NHTSA Complaint #10320293 — 2003 HONDA CIVIC

THIS PROBLEM HAS BEEN HAPPENING SINCE THE CAR WAS BRAND NEW, AND CONTINUES TO THIS DAY. WHILE SLOWING DOWN, AND IF THE CAR GOES OVER A BUMP OR ROUGH PATCH IN THE ROAD, THE ELECTRICAL BRAKING BY THE HYBRID SYSTEM TURNS OFF. THIS CAUSES THERE TO BE NO BRAKING AT ALL ON THE CAR FOR A BRIEF PERIOD OF TIME. THE REGULAR BRAKING SYSTEM WILL ENGAGE BUT IT REQUIRES MORE FORCE AND TIME THAN NORMAL TO SLOW AND STOP THE CAR. THE STOPPING DISTANCE IS DEFINITELY INCREASED AND COULD LEAD TO AN ACCIDENT. IT OCCURS OFTEN, AND CAN BE RECREATED OVER THE SAME ROUGH PATCH IN THE ROAD. THE AMOUNT OF ROUGHNESS REQUIRED TO CAUSE THIS IS LOW AND THERE IS NO WAY TO PREDICT BY LOOKING AT THE ROAD. IT IS ACTUALLY QUITE SHOCKING HOW LITTLE IT TAKES AND HOW DIFFERENT THE BRAKING IS AFTER IT HAPPENS. I COMPLAINED TO THE DEALER BUT THEY SAID THERE WAS NOTHING THEY COULD DO, THAT IS JUST THE WAY IT IS. *TR