NHTSA Investigation Opened Into 1.1m Honda Accord Models

• 107 reports of sudden loss of steering control

• First complaint recorded last year

A new report says that US regulators are opening a formal probe into more than 1.1 million Honda Accord models over reports of a sudden loss of steering control. The report says that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has received 107 complaints about the issue that could result in a recall.

The formal safety probe affects Honda Accord models from 2013 through 2015, Reuters reports, saying that according to the agency “under normal driving conditions, with no warning or input from the driver, the vehicle may veer or jerk out of its intended path of travel.” NHTSA said that there were 107 complaints as well as two injury incidents related to the issue.

The NHTSA first received a petition asking for an investigation into the alleged steering defect in October, concerning a 2013 mode. After sending Honda two requests for information and performing analysis on the data received, the agency began an engineering analysis that will assess the scope, frequency, and the safety-related consequences of the possible defect, as well as working to ensure that there is a defect.

One complaint read that “while travelling at 50 mph on a crowded city highway, my steering wheel jerked left” also complaining that the car continued to make uncommanded left turns in a parking lot. Multiple complaints filed report similar issues of uncommanded left turns.

The affected years use electronically assisted power steering (EPS), as do most modern vehicles. While the NHTSA did not indicate if the investigation affected some or all of the available powertrains in these years, the vehicles do not appear to have been offered with any semi-autonomous or emergency steering assist driver aids.

NHTSA begins its safety investigation process with a screening of complaints filed about vehicles from owners as well as other information sources. Next is an analysis, the results of which are published monthly. If the investigation proceeds, there is an investigation and that can lead to a full recall of the affected models.