NHTSA Complaint #11668518 — 2014 HONDA CIVIC

While driving at high speed on the freeway at 65mph, my Honda Civic Hybrid experienced a sudden and complete electrical failure of the hybrid battery control module (IPU/MCM). This happened without any warning lamps, messages, or prior symptoms. The hybrid system instantly shut down, causing a dramatic loss of power and forcing me to pull off the road in high-speed traffic. This placed me and other drivers at serious risk of a high-speed collision due to the abrupt power loss and inability to accelerate. The failed component is still installed and available for inspection. The issue has since been diagnosed and confirmed by an independent hybrid specialist, who identified the malfunctioning IPU. I was told this exact failure is covered by Honda Service Bulletin 20-030, which extends the warranty for affected Civic Hybrids to 10 years or 150,000 miles, however, my VIN is not included, despite the failure being identical in nature. Honda has refused to provide any assistance, stating that only specific VINs are eligible, which I believe is misleading and unjust. This defect is clearly broader than the TSB acknowledges. The sudden failure of a critical propulsion system at high speed without warning is a major safety hazard and should not be limited by an arbitrarily narrow VIN list. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this issue and require Honda to expand the scope of TSB 20-030. This defect compromises driver safety and has caused me significant financial and emotional stress, not to mention the danger it poses to others on the road. This is not an isolated incident. Many other Honda Civic Hybrid owners have reported the exact same issue, sudden IPU failure, no warnings, dangerous loss of power, on public forums and complaint databases. The narrow VIN range in TSB 20-030 is artificially limited and fails to reflect the true scope of the defect.