NHTSA Complaint #10358673 — 2007 HONDA CIVIC

2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. CONSUMER STATES PROBLEMS WITH VEHICLE BATTERY *TGW THE CONSUMER STATED SHE RECEIVED A LETTER FROM HONDA MOTOR CORP. TO VISIT HER DEALER FOR A SOFTWARE UPDATE TO PREVENT PREMATURE DETERIORATION ON THE IMA BATTERY. THE CONSUMER STATED SHE WAS GETTING POOR GAS MILEAGE. SHE THEN NOTICED THE VEHICLE'S PERFORMANCE WAS EXTREMELY SLUGGISH. EVERY TIME SHE STARTED THE VEHICLE AND BEGAN DRIVING, THE GAUGE THAT DISPLAYED THE IMA BATTERY'S CHARGE DROPPED TO ONE BAR AND THERE WAS ABSOLUTELY NO ASSIST FROM THE IMA SYSTEM UPON ACCELERATION, WHICH WAS THE PROCESS OF THE BATTERY RECALIBRATING AND TRYING TO EVALUATE IF THERE WAS ENOUGH CHARGE AVAILABLE TO ASSIST THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE, WHICH COULD LEAVE THE VEHICLE DANGEROUSLY UNDER-POWERED WHEN MERGING INTO INTERSTATE TRAFFIC. THE CONSUMER ALSO STATED SHE HAD DIFFICULTY TURNING LEFT AT A BUSY INTERSECTION DUE TO LACK OF ACCELERATION. THE VEHICLE ALMOST NEVER SHUT OFF WITH THE AUTO-STOP FEATURE DUE TO LOW CHARGE OF THE IMA BATTERY. *JB