RoadVitals

2008 Honda Civic Hybrid Driver assistance Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the driver-assistance system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Driver assistance reportsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
8
Latest Jun 7, 2016
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
13%
of 64 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
2
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
1

What this page shows

Reports naming forward-collision avoidance, lane keeping, back-over prevention, cruise control and related electronic driver-assistance systems. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 8 reports on file name it.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Owner reports naming driver-assistance

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Driver assistance
Filed Jun 7, 2016
Crash reported

I WAS DRIVING AROUND 3:00 PM WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I MANAGED TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND CONTINUED TO APPLY THE BRAKES. IN THE THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS EVENT, THE ENGINE REVVED AS IF THE ACCELERATOR HAD BEEN FLOORED AFTER I PUT IT IN PARK AFTER DRIVING HOME FROM WORK (IT NEVER HAPPENED AFTER THE DRIVE TO WORK WHICH WAS IN LESS TRAFFIC AND TOOK LESS TIME). IT DID NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME. MY WIFE WAS WITH ME ON ONE OCCASION AND EXPERIENCED IT ALSO.

NHTSA ID
10872985
Incident
Jun 5, 2016
Mileage
90,000 mi
AirbagsDriver assistanceElectrical
Filed Feb 4, 2016
Crash reported1 injury reported

VEHICLE MOVING IN TRAFFIC ON FREEWAY, ALL POWER LOST NOT ABLE TO MOVE AND INVOLVED IN ACCIDENT. CHP REPORT PENDING. AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY.

NHTSA ID
10824216
Incident
Jan 27, 2016
Mileage
77,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectrical
Filed Dec 28, 2015

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST BATTERY DEPLETED FROM FULL TO ONLY TWO BARS IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY RECHARGED IN APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.

NHTSA ID
10816544
Incident
Sep 15, 2015
Mileage
126,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Nov 9, 2014

I DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW WHEN THIS STARTED. IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME. SOMETIMES WHEN I START FROM A STOPPED POSITION TO ENTER TRAFFIC, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE ACCELERATOR FLOOR-BOARDED, THE CAR BARELY RESPONDS. WHEN I LOOK, THE HYBRID CHARGE IS VERY LOW, BUT I MAY HAVE JUST HAD THE CAR OUT A SHORT WHILE BEFORE AND THE HYBRID BATTERY WAS FULLY CHARGED. IT SEEMS AS IF I NOT ONLY HAVE NO ACCELERATION ASSIST FROM THE HYBRID BATTERY, BUT THERE IS ALMOST NO POWER ASSIST AT ALL. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET BUT FEAR IT MAY HAPPEN, AS I FREQUENTLY HAVE TO PULL OUT ONTO A VERY BUSY TWO LANE ROAD. *TR

NHTSA ID
10653752
Incident
Nov 2, 2012
Mileage
78,000 mi
Driver assistance
Filed Apr 5, 2012

AFTER THE 2010 SOFTWARE UPDATE FROM HONDA ON THE IMA MOTOR, THE ACCELERATION OF THE CAR WHEN THE IMA BATTERY IS IN THE LOW METER IS DANGEROUS. I CANNOT GET ENOUGH SPEED TO GET ON THE FREEWAY OR HAVE THE NECESSARY AVOIDANCE IN NORMAL EVERYDAY TRAFFIC. *TR

NHTSA ID
10454240
Incident
Sep 15, 2010
Mileage
50,000 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 2, 2012

I'M CONCERNED WITH THE SAFETY OF MY FAMILY WHEN DRIVING THIS VEHICLE DUE TO THE POOR PERFORMANCE AS DETAILED BELOW. THE IMA BATTERY DRAINS SO FREQUENTLY AND SO SUDDENLY(GETS WORSE IN THE SUMMER) THAT WE'VE BEEN VERY CLOSE TO BE INVOLVED IN A FEW ACCIDENTS. WHEN STOPPED AND WAITING AT AN INTERSECTION FOR THE GREEN LIGHT, THE CAR IS EITHER IDLED OR IN "AUTO STOP" MODE. ONCE THE LIGHT TURNS GREEN AND I LET GO OFF THE BREAK, THE CAR FAILS TO ACCELERATE FAST ENOUGH TO THE POINT THAT I DON'T MAKE IT ACROSS THE INTERSECTION IN TIME, EVEN THOUGH I'M THE FIRST CAR CLOSEST TO THE INTERSECTION, THUS CAUSING THE CARS BEHIND ME TO RUN THE RED LIGHT. I HAVE ALSO HAD VERY CLOSE CALLS WHEN MERGING AND ENTERING THE FREEWAY AT THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC SINCE THE CAR FAILS TO ACCELERATE. ANOTHER DANGEROUS SITUATION IS WHEN DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY AT A STEADY SPEED OF 65 MPH ON FLAT CONDITIONS AND COMING TO AN UPHILL, THE CAR DOESN'T MAINTAIN THE SAME SPEED. SO I NEED TO ACCELERATE MORE. THE RPM REACHES 4000, THE CAR IS NOW BARELY MAKING 45-50 MPH AND THE TRAFFIC BEHIND ME IS FORCE TO SLOW DOWN OR SUDDENLY CHANGE LANES IN ORDER TO AVOID HITTING ME FROM BEHIND. *TR

NHTSA ID
10453882
Incident
Jan 1, 2011
Mileage
58,127 mi
Driver assistanceElectricalEngine
Filed Apr 2, 2012

THE BATTERY ON MY HONDA CIVIC HYBRID HAS BEEN FAILING TO CHARGE WHICH MEANS MY CAR HAS NO POWER TO MOVE QUICKLY UP HILLS OR ACCELERATE WHEN I NEED TO ESPECIALLY AS I AM MERGING ONTO THE FREEWAY. THERE HAVE BEEN NUMEROUS DANGEROUS OCCASIONS WHERE I MAY HAVE BEEN THE FIRST CAR AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, THE LIGHT WILL TURN GREEN BUT MY CAR HAS NO POWER TO MAKE IT UP THE HILL. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN INCIDENTS WHEN I AM MERGING ONTO THE FREEWAY BUT CAN'T GET MY CAR TO ACCELERATE TO AN APPROPRIATE SPEED AS TO NOT BE A DANGER TO THE CARS ALREADY ON THE FREEWAY. I PRAY TO GOD THAT THERE IS NOT AN 18 WHEELER APPROACHING BEHIND ME IN THE RIGHT LANE OR THE DRIVER WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO SLOW DOWN IN TIME TO ALLOW ME TO MERGE ONTO THE FREEWAY. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN TIMES WHERE MY CAR WILL NOT START UP IMMEDIATELY IN THE MORNING. I HAVE ALREADY REPLACED THE STARTER BATTERY FROM THE HONDA DEALERSHIP THAT COST ME OVER $200.00 AFTER THEIR MANDATORY ADJUSTMENT ON THE IMA BATTERY. HONDA WILL NOT REPLACE MY IMA BATTERY UNTIL THE LIGHT COMES ON THE DASHBOARD. MY CAR IS NOT YET 4 YEARS OLD BUT THE BATTERY IS ALREADY A DANGER TO MY SAFETY. SOMETHING NEEDS TO BE DONE BEFORE SOMEBODY GETS KILLED IN THEIR HONDA HYBRID FOR FAILING TO ACCELERATE AT THE APPROPRIATE TIMES. *TR

NHTSA ID
10453863
Incident
Oct 3, 2011
Mileage
50,000 mi
BrakesDriver assistanceElectrical+1 more
Filed Feb 29, 2012

FIRST INCIDENT OCCURRED AROUND A MONTH AFTER PURCHASED 3 OF 2011. DOOR LOCKS WOULD LOCK & UNLOCK WHILE DRIVING. IMMEDIATELY TOOK IT BACK TO NORM REEVES HONDA IN CERRITOS,CA. I WAS TOLD THAT THE PROBLEM WAS A BAD MOTOR IN THE PASSENGER DOOR & NORM REEVES FIXED THE PROBLEM. I WAS TOLD THE DRIVERS SIDE WINDOW WAS DEFECTED & NORM REEVES REPLACED THE WINDOW. IN 4 OF 2011, THE CAR DOOR LOCKS BEGAN LOCKING & UNLOCKING WHILE DRIVING BUT NOW MAKING A SCREECHING SOUND. TOOK THE CAR BACK TO THE SAME NORM REEVES & THEY EXPLAINED IT WAS THE MOTOR IN THE PASSENGER REAR DOOR.THAT WAS FIXED AS WELL. IN 6 OF 2011, AGAIN THE DOOR LOCKS STARTED LOCKING & UNLOCKING WHILE DRIVING. I THEN REALIZED THE REAR DRIVERS SIDE DOOR WAS NOT LOCKING & TOOK IT IN TO NORM REEVE WHERE THEY STATED THE MOTOR WAS OUT & THEY FIXED IT. I THEN ASKED IF MAYBE IT COULD BE SOMETHING ELECTRICAL & IF THEY COULD CHECK THE ELECTRICAL WIRING ON THE CAR, I WAS TOLD BY OCTAVIO, SERVICE MANAGER AT NORM REEVES, IT WAS NOT THE ELECTRICAL THAT IT WAS THE DOOR LOCKS. I TOLD THE SERVICE MANAGER, OCTAVIO AT THIS TIME I FELT LIKE THE CAR ALSO GIVES A PUSH OR SKIP WHILE DRIVING & ALSO SMELLED A BURNING SMELL. OCTAVIO STATED THE HONDA WAS CHECKED BY A TECH & SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG WITH IT. I BEGAN TAKING THE HONDA CIVIC IN TO NORM REEVES EVERY MONTH COMPLAINING ABOUT THE CAR SKIPPING OR LOSING TRACTION. IT WAS FRIGHTENING DRIVING DOWN HILLS THINKING MY CAR WOULD NOT STOP OR LOSE CONTROL. THE BURNING SMELL WOULD BECOME GREATER WHEN DRIVING UP AN INCLINE OR THE HILLS OF ANY FREEWAY OR CITY. WHEN THE CAR WOULD BE PARKED AT AN INCLINE THE SHIFTER WOULD LOCK & BECOME HARD TO REMOVE FROM PARK. DURING EACH VISIT TO NORMA REEVES HONDA, WHICH OCCURRED MORE THAN 10 TIMES, I WAS NEVER TOLD OF ANY RECALLS OR EXAMINATIONS NEEDED IN REGARDS TO THE FUEL TANK PROBLEMS & ONLY FOUND OUT WHEN MY HONDA CIVIC WAS TAKEN TO ROCK HONDA OF FONTANA, CA. *TR

NHTSA ID
10449653
Incident
Mar 1, 2011

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .