2015 Accord, electric power steering feels over-boosted

[Bottom_Feeder]

So, a weird issue that seems to be getting worse. My Accord is about to hit 100k miles so I know this could be purely a mechanical problem with worn control arm bushings or struts but the steering on my car has been feeling lighter recently over the last few weeks, like the electric power assist is trying too hard. My car's steering used to have a nice solid weight to it, feeling confident at higher speeds but now it's starting to feel like a 70's land yacht.

Is this even a thing with electric power steering? Can the amount of boost provided get out of whack with a worn/bad sensor or something? To my knowledge these systems are supposed to provide more boost as slower speeds and less as speeds increase but now it seems like it's always boosted the same amount and it's always a lot.

It has new tires and they actually made it feel worse. The alignment was checked and is in spec. The steering wheel is perfectly centered and the car tracks straight. The struts are noticeably at the end of their life so those will be replaced soon. I'll probably replace the control arms while I'm at it because the large compliance bushings are known to fail. But none of that would explain light-feeling steering.

 

[TCL]

Did you check the air pressure in your tires?

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

Yes, and it's correct.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

My 2009 did similar a while back. I am still not sure exactly how / what started it. Similar symptoms just before the power steering pump went bad and the high pressure hose burst. Power steering fluid shot all over the place. New pump / new hose and back to like new.
Can not be sure that is your issue. Maybe look it over too just in case.....? Make sure you are at proper level steering fluid and it is clean.

 

[Lawnman23]

My 2009 did similar a while back. I am still not sure exactly how / what started it. Similar symptoms just before the power steering pump went bad and the high pressure hose burst. Power steering fluid shot all over the place. New pump / new hose and back to like new.
Can not be sure that is your issue. Maybe look it over too just in case.....? Make sure you are at proper level steering fluid and it is clean.

Electric power steering doesn’t use an engine driven pump with fluid, there is an electric motor mounted on the steering column that does the job.

 

[Jetronic]

Electric power steering doesn’t use an engine driven pump with fluid, there is an electric motor mounted on the steering column that does the job.

Some do, especially early generations. I don't expect it on a 2015 though. Afterwards the motor got moved to the steering column, and the latest have it on the rack

 

[Analog-1]

there is an electric motor mounted on the steering column

Correction the motor is mounted on the steering rack not the column.

 

[Lawnman23]

Some do, especially early generations. I don't expect it on a 2015 though. Afterwards the motor got moved to the steering column, and the latest have it on the rack

Correction the motor is mounted on the steering rack not the column.

Ahh, good to know. I wasn’t aware the motors were mounted directly on the rack now. Learned something new

My main point was that OP stated the Accord has electric steering, not hydraulic like Sammy was referring to in his post.

 

[supton]

I think EPS senses steering wheel torque and thus adjust boost accordingly... if so, then it's a problem in the sensing of the applied force to the steering wheel.

But I don't know how this rack is designed. What is the torque sensor, and how could it fail. Or... just a wild guess, a problem with the wiring, maybe there is a wire broken, that outputs torque, and whatever control module that is involved is defaulting to full torque in a fail safe mode (I think it should toss a warning light though). Thing is, I don't know if there is an external control module, thus a broken/bad wire might be internal to the rack.

Have you googled to see if any other Acord owners have noticed the same problem?

 

[JHZR2]

So it feels overboosted?

If so, I would definitely look into if something is worn to the point that it lacks resistance.

My 2015 HAH has been incredibly consistent and just crossed 100k.

 

[brages]

There was a warranty extension for torque sensor failure on some 2013 and 2014 Accords. Makes me think the problem is likely a torque sensor - bad news is you have to replace the whole rack assembly.

https://static.nhtsa.gov/odi/tsbs/2018/MC-10145410-9999.pdf

 

[brages]

A good scantool might be able to read the torque sensor output, as well as any trouble codes for the power steering module. I think that will be required for troubleshooting.

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

Electric power steering doesn’t use an engine driven pump with fluid, there is an electric motor mounted on the steering column that does the job.

Did not realize that year had the total electric power steering. Not sure when that started?

 

[SammyChevelleTypeS3]

Ahh, good to know. I wasn’t aware the motors were mounted directly on the rack now. Learned something new

My main point was that OP stated the Accord has electric steering, not hydraulic like Sammy was referring to in his post.

Yes. My bad. I thought the early electric was phased in as an assist along with fluid drive. Apparently about ten years ago Honda went complete electric. Supposed to be better. Total electric is what is in the wife's 2018 Accord. I find it does drive a bit better than my older 2009 fluid drive.

 

[brages]

My Volvo had hydraulic power steering with an electric pump. That's a kind of hybrid system. But I don't know if Honda ever did that (don't think they did).

 

[michaelluscher]

Scan for codes?
EPS light (orange steering wheel with !)?

There was an extended warranty for '14MY Accord EPS module and torque sensors, but I'm not seeing anything (or bulletins) for the 15MY

Failure usually means erratic or no EPS, you're complaint is the other way around

 

[50yr Street Mech]

13' CRV. Electric power steering. 615K, no problems..knock on wood...

 

[Bottom_Feeder]

My car just feels terrible now and I can't stand driving it. Different with the new tires, maybe 'better-ish', but still just as terrible. Driving in a light drizzle this morning felt like the front tires weren't touching the road. I have no confidence in it at all anymore.

I don't have the space, tools, fitness or patience at this point to start tearing into it so off to the dealer it's going. Here's a kidney, Honda. Just diagnose and fix it properly.

 

[50yr Street Mech]

I wonder what Honda changed in between the years of 13' and 15' ?? The electric motor for the steering on my 13' is on the rack and pinion. It's whole life in the Salt Belt, not garaged most of the time, and has tons of mileage on it. I did change the struts and ball joints, but not the tie rod ends. ( Salt ate the struts and ball joints ). Maybe the 15' has the electric power steering motor in the steering column ?? Wish you luck anyway. Can't blame you for not wanting to mess with it. No easy solution to the problem. Could be the rack, or a bad wire, bad computer, bad sensor, who knows. My tie rod ends are still fine, so I'm leaning toward an electrical / computer/ sensor problem.

 

[supton]

I wonder what Honda changed in between the years of 13' and 15' ?? The electric motor for the steering on my 13' is on the rack and pinion. It's whole life in the Salt Belt, not garaged most of the time, and has tons of mileage on it. I did change the struts and ball joints, but not the tie rod ends. ( Salt ate the struts and ball joints ). Maybe the 15' has the electric power steering motor in the steering column ?? Wish you luck anyway. Can't blame you for not wanting to mess with it. No easy solution to the problem. Could be the rack, or a bad wire, bad computer, bad sensor, who knows. My tie rod ends are still fine, so I'm leaning toward an electrical / computer/ sensor problem.

The rack failed, plain and simple, due to a design or part defect, hence the TSB as listed above for the torque sensor, see post #11.