NHTSA Complaint #10451804 — 2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID

UPON RECEIVING THE 'MANDATORY' IMA RECALL ISSUED BY HONDA, I NOTICED MY HONDA CIVIC HYBRID (2008) ACTED VERY DIFFERENTLY WHEN IT CAME TO ACCELERATING FROM A STOP, PARTICULARLY ON A HILL. FROM A STOP IT TAKES SEVERAL SECONDS BEFORE THE CAR WILL MOVE FORWARD AT A REASONABLE SPEED (WHICH IT DID NOT DO PRIOR TO THE UPDATE). PRIOR TO THE UPDATE, THE CAR WOULD ACCELERATE LIKE A NORMAL CAR WITH THE IMA KICKING IN TO ASSIST THE CAR FORWARD. POST UPDATE IT'S LIKE THE GAS ENGINE WANTS THE IMA TO ENGAGE BUT THE NEW FIRMWARE WON'T ALLOW IT TO. THE FIRST TIME I EXPERIENCED THIS, I WAS NEARLY HIT COMING OUT INTO TRAFFIC AS MY CAR HESITATED. HONDA HAS STATED THERE IS NO WAY TO REVERSE THE UPDATE. THIS DECREASE IN POWER CONTINUES TO AFFECT ME TODAY (AT 60,000 MILES AND CLIMBING). THIS UPDATE HAS AFFECTED MY FUEL ECONOMY AS WELL (HAVING DROPPED BETWEEN 30-33 MPG ON A "GOOD" DAY). WHILE THE FUEL ECONOMY MAY NOT BE A PERSONAL SAFETY ISSUE, IT IS AN ENVIRONMENTAL SAFETY ISSUE. *TR