NHTSA Complaint #10277643 — 2004 HONDA CIVIC

I BOUGHT A NEW HONDA CIVIC HYBRID IN 2004 WITH AN EXTENDED 7 YR 100K WARRANTY. AT 91K MILES, I TOOK THE CAR IN COMPLAINING THAT THE IMA BATTERY INDICATOR WAS LOW. I WAS CHARGED OVER $150 FOR A NEW REGULAR BATTERY, TOLD THE IMA BATTERY WAS FINE, AND SENT HOME. I VISITED MY DEALER ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS WITH SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE IMA GAUGE BEING LOW AND THE ENGINE LIGHT BEING ON. JUST AFTER MY WARRANTY EXPIRED, I WAS TOLD THAT THE IMA BATTERY WAS DETERIORATING AND THAT IT WOULD NEED TO BE REPLACED, AT A COST OF OVER $6700. I HAVE SEEN SIMILAR COMPLAINTS ONLINE FROM OTHER HONDA HYBRID OWNERS. I FEEL CERTAIN THAT THE IMA BATTERY WAS "DETERIORATING" THE FIRST TIME I BROUGHT IT IN AND WAS PUT OFF UNTIL THE WARRANTY EXPIRED. *TR