NHTSA Complaint #11561125 — 2018 HONDA ACCORD HYBRID

The 2018 Honda Accord Hybrids suffer from a critical electrical design flaw which has left me stranded in dangerous positions on the roadside multiple times. In a normal gasoline powered vehicle, when the ignition is on, the engine is running and the alternator is generating current to charge the battery and keep it in good health. However, with Honda's Hybrid system, even with the ignition on the engine does not engage and as a result it does not keep the battery at a healthy charge. Honda could easily detect high current draw on the 12v electrical system (like a tire inflator e.g.) and start the gasoline motor when needed, but they have chosen not to do so letting the vehicle's battery drain to a dangerously low level which has other adverse effects on the car's safety systems. LKAS and TPMS systems have reported erroneous messages when this condition occurs. If there were a way to ensure the gasoline motor stayed on for roadside service tasks that would solve this issue, but currently in all modes the engine will shut off after running for a time, allowing the battery to be drained and damaged.