2007 Honda Civic Hybrid Engine Problems

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. WHILE THE CONTACT'S WIFE WAS DRIVING 5 MPH, THE CONTACT MADE A LEFT TURN AND DEPRESSED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WHEN THE INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST (IMA) WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED AND THE VEHICLE SEIZED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO SOUTH TACOMA HONDA (7802 S TACOMA WAY, TACOMA, WA 98409, 253-472-2300) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE IMA BATTERY FAILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE AND WAS ADVISED TO CALL NHTSA. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 79,000.

NHTSA ID

11130217

Incident

Sep 17, 2018

Mileage

79,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT "INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST SYSTEM COMPROMISE" DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HONDA MOTORWERKS (500 4TH ST S, LA CROSSE, WI 54601, (888) 434-6632) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN INTERNAL BATTERY FAILURE THAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE BATTERY WAS NOT REPLACED DUE TO COST, BUT THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ABLE TO OPERATE USING THE HYBRID SYSTEM OR FUEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT USING THE HYBRID SYSTEM WAS FINE DURING THE SUMMER, BUT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, DUE TO COLDER TEMPERATURES AND SHORTER DAYLIGHT HOURS, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT THE INTERNAL BATTERY DEGRADES OVER TIME AND FAILED TO KEEP A LONGER CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 06581479. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000.

NHTSA ID

11062398

Incident

Jan 10, 2017

Mileage

125,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EL-1 IAM BATTERY WAS NOT WORKING AND THE SERVICE ENGINE AND SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PRESCOTT HONDA (3291 WILLOW CREEK RD, PRESCOTT AZ, 86301) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,081.

NHTSA ID

11022878

Incident

Mar 19, 2013

Mileage

76,081 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ABS, POWER STEERING, AND INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE RADIO LIGHTS BLINKED, THE AIR CONDITIONER TURNED OFF, THE POWER STEERING BECAME LOOSE, AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED HOME. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-999-1009 AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TOO MANY MILES AND THE CONTACT WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.

NHTSA ID

11004800

Incident

Jul 8, 2017

Mileage

169,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IMA BATTERY FAILED, THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO ACCELERATE, AND THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE IMA WARNING LIGHT FLASHED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT DIMMED. ONE MECHANIC PROVIDED TESTING AND A SECOND MECHANIC ALSO INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED THE FAILURES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REPAIR SOLUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.

NHTSA ID

10892752

Incident

Jun 1, 2016

Mileage

140,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 72 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEACTIVATE IT, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 100 MPH ON ITS OWN. THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE BARRIER ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SPUN 360 DEGREES AND CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE BARRIER ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 08/12/16*LJ *CN

NHTSA ID

10888307

Incident

Jul 9, 2016

Mileage

90,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH, THE ENGINE STALLED WITHOUT WARNING. THE FAILURE OCCURRED ON THREE OCCASIONS. THE DEALER STATED THAT THE INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 120,000.

NHTSA ID

10637598

Incident

Sep 16, 2014

Mileage

120,000 mi

MY WIFE WAS DRIVING OUR 2007 HONDA CIVIC AND I WAS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. WE WERE IN TRAFFIC, ON THE FREEWAY, SLOWING DOWN DUE TO CARS STOPPED IN FRONT OF US. WHEN TRAFFIC STARTED MOVING AGAIN SHE ATTEMPTED TO SPEED UP, BUT THE CAR LOST POWER. SHE PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR FURTHER AND FURTHER UNTIL IT WAS FLOORED, BUT THE CAR HAD LITTLE TO NO POWER. THE CAR BARELY MADE IT ACROSS TWO LANES TO THE SIDE OF THE FREEWAY. WE BARELY MADE IT OFF THE FREEWAY TO A PARKING AREA. THE CAR COULD REACH SPEEDS OF ONLY 5-10 MPH EVEN WITH THE ACCELERATOR PUSHED TO THE FLOOR. THERE WERE STILL TWO BARS INDICATING BATTERY POWER FOR THE IMA ENGINE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME I LOST POWER WITH THIS CAR, BUT THE MOST DANGEROUS BECAUSE IT WAS DURING RUSH HOUR ON THE FREEWAY WITH LOTS OF TRAFFIC. THE PREVIOUS TIME I LOST POWER I WAS TRYING TO GO UP A HILL AND THE CAR FAILED TO PROCEED AND I HAD TO BACK THE CAR DOWN THE HILL AND PARK IT. *TR

NHTSA ID

10526387

Incident

Jul 22, 2013

Mileage

78,000 mi

ON SEPT 15, '12, I WAS TAKING MY SON AND HIS FRIEND OVER TO HIS COACH'S HOUSE FOR A FOOTBALL PARTY. I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE UP THE COACH'S DRIVEWAY BUT AT APPROXIMATELY THE HALFWAY POINT, MY HONDA CIVIC HYBRID STOPPED MOVING FORWARD ALTHOUGH THE ACCELERATOR WAS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR. I HAD THE TWO NINE YEAR OLD KIDS EXIT THE VEHICLE BUT IT STILL DID NOT MOVE FORWARD. I SLOWLY BACKED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE UP THE DRIVEWAY AGAIN, THIS TIME WITH A RUNNING START. AGAIN, MY HONDA CIVIC HYBRID DID NOT MAKE IT UP THE DRIVEWAY. I ESTIMATE THE DRIVEWAY TO BE AT A 30% ANGLE, NOT STEEP BUT DEFINITELY NOT FLAT. AGAIN I SLOWLY BACKED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AFTER HAVING THE CARS BEHIND ME MOVE OUT OF MY WAY. I PARKED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVEWAY AND WALKED UP THE HILL, NOT SOMETHING YOU EXPECT TO DO WHEN YOU SPEND A LOT OF MONEY FOR A VEHICLE. ON OCTOBER 3, 2012, I HAD A CERTIFIED HONDA DEALERSHIP EXAMINE THE CAR AS I SUSPECTED THE IMA BATTERY WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER STATED I DID NEED A NEW 12 VOLT BATTERY AND I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT WHILE THE IMA BATTERY IS NOT GIVING OUT FULL POWER IT IS AT AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT HONDA REFUSES TO REPLACE ANY IMA BATTERY UNLESS IT COMPLETELY FAILS AND THEY HAVE SEEN SEVERAL CIVIC HYBRIDS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MY CONCERN IS THE ACCELERATION AND LOSS OF POWER BECOMES A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE ON THE HIGHWAYS AND HILLS. I HAVE THREE YOUNG KIDS AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THEM IN THE CAR. I HAVE ALL SERVICE DOCUMENTATION AND AM WILLING TO LET INVESTIGATORS EXAMINE AND DRIVE MY VEHICLE. ALSO, I CAN PROVIDE THE ADDRESS OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT UP. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AS THIS LOSS OF POWER CREATES A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY FAMILY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10482029

Incident

Sep 15, 2012

I PURCHASED THE CAR NEW IN DECEMBER 2007 AND WAS INITIALLY PLEASED. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PERFORMANCE OF THE VEHICLE HAS DECREASED SIGNIFICANTLY, APPARENTLY DUE TO A SOFTWARE UPDATE INSTALLED BY HONDA ON AUGUST 2010 (SEE SERVICE BULLETIN 10-034). HONDA STATES THAT THE SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS INTENDED TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE HYBRID BATTERY BUT IS SILENT ABOUT THE OBVIOUS ADVERSE IMPACT ON GAS MILEAGE, POWER, AND EMISSIONS. THE HYBRID INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST (IMA) ASSIST IS OPERATING ERRATICALLY SUCH THAT WHEN TRYING TO ACCELERATE (E.G., WHEN MERGING ONTO AN INTERSTATE OR PASSING ON A HIGHWAY) THE CAR MAY HAVE THE EXPECTED RESPONSE OR A VERY LIMITED RESPONSE FROM THE UNASSISTED 1.3 LITER ENGINE. JUST LAST WEEK WHEN I WAS MERGING ONTO AN INTERSTATE ONE TIME THE IMA DID NOT PROVIDE ANY ASSIST AND I WAS CONCERNED DUE TO THE FAST APPROACHING TRAFFIC. I NEVER KNOW WHETHER THE CAR WILL HAVE THE EXPECTED ACCELERATION. THE IMA BEHAVIOR CAN VARY FROM MINUTE TO MINUTE WHILE DRIVING EVEN UNDER THE SAME CONDITIONS. HAS DOT AND NHTSA STUDIED A 2007 CIVIC HYBRID AFTER THE SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS APPLIED? *TR .. UPDATED 08-27-12 *BF UPDATED 08/27/12 UPDATED 10/02/12

NHTSA ID

10456035

Incident

Apr 22, 2012

THE HONDA CIVIC HYBRID 2007 IS SUDDENLY UNABLE TO ACCELERATE APPROPRIATELY. THIS FAULT IS MOST DANGEROUS WHEN ACCELERATING TO START GOING AFTER RED LIGHTS AND STOP SIGNS, ESPECIALLY ON HILLS. IT IS ALSO NOTICEABLE WHEN ACCELERATING TO MERGE INTO TRAFFIC, THE ACCELERATION PERFORMANCE OF THE HONDA CIVIC HYBRID DECLINED PRECIPITOUSLY AND DANGEROUSLY IMMEDIATELY AFTER HONDA REQUIRED REPLACEMENT OF THE IMA BATTERY AND CONCURRENT NEW SOFTWARE (AT THE HONDA DEALER) IN MARCH. *TR

NHTSA ID

10454989

Incident

Mar 8, 2012

THIS VEHICLE IS NOT SAFE FOR HIGHWAY OR CITY DRIVING. IT DECELERATES WHEN YOU NEED POWER, MAKING IT VERY DANGEROUS TO MERGE IN HIGH SPEED OR HEAVY TRAFFIC CONDITIONS. IN THE SUMMER WHEN THE A/C IS RUNNING, ACCELERATION IS EXTREMELY UNRELIABLE. THE DRIVER'S SIDE HAS SEVERE BLIND SPOTS. I HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED LONG DELAYS IN THE ENGINE RESTARTING AFTER PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC FROM A DEAD STOP AT LIGHTS OR STOP SIGNS. I HAVE NEARLY BEEN HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC -- PLANNING FOR ADEQUATE GAPS IN TRAFFIC IS A CHALLENGE AND VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE OTHER VEHICLES I DRIVE. I AM AN EXPERIENCED DRIVER WITH OVER 37 YEARS BEHIND THE WHEEL AND AN EXCELLENT DRIVING RECORD. I HAVE OWNED 4 HONDAS AND THIS SO-CALLED HYBRID HAS BEEN AN ENGINEERING DISASTER. *TR

NHTSA ID

10454577

Incident

Feb 3, 2009

Mileage

33,282 mi

I PURCHASED A NEW 07 HONDA CIV HYBRID AND FROM THE START NEVER GOT CLOSE TO THE MPG AS ADVERTISED.I HAD THE CAR LOOKED AT BY HONDA DEALER MULTIPLE TIMES AND THEY VERY FOUND ANYTHING WRONG AND WOULD COMMENT THAT CAR WAS WITHIN SPEC. 21/2 YEARS LATER AND IN THE SUMMER I EXPERIENCED WHEN THE I WAS IN HEAVY TRAFFIC AND HIGH TEMPERATURE WITH ALL ELECTRICAL OPTIONS ON AC,NAV,RADIO, ETC. THE HYBRID BATTERY WOULD DRAIN AND NOT KEEP CHARGE AND THE CAR WOULD OPERATE SLUGGISH, NO POWER, NO ACCELERATION AND BASICALLY UNSAFE TO DRIVE. TH CAR DROVE THAT IT HAD RUN OUT OF GAS.I EXPERIENCED THIS 3X IN 2 WEEKS AS I WAS EXPLORING AND DOCUMENTING THE SYMPTOMS.I TOOK IT BACK TO THE DEALER AND IT WAS THE TIME OF THE SOFTWARE UPDATE.THEY UPDATED THE SOFTWARE AND THEY WOULD NOT REPLACE THE BATTERIES EVEN THOUGH WE INDIRECTLY AGREED (DEALER MECHANIC DID BUT NOT HONDA CORPORATE..SINCE THEY DECLINED TO REPLACE BATTERY) OVER TIME THAT THE BATTERY HAD DEGRADED DUE TO DESIGN FLAW.AFTER THE SOFTWARE UPDATE THE CAR DRIVING CHARACTERISTICS CHANGES.ENGINE IDLES AT HIGHER RMP (HIGHER KEEPS THE BATTERY BETTER CHARGED), THE POWER TO PASS A VEHICLE ON THE HIGHWAY (MY WIFE WOULD PRESS ON THE ACCELERATOR TO PASS A CAR ON THE HIGHWAY AND THE CAR DID NOT RESPOND ALMOST CAUSING ACCIDENTS). CONSIDERS IT UNSAFE AND REFUSES TO DRIVE IT AND PUT KIDS IN IT.I HAD DE ALER LOOK A IT FOR A FEW DAYS WORKING WITH THE HONDA TECHNICAL TEAM. FINAL ASSESSMENT WAS DID NOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG AND IT IS DRIVING WITHIN SPEC.HOW CAN THAT BE?THE CAR NO LONGER HAS POWER, CANNOT DEPENDENTLY PASS OR OVERCOME A CAR ON THE HIGHWAY IN NORMAL DRIVING SPEEDS AND WHEN YOU STRESS IT TRAFFIC ON A HOT DAY AND RUN THE NORMAL EQUIPMENT AC THE CAR FEELS LIKE IT IS RUNNING OUT OF GAS AND THE HYBRID BATTERIES ARE NOT CHARGING AND ARE NOT OPERATING THE CAR AS YOU WOULD EXPECT A CAR TO OPERATE.THE SOFTWARE UPDATE MADE THE CAR WORST.THE CAR IS UNSAFE! *TR

NHTSA ID

10450039

Incident

Dec 31, 2007

THE HONDA CIVIC HYBRID IMA SYSTEM HAS BEEN INCONSISTENT AND A WORRY SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR. THE CHARGE LEVEL VARIES WILDLY WITHIN MINUTES, RELEASING THE BRAKING CHARGE MODE UNEXPECTEDLY WHILE TRAVELING DOWNHILL, RESULTING IN RAPID ACCELERATION. WHILE GOING UPHILL THE IMA SYSTEM SUDDENLY SHOWS NO CHARGE AND THE ENGINE IS UNABLE TO KEEP THE CAR'S SPEED CONSTANT, RESULTING IN RAPID DECELERATION. THE SOFTWARE UPDATE THAT WAS SAID TO FIX THESE PROBLEMS RESULTING IN NO CHANGE TO THE PROBLEMS BUT A CONSIDERABLE REDUCTION IN MPG. THE ENGINE REFUSES TO STOP AT RED LIGHTS AND INSTEAD REMAINS AT IDLE - WASTING GAS. I HAVE SERVICE RECORDS COVERING THE ENTIRE HISTORY OF THIS CAR WHICH DOCUMENTS MY CONCERNS AND COMPLAINTS. THE HONDA SERVICE DEPARTMENT WAS NEVER ABLE TO FIND ANY PROBLEMS WITH THE IMA. I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THIS CAR BUT AM CONCERNED FOR MY SAFETY AND THE CAR'S RELIABILITY. ANYTHING YOU CAN DO TO HELP IDENTIFY AND REMEDY THE IMA PROBLEM WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED. *TR

NHTSA ID

10449761

Incident

Jul 31, 2007

Mileage

7,539 mi

THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR THE VOLTAGE CONVERTER THAT RELAYS POWER FROM THE INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST (IMA) SYSTEM TO THE VEHICLE'S ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS TO FAIL. .A CVT DOESN'T ACTUALLY HAVE GEARS, SO THE SYSTEM USES ELECTRONICS TO DIRECT THE TRANSMISSION TO UP- OR DOWNSHIFT IN SPECIFIC WAYS WHEN A DRIVER HITS A PADDLE.BATTERY LOSES CHARGE SUDDENLY AND POWER IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOST TO THE POINT WHERE ACCELERATION IS NOT POSSIBLE. THIS HAS CREATED SEVERAL UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION IN HIGHWAY AND EXPRESSWAY ENTRANCES, AS I CAN NOT GET IN SAFELY OR MAINTAIN SAFE SPEED DURING DRIVING. THIS INCIDENT HAS REPEATED MANY TIMES IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. BATTERY INDICATOR DROPS TO ZERO BAR OR ONE BAR AND POWER IS LOST SIGNIFICANTLY. SLUGGISH TO POOR ACCELERATION, ESPECIALLY IN HIGHWAY MERGE SITUATIONS PLACING OWNER IS DANGEROUS SITUATIONS. WHEN BATTERY CHARGED AT LEAST 50%, ACCELERATION IS ACCEPTABLE AS THE IMA ASSIST IN ACCELERATION.THE VEHICLE'S HYBRID IMA SYSTEM (INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST) HAS BEEN STEADILY DETERIORATING THE HYBRID BATTERY SYSTEM MUST RECHARGE SO FREQUENTLY THAT BATTERY ASSIST IS AVAILABLE LESS THAN HALF THE TIME. WHEN ASSIST IS UNAVAILABLE, ACCELERATION IS DANGEROUSLY LOW, MAKING COMMON DRIVING SITUATIONS SUCH AS LEFT TURNS, FREEWAY ONRAMPS, AND MERGING INTO TRAFFIC UNPREDICTABLE AND QUITE HAZARDOUS. HONDA'S ONLY RESPONSE HAS BEEN A SERIES OF INEFFECTIVE SOFTWARE UPDATES. HONDA WILL NOT REPLACE THE BATTERY UNDER WARRANTY UNLESS A WARNING LIGHT APPEARS. YET EVEN THE CURRENT SEVERELY DEGRADED PERFORMANCE OF THE BATTERY DOES NOT TRIGGER THAT WARNING LIGHT. I HAVE BEEN IN SEVERAL NEAR MISS SITUATIONS WHEN ACCELERATION WAS SO SLUGGISH THAT I WAS NEARLY UNABLE TO EVADE A DANGEROUS TRAFFIC SITUATION. *TR

NHTSA ID

10449630

Incident

Feb 4, 2011

WE OWN A 2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. WE STRONGLY BELIEVE THIS CAR IS UNSAFE. IN 2010 WE BROUGHT THE CAR INTO A HONDA DEALER AFTER THE IMA LIGHT CAME ON. INSTEAD OF REPLACING A BAD HYBRID BATTERY, THE DEALER INSTEAD "UPGRADED" THE IMA SOFTWARE. AS A RESULT, THE CAR HAS LOST MILEAGE. BUT FAR MORE IMPORTANTLY, IT HAS LOST ANY ACCELERATION. THE SOFTWARE DOESN'T USE THE IMA (ELECTRIC BOOSTER MOTOR) IN A MANNER THAT PROVIDES ANY ACCELERATION TO THE CAR. IN FACT, AS BEST AS WE CAN TELL, THE IMA (INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST) IS MOSTLY TURNED OFF. SO WE HAVE A SMALLER COMBUSTION ENGINE THAN THE CONVENTIONAL HONDA CIVIC DOING THE WORK OF WHAT SHOULD BE TWO ENGINES. THE PRIMARY AND BOOSTER. WE CONSTANTLY HAVE A DIFFICULT TIME IN GAINING FREEWAY SPEED TO PROPERLY MERGE ONTO THE HIGHWAY. THIS IS IMPOSSIBLE IF THE ON RAMP IS ON A HILL OR INCLINE. WE HAVE HAD SEVERAL CLOSE CALLS AND NEAR ACCIDENTS. AS A RESULT WE FIRMLY BELIEVE THIS CAR IS UN-SAFE. WE URGE YOU TO OPEN UP A SAFETY INVESTIGATION INTO THE 2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. IF THESE HYBRID BATTERIES WERE REPLACED, AS THEY SHOULD HAVE BEEN UNDER WARRANTY, THIS CAR WOULD NOT HAVE A SAFETY ACCELERATION PROBLEM. HONDA REFUSES TO DO SO. WE NEED YOUR HELP. SINCERELY, *TR

NHTSA ID

10449628

Incident

Aug 20, 2010

Mileage

52,000 mi

THIS VEHICLE RECEIVED A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE BATTERIES. THIS UPDATE INCREASED THE DANGER OF THIS VEHICLE MORE THAN IT HAD WHEN IT WAS NEW. THE GREATEST HAZARD IS THAT THIS VEHICLE HAS UNPREDICTABLE AMOUNTS OF POWER. I HAD AN INCIDENT WHILE TRYING TO CROSS A BUSY STREET ON AN INCLINE WITH A LIMITED VIEW OF ONCOMING TRAFFIC. NORMALLY, THE VEHICLE SUPPLIES SUFFICIENT POWER TO CROSS TRAFFIC BUT THIS TIME THE ENGINE REVVED HIGH AND THE CAR SEEMED TO CRAWL WHILE TRAFFIC WAS BEARING DOWN UPON ME. THANKFULLY, THE ALERT ONCOMING DRIVER AVOIDED HITTING ME. AS FOR GAS MILEAGE, THE VEHICLE NEVER CAME CLOSE TO THE EPA MILEAGE OF 51 MPG, THE UPDATE DROPPED THE MILEAGE DOWN TO AROUND 35 MPG. *TR

NHTSA ID

10447696

Incident

Apr 1, 2010

Mileage

50,000 mi

I HAVE MAJOR CONCERN AND SAFETY ISSUES WITH MY 2007 HCH. IT IS WHEN THE ELECTRIC MOTOR IS NOT AVAILABLE. I HAVE TO LOOK AT THE HYBRID BATTERY INDICATOR TO DETERMINE IF I WILL HAVE THE EXTRA 20 HP NEEDED TO MANEUVER THE CAR AROUND THE TRAFFIC SAFELY. ALSO, THE CAR WILL PERFORM SOME KIND OF HEALTH CHECK FOR HYBRID BATTERY TO RECALIBRATE THE HYBRID BATTERY INDICATOR. WHEN IT DOES THAT, IT WILL STOP USING THE ELECTRIC MOTOR EVEN THOUGH THE HYBRID BATTERY INDICATOR IS MORE THAN HALF FULL CHARGED. THAT AFFECTS MY DECISION ON HOW TO MANEUVER THE CAR AROUND TRAFFIC SAFELY. EXAMPLE 1 I CROSS A LOT OF 4 LANES HIGHWAY WITH HIGH SPEED TRAFFIC WITHOUT STOP LIGHTS. I NEED ALL THE POWER THAT THE CAR CAN PROVIDE WITH ELECTRIC MOTOR TO QUICKLY CROSS THE 4 LANES HIGHWAY WHEN THERE IS AN OPENING. SOMETIME THE CAR WILL NOT USE THE EXTRA 20HP FROM THE ELECTRIC MOTOR AND I WOULD NOT HAVE THE NECESSARY SPEED TO CROSS THE 4 LANES HIGHWAY WITHOUT CLOSE CALLS. TO BE SAFE, I WAIT FOR LARGE GAP IN THE TRAFFIC BEFORE I CAN SAFELY CROSS THE HIGHWAY. EXAMPLE 2 IF IT IS HOT OUTSIDE AND I DRIVE OVER SEVERAL HILLS, THE HYBRID BATTERY WILL BE DEPLETED BY THE TIME I GET TO THE SPECIFIC INTERSECTION. ON THE RIGHT IS A BEND THAT IS HARD TO SEE INCOMING TRAFFIC GOING 55MPH OR OVER. ON THE LEFT IS A LONG UPHILL. WITH THE DEPLETED HYBRID BATTERY, I DO NOT HAVE THE POWER TO QUICKLY PICK UP THE SPEED GOING UP THE HILL AND IF SOMEONE IS COMING AROUND THE BEND AT THE RIGHT TIME, THEY WILL HAVE TO SLOW DOWN. A SEMI WAS NOT ABLE TO SLOW DOWN IN TIME AND HAD TO SWERVE LEFT TO PASS ME. LUCKY, THERE WAS NO INCOMING TRAFFIC BECAUSE THE SEMI CANNOT SEE INCOMING TRAFFIC AS WE BOTH WERE GOING UPHILL. THE BOTTOM LINE IS THAT THE AMOUNT OF THE POWER THE CAR HAS IS UNPREDICTABLE AS I MAY OR MAY NOT HAVE 20 EXTRA HP FROM THE ELECTRIC MOTOR. *TR

NHTSA ID

10447681

Incident

Dec 12, 2011

Mileage

72,000 mi

THE CAR BECAME UNSAFE TO DRIVE FOLLOWING HONDA'S SOFTWARE UPDATE 10-034. ALL OWNERS WERE ASKED TO HAVE THE UPDATE PERFORMED TO PREVENT HYBRID PACK DETERIORATION. THE LETTER LISTED MULTIPLE SITUATIONS IN WHICH HYBRID ASSIST AND BRAKING WILL BE REDUCED. AS A RESULT OF THE UPDATE THE CAR HAS MARKEDLY REDUCED ASSIST, AND AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES NO ASSIST WHATSOEVER. AT LEAST ONCE A DAY, AT A RANDOM TIME, BATTERY SOC DROPS TO 2 BARS, ALL ASSIST IS DISABLED AND THEN THE SO-CALLED RECALIBRATION IS PERFORMED WHERE THE CAR FULLY CHARGES THE BATTERY TO 5 BARS, THEN JUMPS TO FULL 8 . ON AVERAGE THAT LAST ABOUT 8-10 MINUTES AS DOCUMENTED IN MULTIPLE YOUTUBE VIDEOS ON THE SUBJECT. DURING ALL THAT TIME NO ASSIST IS AVAILABLE, AND ADDITIONAL GAS ENGINE POWER IS BEING USED TO CHARGE THE PACK. THE GAS MILEAGE SUFFERS AS WELL AS I AM DRIVING AT 3-4K RPM INSTEAD OF THE USUAL 1-2K.. I'VE EXPERIENCED MULTIPLE SITUATIONS WHERE SUCH A DROP HAPPENS WHEN TRYING TO MERGE ON AN UPHILL HIGHWAY WITH VEHICLES BEHIND ME ALMOST REAR-ENDING ME WHILE I AM FLOORING THE GAS PEDAL. I'VE HAD THAT HAPPEN BEFORE LEFT TURN WHEN AFTER A QUICK GLANCE ON THE GAUGE AND SEEING IT FULL, I'D START TURNING ONLY TO SEE THE PACK DROP AND THE CAR SLOW DOWN SIGNIFICANTLY. A RELATED PROBLEM IS REDUCED/UNPREDICTABLE BRAKING. WHEN THE BATTERY IS COLD AND THE CAR IDLES HIGHER THAN USUALLY, ALL REGENERATIVE BRAKING IS DISABLED AND IT TAKES A SIGNIFICANT EFFORT FROM THE DRIVER TO STOP THE CAR. MULTIPLE COMPLAINTS TO THE DEALER WERE MET WITH "OPERATING AS DESIGNED" AND "THE UPDATE DOES REDUCE THE POWER". LATELY, I'VE BEEN SIMPLY REFERRED TO BECOME A PARTY OF CLASS ACTION SUIT AGAINST HONDA, AS THE DEALERSHIP IS UNABLE TO HELP WITH ANYTHING LISTED IN THAT SUIT. AS A SUMMARY, THE CAR HAS UNPREDICTABLE LOSSES OF BRAKING AND ACCELERATION AND A MARKEDLY REDUCED MILEAGE WHICH UNDOUBTEDLY VIOLATES EPA RULES. *TR

NHTSA ID

10447334

Incident

Sep 8, 2010

Mileage

45,845 mi

EVER SINCE HONDA DID A SOFTWARE UPDATE ON MY CAR'S ENGINE TO EXTEND THE LIFE OF THE BATTERY, MY CAR HAS HAD INTERMITTENT ACCELERATIONS ISSUES. FOR EXAMPLE, LAST SUMMER, I WAS AT A STOP LIGHT AND WHEN IT TURNED GREEN, MY CAR DIDN'T SEEM TO WANT TO "GO". I HAD TO PRESS ON THE GAS PEDAL ABOUT 3 TIMES TO GET IT TO "ENGAGE" AND ACTUALLY MOVE. MANY TIMES THE CAR IS SLUGGISH TO START FROM A STOP, OR ACCELERATE, BUT IT DOES "GO", JUST NOT AS PROMPTLY AND QUICKLY AS IT SHOULD. THE MOST RECENT INCIDENTS OCCURRED LAST MONTH AND HAS PROMPTED THIS COMPLAINT. BOTH INVOLVED MERGING ONTO A FREEWAY. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE, I WAS IN THE RIGHT LANE, WHICH I KNEW WOULD TURN EXIT ONLY A MILE OR SO DOWN THE ROAD. THERE WAS A TRUCK ON MY LEFT, FOLLOWED BY A LONG LINE OF SLOW MOVING CARS. SO I THOUGHT, SINCE THE TRUCK WAS RIGHT NEXT TO ME, I WOULD SPEED UP A LITTLE BIT AND BIT AND GET IN FRONT OF IT. TO SPEED UP ONLY FAST ENOUGH TO PASS THIS TRUCK, MY CAR REVVED TO OVER 6000 RPM. IT JUST DIDN'T WANT TO ACCELERATE NORMALLY. I DID SAFELY MAKE THE LANE CHANGE IN FRONT OF THE TRUCK; THE WORST THING THAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED IN THIS CASE WAS GETTING OFF AT AN EXIT I DID NOT INTEND TO GET OFF AT. HOWEVER, THE NEXT DAY, I WAS MERGING ONTO FREEWAY TRAFFIC WITH A TYPICAL LANE LENGTH TO ALLOW MERGING. MY CAR DIDN'T WANT TO ACCELERATE ENOUGH TO SAFELY ACCOMPLISH THE MERGE. I HAD TO REV THE ENGINE UP TO OVER 5000 RPM JUST TO GET UP TO BARELY 45 MPH TO ACCOMPLISH THE MERGE. I FEEL IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME BEFORE I GET INTO AN ACCIDENT BECAUSE OF THIS ACCELERATION ISSUE. *TR

NHTSA ID

10442716

Incident

Aug 10, 2011

Mileage

52,000 mi

BATTERY LOSES CHARGE SUDDENLY AND POWER IS SIGNIFICANTLY LOST TO THE POINT WHERE ACCELERATION IS NOT POSSIBLE. THIS HAS CREATED SEVERAL UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITION IN HIGHWAY AND EXPRESSWAY ENTRANCES, AS I CAN NOT GET IN SAFELY OR MAINTAIN SAFE SPEED DURING DRIVING. THIS INCIDENT HAS REPEATED MANY TIMES IN THE PAST THREE YEARS. BATTERY INDICATOR DROPS TO ZERO BAR OR ONE BAR AND POWER IS LOST SIGNIFICANTLY. *TR

NHTSA ID

10433645

Incident

May 8, 2008

Mileage

22,000 mi

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT A SOFTWARE UPDATE WAS PERFORMED BY THE DEALER. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE UPDATE DECREASED ACCELERATION AND SHORTENED THE BATTERY LIFE OF THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT BELIEVED THE FAILURE WAS A MANUFACTURING DEFECT. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 99,500. THE CONSUMER STATED THE UPDATE CAUSED POOR GAS MILEAGE. THE CONSUMER STATED HE WAS GETTING ON AVERAGE, 42.5 MPG AND SINCE THE SOFTWARE UPDATE, HE NOW GETS 36 MPG. ALSO, THE BATTERY CONTINUALLY DEPLETES QUICKLY TO THE POINT WHERE IT IS SHOWING ONLY ONE TO TWO BARS, CAUSING FURTHER PERFORMANCE/POWER ISSUES. IT THEN SLOWLY RECHARGES. UPDATED 10/14/11 UPDATED 10/31/11 *BF UPDATED 12/19/11

NHTSA ID

10424415

Incident

Aug 8, 2010

Mileage

99,500 mi