Honda recalls 1.7 million U.S. vehicles over steering risk

Honda Motor is recalling 1,693,199 vehicles in the U.S. because of potential steering problems.

The steering gearbox worm wheel, which controls steering, may have been manufactured incorrectly in affected vehicles and swell while in use, thinning out the film of grease between the worm wheel and worm gear, according to documents posted Wednesday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. 

In addition, the cars' worm wheel spring preload — a measurement of spring compression — was set too high. As a result of the two flaws, affected vehicles may become hard to steer.