NHTSA Complaint #10424187 — 2009 HONDA CIVIC

THE INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST (IMA) SYSTEM IN MY 2009 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID ERRATICALLY CHARGES AND DISCHARGES HYBRID BATTERY PACK, CAUSING SERIOUS DRIVABILITY ISSUES. THE PROBLEM FIRST DEVELOPED AT ABOUT 8000 MILES WHEN THE ORIGINAL HYBRID BATTERY PACK FAILED. REPLACEMENT OF THE HYBRID BATTERY PACK AND NUMEROUS ATTEMPTS TO RE-PROGRAM THE IMA CONTROL SOFTWARE HAVE NOT CORRECTED THE PROBLEM. IT HAS CONTINUED AND WORSENED THROUGH THE PRESENT MILEAGE OF ABOUT18000. ACCELERATION CONTINUES TO BE HESITANT, JERKY, AND EXTREMELY WEAK WITHOUT THE HYBRID SYSTEM OPERATING CORRECTLY. THE CAR IS DANGEROUS TO DRIVE ON THE INTERSTATE BECAUSE THE IMA SYSTEM MAY BE CHARGING A LOW HYBRID BATTERY EVEN WHEN ACCELERATION IS NEEDED. IN THOSE CIRCUMSTANCES THERE IS NO POWER AVAILABLE TO ACCELERATE THE CAR. THIS IS OPPOSITE OF THE WAY THE IMA SHOULD WORK. IN ADDITION, GAS MILEAGE HAS DROPPED FROM AN AVERAGE OF 43 MPG WHEN THE CAR WAS NEW TO AN AVERAGE OF 34 MPG. THE VEHICLE HAS BEEN INTO A HONDA DEALERSHIP 7 TIMES OVER 20 MONTHS FOR WORK ON THIS PROBLEM. THE HONDA SERVICE TECHNICIANS HAVE DESCRIBED THE CAR AS SCARY TO DRIVE AND STATED I'VE NEVER SEEN ONE DO THAT BEFORE?. AMERICAN HONDA CLAIMS THE CAR IS OPERATING AS DESIGNED AND WILL AUTHORIZE NO FURTHER WORK. WITH ITS POOR SERVICE HISTORY, HONDA DEALERS ARE NOT INTERESTED IN TAKING THE CAR IN ON TRADE, LEADING TO A SUBSTANTIAL LOSS OF VALUE. *TR