3-5 MPH, THE STEERING WHEEL WAS DIFFICULT TO TURN. THERE WERE NO WARNING LIGHTS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED FIRST TEXAS HONDA LOCATED AT (3400 STECK AVE, AUSTIN, TX 78757 (512) 220-1121) WHERE A SERVICE APPOINTMENT WAS SCHEDULED HOWEVER, THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED NOR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 82,397. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

STEERING WHEEL HAS BEEN SUDDENLY, AND INTERMITTENTLY, TURNING IMMEDIATELY 90 DEGREES WHERE I HAVE TO CORRECT THE WHEEL IN ORDER TO AVOID A CRASH. TYPICALLY HAPPENS ON SLIGHT TURNS, LIKE GETTING ON OR OFF A HWY RAMP OR TURNING ON A RED LIGHT. GOODYEAR TIRE SAID THEY ARE SEEING ELECTRICAL ISSUES WITH THE POWER STEERING AND INFORMED ME THIS ISN'T A DRIVABLE CAR UNLESS $2400 REPAIR. THE SUDDENNESS OF THIS COULD HAVE RESULTED IN DEATH, ESPECIALLY AT THE SPEED.

THE STEERING WHEEL INTERMITTENTLY FREEZES UP, FOR ABOUT A SECOND, AT LEAST ONCE EVERY DAY THAT I DRIVE THE CAR. NO INDICATOR LIGHTS ON THE DASHBOARD TURN ON DURING OR AFTER THESE EVENTS. SEVERAL TIMES IT HAS BEEN NOTICED WHILE MAKING TURNS, WHICH IS VERY UNSETTLING. I NO LONGER TRUST THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY, AND NOW FEEL THE NEED TO LEAVE A VERY LARGE DISTANCE WHEN MAKING A LEFT TURN IN FRONT OF ANY ONCOMING CAR. I WILL NOT ALLOW MY WIFE TO DRIVE THE CAR ANY MORE, FOR FEAR OF HER SAFETY. I HAVE HEARD THAT THERE IS A RECALL FOR AN EPS FAILURE FOR HONDA FITS OF PREVIOUS MODEL YEARS, AND WANT TO KNOW WHEN THE RECALL FOR THIS LIFE THREATENING DEFECT WILL BE EXTENDED TO THE 2010 MODEL YEAR.

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HONDA FIT. WHILE DRIVING 40 TO 45 MPH, THE POWER STEERING FAILED WITHOUT WARNING. THE VEHICLE WAS PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, TURNED OFF, AND RESTARTED. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 29,000.

THIS STARTED WITH A LITTLE STIFFNESS IN STEERING. IT IS VERY HARD TO CONTROL NOW WHEN MAKING A TURN. I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE THE THE CAR. LOCAL DEALER SAYS HE CANNOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. HONDA NEEDS TO ALERT AND RECALL.

THE CAR'S STEERING IS EXTREMELY OVER-RESPONSIVE, BUT IS UNFORTUNATELY NOT SPEED SENSITIVE. AS A RESULT, IF ONE TAKES THEIR EYES OFF THE ROAD FOR EVEN A SECOND, THE CAR OFTEN MOVES OUT OF ITS LANE. BOTH MY WIFE AND I HAVE HAD SEVERAL SCARY EXPERIENCES, WHERE WE LOOKED OVER OUR SHOULDER MOMENTARILY IN PREPARATION FOR A LANE CHANGE, CHECKED TRAFFIC ON BUSY CROSS STREETS, OR CHANGED A HEATING OR COOLING SETTING, AND FOUND OURSELVES CROSSING OVER THE CENTERLINE OR NEARING THE DITCH. THE CAR DOES NOT TRACK STRAIGHT, AND ALSO TENDS TO VEER LEFT OR RIGHT AFTER GOING OVER BUMPS. I AM VERY CONCERNED THAT ONE OF US COULD GET KILLED IN EITHER A HEAD-ON COLLISION OR BY RUNNING INTO THE DITCH. THE CAR IS A BASE FIT MODEL, WITH A 5-SPEED MANUAL. *TR

I MADE A RIGHT TURN AND THE STEERING WHEEL WOULD NOT STRAIGHTEN. I WAS FORCED TO CONTINUE TURNING. IT WAS A CONGESTED AREA IN FRONT OF BOSTON BACK BAY RAIL STATION. LUCKILY, THERE WAS A SPACE IN THE DROP OFF LANE TO MY RIGHT WITH NO PERSON OR CAR IN THE WAY AND I WAS ABLE TO BRAKE AND STOP WITHOUT INJURING ANYBODY. MY HONDA FIT IS THE S MODEL WHICH HAS CONTROLS ON THE CROSS-BAR OF THE STEERING WHEEL FOR CLUTCH-LESS SHIFTING. THE RIGHTHAND CONTROL HAD CAUGHT ON MY WINTER COAT. AND PREVENTED THE WHEEL FROM RETURNING TO THE UPRIGHT POSITION. NOTE THAT I AM SHORT (5'1") SO THAT I HAVE THE SEAT FORWARD IN ORDER TO REACH THE PEDALS. THIS PUTS ME CLOSER TO THE WHEEL THAN MOST PEOPLE. I COULD EASILY HAVE HIT A CAR OR PEDESTRIAN BECAUSE OF THESE UNNECESSARY SHIFTERS. THEY REALLY SHOULD BE REPLACED BY D 1 2 ON THE STICK SO THAT A DRIVER CAN ACCESS THE LOWER RATIOS WHEN NECESSARY WITH OUT THE DANGER OF GETTING CAUGHT. *TR

I HAVE A 2010 FIT SPORT THAT DOESN'T WANDER OR PULL, DRIVES GREAT. I HAVE ANOTHER 2010 FIT SPORT NEVER DAMAGED WITH 6000 MILES THAT: 1. WANDERS BADLY 2. PULLS LEFT WHEN DECELERATING AND RIGHT WHEN ACCELERATING. 3. WILL NOT RETURN TO STRAIGHT WHEN RELEASED. YOU MUST RETURN IT YOURSELF AND HUNT FOR STRAIGHT DOWN THE ROAD YOURSELF. ALL 3 DEFECTS ARE A BIG SAFETY HAZARD: YOU WILL BE IN THE ONCOMING LANE OR CURB BEFORE YOU CAN CORRECT IT. THE LOCAL HONDA DEALER HAS BEEN UNABLE TO FIX IT. THE ONLY THING THEY DID WAS INCREASE THE TOEIN SOME AND SAID THAT WAS ALL THEY COULD DO. I AM ABOUT TO MAKE A FORMAL COMPLAINT TO ALL WHO WILL LISTEN. IN EACH CASE IT IS IN THE OTHER LANE IN LESS THAN 10 SECONDS IF LEFT TO ITS SELF. THE CAR IS DANGEROUS AND A REAL SAFETY HAZARD. ARE THERE A SERVICE BULLETINS/RECALLS CONCERNING THIS? *TR