40 of the
596 complaints filed about the Honda Civic Hybrid
are about the throttle and cruise control —
7% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2007.
40
Complaints
7%
Share of all complaints
6
Crashes
0
Fires
Acceleration & Cruise Control complaints by model year
On a two way lane highway, vehicle detects on coming traffic and causes sudden deceleration of vehicle and braking which can cause being rear ended by another vehicle. This also occurs on multi lane freeways when going in the same direction the vehicle will detect a vehicle in the lane next to me braking and again cause the vehicle to decelerate and brake which could cause an accident. Occurs at least once or twice a week. I have a video of the issue which might be better
NHTSA complaint #11689698 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The vehicle unexpectedly began accelerating from a creep with no accelerator input. Acceleration ceased immediately as soon a the brake pedal was touched. No actual braking was required--simply a touch on the pedal. Acceleration was as if the accelerator pedal had been pressed about 1/4 down. It lasted about 1.5 seconds from initiation to touching the brake pedal. The pavement was not on a grade but was substantially level. This is the 3rd or 4th such incident in the last few months. In the other incidents I was unsure if it was my imagination or some unrelated factor like grade. In previous incidents I had been about to accelerate in any case, and pressing the accelerator overtook it. In this incident, the car was navigating a parking lot, having just pulled out of the parking space and moved 50-100 ft. The car was moving in "creep" mode, i.e., the EV system simulating the creep of an automatic transmission (ca 0-4 mph). My impression is that each incident occured not long after restarting the car, though I am not fully certain of this. In this occurence there was one passenger; in all previous occurences there was no passengers. In all occurences, the Cruise Control system was on but not engaged. The "driving style" was set for Normal, as opposed to Sport or Eco. No alerts or unexpected lights were observed on the instrument panel. For the latest incident, the driver's floor mat was checked and found to be properly secured and well clear of the accelerator pedal. The car's last (and only) service was the normal Honda "A1" maintenance in May 2025 at ~11000 miles. Service was done at a Honda shop, so any firmware should be current to that date. The shop was not notified of the acceleration issue at that time. The Honda shop has been notified today (July 5).
NHTSA complaint #11671348 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR ENGINE SHUTS OFF. THERE IS STILL POWER TOO THE CAR BUT THE SPEED ODOMETER DOESN'T WORK, ALONG WITH WHATEVER IS USED TO MONITOR THE MILAGE I HAVE TRAVELED. I HAVE TO SWITCH IT TOO LOW GEAR IN ORDER TOO KEEP IT GOING OR THE CAR STOPS EVEN WHEN IM GOING 65. IT HAS HAPPENED NOW MULTIPLE TIMES AND WHEN SHIFTED INTO PARK IT WON'T SHIFT OUT OF PARK FOR SEVERAL HOURS. I HAVE TO DISCONNECT THE BATTERY TERMINALS TOO RESET THE CODES BECAUSE IF I DON'T ILL END UP SITTING IN MY CAR SEVERAL HOURS BEFORE I CAN START MOVING AGAIN. THE LIGHTS THAT ILLUMINATE ARE THE BRAKE SYSTEM, CHECK ENGINE LIGHT, AND IMA SYSTEM ALL AMBER. IF I DIDNT ACT AS I DID THIS TIME IT WOULD HAVE BEEN LIKE THE FIRST TIME WHERE I ACTUALLY DID STOP ON THE FREEWAY CAUSING FOR A TRAFFIC JAM, NOT ONLY WAS THAT EMBARRASSING IT WAS ALSO SCARY BEING STUCK IN THE FURTHEREST LEFT LANE WITH NO SHOULDER ON THE LEFT SIDE TOO PULL OFF THE FREEWAY AND ALL THE CARS SPEEDING AT 65 MPH OR MORE BY ME .
NHTSA complaint #11173823 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
"VEHICLE SHUDDER PROBLEM" I HAVE BEEN EXPERIENCING A JOLTING/SHUDDERING ISSUE WITH MY VEHICLE SINCE I PURCHASED IT IN 2013. WHEN ACCELERATING FROM A STOP POSITION, THE VEHICLE SHUDDERS WITH THE STEERING VIBRATING BEFORE MOVING. ON A SNOWING OR RAINING DAY, SOME SKIDDING OCCURS WHICH HAS THE POTENTIAL TO CAUSE SAFETY ISSUES. IT APPEARS THAT THERE HAS BEEN RECALLS IN SOME ASIAN COUNTRIES, I WOULD ENCOURAGE SIMILAR RECALL IN NORTH AMERICA FROM HONDA. I CALLED HONDA CUSTOMER SERVICE @ 1-800-999-1009 THIS MORNING, AND WAS INFORMED THERE IS NO SHUDDER RECALL AT THIS TIME. IT WOULD BE DESIRABLE IF THE ADMINISTRATION COULD LIAISE WITH HONDA. WE SHOULDN'T REALLY WAIT UNTIL THERE IS FATALITIES BEFORE AN ACTION IS TAKEN. LET'S SAVE LIVES!
NHTSA complaint #11102775 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHEN DRIVING AT 50MPH ON A NATIONAL HIGHWAY 95S HEADING TO PHILADELPHIA AROUND 11AM,THE SPEED OF THE CAR SUDDENLY REDUCE TO 20MPH AND THEN STALLED AND STOPPED MOVING. I HAD TO PULL ASIDE TO CHECK THE ENGINE. AFTER SOME THIRTY MINUTES OF REST,I HAD TO RETURN HOME WITH AN IDEA OF GETTING THE CAR CHECKED BY THE DEALER.THE DEALER REORTED OF HAVING NO PROBLEM IN THE ENGINE AND I HAD TO TAKE THE CAR BACK AND RUNNING AS CAREFULLY AS POSSIBLE WITHOUT USING FOR A LONG TRIP. I HAD SOME DENTS DUE TO OTHER DRIVER WITH RASH DRIVING AND HITTING THE CAR.I NEED TO GET THE DENTS FIXED AS SOON AS THE PRESENT WINTER SEASON TURNS FEASIBLE FOR EASY RUNNING.
NHTSA complaint #11058530 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
CVT TRANSMISSION VIOLENTLY SHAKES AT SPEEDS 0-10 AND CAUSES AUTO STOP TO ENGAGE AT ALL TIMES EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING THROUGH CONGESTED TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. IT PERFORMS POORLY WHEN IN MOTION IN ANY STREET OR HIGHWAY WHEN DRIVING VERY SLOW OR AFTER ACCELERATING AT A STOPLIGHT.
NHTSA complaint #11043157 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS I'VE HAD TWO INSTANCES WHERE I WAS ATTEMPTING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN AT A GREEN LIGHT AND HAD TO YIELD TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. HOWEVER, WHEN THE NEXT ONCOMING VEHICLE APPEARED TO BE FAR ENOUGH AWAY AND AT A SAFE DISTANCE, I ATTEMPTED TO ACCELERATE AND MAKE THE TURN AND MY HYBRID SYSTEM A.K.A. HONDA'S IMA (INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST) WOULD RANDOMLY FAIL TO ENGAGE, LEAVING ME WITH ALMOST NO ACCELERATION POWER. IT FELT LIKE I WAS DRIVING A LAWNMOWER. THE ENGINE WOULD REV UP, BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PROPORTIONATELY ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE IS ALMOST IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE UPHILL IN DOWNTOWN TACOMA, WA AS IT STARTS ROLLING BACK EVEN WITH ACCELERATOR PEDAL DEPRESSED ALL THE WAY DOWN. I CONTACTED THE DEALERSHIP AND WAS TOLD THAT ALTHOUGH THERE WAS A SB-10051509-6014 ISSUED FOR MY SPECIFIC MODEL, WHICH IN EFFECT EXTENDED THE WARRANTY AND MY VIN FELL UNDER THE SPECIFIED CRITERIA, IT WAS CANCELLED DUE TO A SALVAGE BRANDED TITLE (A FACT I DIDN'T NOT NOTICE UNTIL AFTER I HAD PURCHASED THE VEHICLE FROM A PRIVATE PARTY). THIS ISN'T SIMPLY A WARRANTY ISSUE. THIS IS IN EFFECT A SAFETY ISSUE AS THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO REMEDY THE SITUATION IN AN EMERGENCY. THE RISK IS SIGNIFICANTLY INCREASED BY THE FACT THAT THE DRIVER MAKING THE LEFT TURN IS FACING ONCOMING TRAFFIC WHICH IS COMING TOWARDS THE VEHICLE IN FULL SPEED. SHOULD A CHILD BE PRESENT IN THE REAR SEAT, IF THE DRIVER IS UNABLE TO COMPLETE THE LEFT TURN AND VACATE THE INTERSECTION IN TIME, THE COLLISION COULD PROVE FATAL, ESPECIALLY SINCE THE HYBRID BATTERY PACK AND THE HIGH VOLTAGE WIRES ARE ALL CONNECTED RIGHT BEHIND THE REAR SEAT.
NHTSA complaint #10980827 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON JUNE 5TH I WAS DRIVING IN MOTION ON VAN NESS AVE IN SAN FRANCISCO CALIFORNIA AND SUDDENLY I WAS NOT ABLE TO ACCELLERATE TO KEEP UP WITH THE SPEED OF TRAFFIC AND STARTED SLOWING DOWN UNABLE TO CONTINUE. TRAFFIC WAS STOP-AND GO. PEOPLE SWERVED AROUND ME CAUSING ISSUE. I MANAGED TO TURN THE CAR OFF AND ON AGAIN, AND PULLED OVER TO THE SIDE. I RESTARTED THE CAR AGAIN AND WAS ABLE TO SLOWLY ACCELLERATE BRINGING IT INTO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP JUST 3 BLOCKS AWAY AT MARKET AND VAN NESS. THIS WAS SUNDAY. ON MONDAY THEY CALLED ME AND ASSURED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN "FIXED" DUE TO A SOFTWARE BUG. THEY SAID THAT THIS HAPPENS ALL THE TIME AND IT WILL BE FIXED WITH THIS UPDATE. THEY ALSO SAID MY BATTERY NEED REPLACING AND THEY CHARGED ME TO REPLACE THE BATTERY. IT SEEMED TO BE OK FOR THE LAST FEW MONTHS - BUT THEN THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO ME AGAIN THIS PAST WEEKEND WHILE I WAS DRIVING HOME. TURNING ON AND OFF THE CAR FIXED IT SUCH THAT I WAS ABLE TO DRIVE THE LAST 8 BLOCKS HOME. I'M NO LONGER FEELING SAFE TO DRIVE MY CAR
NHTSA complaint #10894880 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IMA BATTERY FAILED, THE VEHICLE WAS SLOW TO ACCELERATE, AND THE LOW BEAM HEADLIGHTS FAILED TO ILLUMINATE. IN ADDITION, THE IMA WARNING LIGHT FLASHED AND THE SERVICE ENGINE LIGHT DIMMED. ONE MECHANIC PROVIDED TESTING AND A SECOND MECHANIC ALSO INSPECTED AND DIAGNOSED THE FAILURES, BUT WAS UNABLE TO PROVIDE A REPAIR SOLUTION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER FOR FURTHER DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE VIN WAS NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 140,000.
NHTSA complaint #10892752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 72 MPH WITH THE CRUISE CONTROL ACTIVATED, THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO DEACTIVATE IT, BUT THE VEHICLE ACCELERATED TO 100 MPH ON ITS OWN. THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE BARRIER ON THE REAR DRIVER SIDE OF THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE SPUN 360 DEGREES AND CRASHED INTO THE CONCRETE BARRIER ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. THE FRONT AND REAR PASSENGER SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED AND TOWED. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 90,000. UPDATED 08/12/16*LJ
NHTSA complaint #10888307 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I WAS DRIVING AROUND 3:00 PM WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED ON ITS OWN. I SLAMMED ON THE BRAKES, BUT THE CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I MANAGED TO PUT IT IN NEUTRAL AND CONTINUED TO APPLY THE BRAKES. IN THE THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO THIS EVENT, THE ENGINE REVVED AS IF THE ACCELERATOR HAD BEEN FLOORED AFTER I PUT IT IN PARK AFTER DRIVING HOME FROM WORK (IT NEVER HAPPENED AFTER THE DRIVE TO WORK WHICH WAS IN LESS TRAFFIC AND TOOK LESS TIME). IT DID NOT HAPPEN EVERY TIME. MY WIFE WAS WITH ME ON ONE OCCASION AND EXPERIENCED IT ALSO.
NHTSA complaint #10872985 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING AT 55 MPH, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE. THE INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST BATTERY DEPLETED FROM FULL TO ONLY TWO BARS IN A MATTER OF SECONDS. IN ADDITION, THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE COMPLETELY RECHARGED IN APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES. THE FAILURE RECURRED ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE OR REPAIR THE VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 126,000.
NHTSA complaint #10816544 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
HONDA CIVIC HYBRID 2006 COULDN'T RUN SUDDENLY, EVEN THOUGH I PRESSED ACCELERATOR FULLY. IT WAS WHEN I DROVE ABOUT 30 MILES. ABOUT 5 KILOMETERS PREVIOUS FROM THE INCIDENT, IT BECAME TO HARD TO RUN GRADUALLY, FOR EXAMPLE, THE REACTION OF THE ENGINE BECAME LATER THEN IT COULDN'T RUN ONLY 15 MPH, EVEN THOUGH I PRESSED ACCELERATOR FULLY. FINALLY, MY CAR STOPPED ON THE BEACH BLVD.
NHTSA complaint #10758693 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I BOUGHT THIS CAR OFF OF A PRIVATE SELLER FEW MONTHS AGO WHEN THE CAR WAS AROUND 99000 MILES, USED IT TO COMMUTE FROM AND TO WORK (6 MILES DRIVE), AND COUPLE OF ROAD TRIPS FROM BOSTON TO RHODE ISLAND. THE CAR WAS WORKING PERFECTLY FINE, I WAS REALLY HAPPY WITH IT, UNTIL LAST WEEK WHEN THE CAR STARTED TO STARTLE WHEN I COME TO A COMPLETE STOP AND HIT THE GAS AGAIN. I JUST FIGURED ITS TIME FOR AN OIL CHANGE SO I TOOK IT IN TO MEINEKE BUT THE JITTER WOULD NOT GO AWAY, THE GUY FROM MEINEKE TOLD ME IT COULD BE A MOTOR PROBLEM. SO I TOOK THE CAR TO A MECHANIC AND THEY SAID ITS THE STARTER CLUTCH. I DID SOME DIGGING AROUND ON THE DIFFERENT FORUMS AND FIGURED OUT THIS IS A VERY COMMON PROBLEM FOR FIRST GEN HCH. I WAS ACTUALLY SURPRISED BY THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS I WAS ABLE TO FIND ON EDMUNDS, KBB, AUTRADERS, AND CARS.COM KNOWING HOW RELIABLE HONDAS USUALLY ARE (I PERSONALLY DROVE TWO HONDAS BEFORE, AND NEVER HAD ANY PROBLEMS). SEEING THE AMOUNT OF COMPLAINTS, WHY ISN'T THERE A RECALL BEING ISSUED FOR THIS DILEMMA. HONDA SHOULD REALLY TRY TO FIX THIS ISSUE, OR LOYAL CUSTOMERS SUCH AS MYSELF WOULD START TO WALK.
NHTSA complaint #10724567 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY SON STARTED TO TURN OUT OF A PARKING LOT, ACCELERATING NORMALLY. CAR RESPONDED BY ACCELERATING MASSIVELY --THE RPMS SHOT UP TO THE MAX (7) AND HE HEARD IT STUTTER AGAINST THE TOP OF THE DIAL. HE TRIED TO COMPLETE THE TURN, BUT SKIDDED INTO A POLE, WHICH CAUSED THE AIRBAG TO DEPLOY. CAR CONTINUED TO RACE FULL SPEED AS IT BOUNCED OVER A PARKING CURB BACK INTO THE LOT. FINALLY THE CAR STOPPED WHEN THE KEY WAS TURNED OFF.
NHTSA complaint #10676222 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IT LURCHES FOR IT WILL ACCEL WHEN YOU DON'T WANT IT TO. HAS TROUBLE TO SHIFT INTO ANOTHER GEAR LOUD NOISES. WAS DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY AND I TURNED ON THE CRUISE CONTROL AN ACCELERATED FASTER THAN WHEN I PROGRAM DATA ENTRY OF THE RPM'S UP. HAD TO STEP ON THE BRAKES A COUPLE TIMES TO GET IT TO STOP DOING THAT ALMOST HIT TWO VEHICLES I DO ALL THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGES RECOMMENDED AND OIL. THESE ARE GREAT CARS BUT THESE PROBLEMS THAT NEED TO BE ADDRESSED.
NHTSA complaint #10653668 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
I DON'T ACTUALLY KNOW WHEN THIS STARTED. IT HAS BEEN GOING ON FOR QUITE SOME TIME. SOMETIMES WHEN I START FROM A STOPPED POSITION TO ENTER TRAFFIC, EVEN THOUGH I HAVE THE ACCELERATOR FLOOR-BOARDED, THE CAR BARELY RESPONDS. WHEN I LOOK, THE HYBRID CHARGE IS VERY LOW, BUT I MAY HAVE JUST HAD THE CAR OUT A SHORT WHILE BEFORE AND THE HYBRID BATTERY WAS FULLY CHARGED. IT SEEMS AS IF I NOT ONLY HAVE NO ACCELERATION ASSIST FROM THE HYBRID BATTERY, BUT THERE IS ALMOST NO POWER ASSIST AT ALL. I HAVE NOT HAD AN ACCIDENT YET BUT FEAR IT MAY HAPPEN, AS I FREQUENTLY HAVE TO PULL OUT ONTO A VERY BUSY TWO LANE ROAD.
NHTSA complaint #10653752 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
THE TRANSMISSION IN MY HONDA CIVIC HYBRID HAS HAD THE SAME SHUDDER/JUDDER ISSUE THAT MANY OTHERS HAVE EXPERIENCED. YOU HAVE TO TAKE OFF EXTREMELY SLOW TO KEEP IT TO A MINIMUM AND IT STILL SHAKES AND JUDDERS. IT IS OBVIOUS THERE IS A SEVER ISSUE WITH THESE CVT TRANSMISSIONS AND MANY PEOPLE ARE HAVING THE SAME EXACT ISSUE. MY CIVIC HYBRID STARTED THIS ISSUE A LONG TIME AGO AND HONDA SAID JUST CHANGE THE TRANSMISSION FLUID BUT THAT ONLY HELPS FOR A SMALL AMOUNT OF TIME. VERY DANGEROUS GOING THROUGH INTERSECTIONS.
NHTSA complaint #10608648 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TRANSMISSION JUDDERS/SLIPS WHEN ACCELERATING. HAD CLUTCH KIT REPLACED LESS THAN 2 YEARS AGO AND 20,000 MILES AND SAME PROBLEM IS BACK. VERY DANGEROUS WHEN SLIPPAGE OCCURS, AS CAR DOESN'T ALWAYS MOVE WHEN ACCELERATOR IS PUSHED.
NHTSA complaint #10604285 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
ON NUMEROUS OCCASIONS THIS CAR HAS ACCELERATED DANGEROUSLY WHEN I WAS APPLYING THE BRAKES, INCLUDING AT INTERSECTIONS. I UNDERSTAND THAT THIS HAS BEEN REPORTED BEFORE.
NHTSA complaint #10565338 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.