NHTSA Complaint #10482029 — 2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID

ON SEPT 15, '12, I WAS TAKING MY SON AND HIS FRIEND OVER TO HIS COACH'S HOUSE FOR A FOOTBALL PARTY. I ATTEMPTED TO DRIVE UP THE COACH'S DRIVEWAY BUT AT APPROXIMATELY THE HALFWAY POINT, MY HONDA CIVIC HYBRID STOPPED MOVING FORWARD ALTHOUGH THE ACCELERATOR WAS PUSHED TO THE FLOOR. I HAD THE TWO NINE YEAR OLD KIDS EXIT THE VEHICLE BUT IT STILL DID NOT MOVE FORWARD. I SLOWLY BACKED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AND ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE UP THE DRIVEWAY AGAIN, THIS TIME WITH A RUNNING START. AGAIN, MY HONDA CIVIC HYBRID DID NOT MAKE IT UP THE DRIVEWAY. I ESTIMATE THE DRIVEWAY TO BE AT A 30% ANGLE, NOT STEEP BUT DEFINITELY NOT FLAT. AGAIN I SLOWLY BACKED DOWN THE DRIVEWAY AFTER HAVING THE CARS BEHIND ME MOVE OUT OF MY WAY. I PARKED AT THE BOTTOM OF THE DRIVEWAY AND WALKED UP THE HILL, NOT SOMETHING YOU EXPECT TO DO WHEN YOU SPEND A LOT OF MONEY FOR A VEHICLE. ON OCTOBER 3, 2012, I HAD A CERTIFIED HONDA DEALERSHIP EXAMINE THE CAR AS I SUSPECTED THE IMA BATTERY WAS FAULTY. THE DEALER STATED I DID NEED A NEW 12 VOLT BATTERY AND I HAD THE BATTERY REPLACED. THE DEALER STATED THAT WHILE THE IMA BATTERY IS NOT GIVING OUT FULL POWER IT IS AT AN ACCEPTABLE LEVEL. THE DEALER STATED THAT HONDA REFUSES TO REPLACE ANY IMA BATTERY UNLESS IT COMPLETELY FAILS AND THEY HAVE SEEN SEVERAL CIVIC HYBRIDS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM. MY CONCERN IS THE ACCELERATION AND LOSS OF POWER BECOMES A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE ON THE HIGHWAYS AND HILLS. I HAVE THREE YOUNG KIDS AND DO NOT FEEL SAFE WITH THEM IN THE CAR. I HAVE ALL SERVICE DOCUMENTATION AND AM WILLING TO LET INVESTIGATORS EXAMINE AND DRIVE MY VEHICLE. ALSO, I CAN PROVIDE THE ADDRESS OF THE DRIVEWAY, THE VEHICLE WAS UNABLE TO MAKE IT UP. PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS ISSUE AS THIS LOSS OF POWER CREATES A SAFETY ISSUE FOR MY FAMILY. *TR