As vehicle owners, moving on a straight and flat road is one of the few times we like to drive passively. After all, there’s no need to swerve your steering wheel unnecessarily on such roads. However, this often comes with a problem for many Honda owners- the “Steering Required” warning message. Honda models common with this problem include:
- Civic
- Insight
- Acura
- Accord
- Ridgeline
- Touring
Despite holding the steering firmly while driving, some Honda owners still get the “Steering Required” message when the LKAS is on and sensing. This is often frustrating. But don’t worry, we are here to help.
In this article, we will dive into this message in detail. As we proceed, you’ll find out why you are getting the alert and how you can get rid of it. Also, the importance of this warning message will be highlighted.
If this catches your attention, read on!
Table of Contents
Why does my Honda say “Steering Required”?
Causes of the “Steering Required” message
The primary reason why the “Steering Required” message pops up on your car dash is that you aren’t putting any input to the steering wheel.
To be more specific, your Honda makes use of two systems called LKAS and ACC, and they work hand-in-hand. LKAS helps you stay in your lane. The ACC on the other hand helps you select your driving speed, as well as the distance from the vehicle in front of you. These two systems are part of Honda’s Advanced Driver Assist System (ADAS).
You can turn these features on and off. However, If the LKAS system is on and doesn’t sense enough steering wheel motion for a specific amount of time, the “Steering Required” warning message will appear.
What do ACC and LKAS mean in Honda?
As stated above, driving with the LKAS and ACC system on and not resisting or providing your own effort into the steering wheel will result in the “Steering Required” warning.
So, what are the LKAS and ACC?
LKAS
The Lane Keeping Assist System, also known as LKAS, is a system embedded in your Honda. Its function is to help drivers remain in the middle of the lane by gently turning the steering whenever it detects the car moving towards the side of the lane. This system offers you a more confident driving experience, especially when driving on narrow roads.
The LKAS is a member of the Honda Sensing suite of active driver-assistive technologies. Here’s how it works. It uses a camera mounted on the windshield of your vehicle, searching for lane markers. Once a lane marker is detected, it uses it as a guide as the EPS (Electric Power Steering) helps steer the car back to the center of the road (if drifting away).
Keep in mind that the LKAS doesn’t rid you of your steering responsibilities. Additionally, if the route you are driving on doesn’t have visible lane marks, the LKAS will have trouble detecting it and may not function appropriately.
ACC
ACC, an acronym for the Adaptive Cruise Control system, is part of Honda’s ADAS as stated earlier. The ACC works alongside other assisting systems, warning the driver of a possible collision. It operates by using a radar located on the car’s front grille.
This radar measures your distance from the vehicle in front of you, and with the help of the ACC, it can apply a quarter of the maximum braking force required. Also, if your vehicle needs more braking to avoid a collision, the ACC will give an audible and visible warning to the driver. You should know that the Adaptive Cruise Control will only work at speeds of 30 to 180km/hr.
How to get rid of the “Steering Required” message?
Getting rid of the message is an easy task. Recall that the warning comes due to inactivity on your steering wheel. To remove the notice, gently turn your steering wheel, and the message will disappear. The goal is for the LKAS to sense your input.
However, we understand you do not want to repeat this process every 15 seconds. For a more permanent fix, simply turn off the Lane Keeping Assist System. Here’s how to do it:
- Push your steering wheel’s MAIN button and hold it. The LKAS will appear on the multi-information display.
- Select/ press LKAS.
- On the display, you will see LANE OUTLINES (when the system is ready, the dotted line will turn solid).
- Push the LKAS or MAIN button to deactivate/turn off the system.
Honda “Steering Required” hack
Honda’s “Steering Required” message is without a doubt annoying for many people, especially when driving on a straight road. If you are looking for a way to prevent this message from popping up, you may find this helpful:
When driving on a straight road, hanging something from the steering wheel will allow the LKAS to sense enough input when it tries to correct your lane. You can use a bottle of water for this.
While this may trick the LKAS, we do not recommend it. Why? The Lane Keeping Assist System is there for your safety as it stops you from wandering between lanes. Getting rid of the warning message may expose you to avoidable accidents.
Importance of the “Steering Required” message
The “Steering Required” message helps you stay focused on the road. With the help of the Lane Keeping Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control systems, it serves as a safety feature designed to help those who get easily distracted while driving.
Nevertheless, you should know that the LKAS isn’t a self-driving technology. Instead, it is intended to prevent drivers from wandering away from their lanes. By implication, we advise you always to take complete control of your steering.
Furthermore, getting the “Steering Required” warning message doesn’t mean that the LKAS is malfunctioning. Rather, it informs you that you aren’t driving properly. Frequently seeing this warning implies that you are using the LKAS system wrongly.
Final thoughts
As some people think, the Honda “Steering Required” warning message is not a malfunction. Instead, it is a call to drive correctly on a lane. As explained earlier, it is caused as a result of inactivity on your steering wheel. Thanks to this article, you know exactly what to do the next time you get this warning on your Honda.