NHTSA Complaint #10352246 — 2007 HONDA CIVIC

OWN A 2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. AFTER ABOUT ONE YEAR OF OWNERSHIP, THE CAR STARTED EXHIBITING TROUBLING CHARACTERISTICS WITH THE POWER MANAGEMENT AND AVAILABLE POWER. THE CAR RELIES ON A GAS ENGINE AND ELECTRIC ASSIST TO PROVIDE FULL POWER IN ALL DRIVING SITUATIONS. DURING THE SUMMER WHEN TEPERATURES RISE, THE CAR STARTS TO HAVE DIFFICULTY PROVIDING POWER FROM THE ELECTRIC MOTOR DUE TO THE BATTERY CRASHING TO 0. ONCE THE BATTERY "RECALIBRATES" THE CAR PROVIDES VERY LITTLE POWER USING ONLY THE GAS ENGINE. THIS BATTERY CRASH HAPPENS ON A DAILY BASIS AND MEANS IN THE REAL WORLD THAT WHEN I AM PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC I MAY HAVE VERY LITTLE POWER TO GET THE CAR UP TO SPEED AND RISK GETTING HIT BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. TO SAY THE CAR BECOMES "SLUGGISH" IS AN OVERSTATEMENT. HONDA HAS BEEN UNWILLING TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE AND IT APPEARS THAT THE AR HAS A MATERIAL DEFECT THAT PREVENTS THE BATTERIES FROM OPERATING AS INTENDED IN REAL WORLD SITUATIONS. WHEN THE AIR CONDITIONER IS IN OPERATION THE BATTERY WILL CRASH EACH TIME YOU DRIVE THE CAR. I FEEL VERY UNSAFE IN THIS VEHICLE AND HONDA IS DOING NOTHING TO ADDRESS THE COMPLAINTS. *TR