123 of the
596 complaints filed about the Honda Civic Hybrid
are about the electrical system —
21% of everything owners reported.
The worst model year for it is 2007.
On [XXX], at about 3,500 miles, the subwoofer speakers in my 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid Sport Touring began rattling persistently at moderate volume (14-15), disrupting the entire audio system. The component malfunctioned, no ‘failure’ in the traditional sense, but it renders the sound distorted and unusable, far from the advertised premium sound quality on Honda’s website. It’s still in the vehicle, available for inspection if requested. This doesn’t directly risk physical safety, no crash or injury, but it severely impairs the driving experience, as the audio system is a key feature I rely on, now reduced to a constant, irritating rattle. The problem has been reproduced and confirmed on all the other vehicles of the same model and trim at the dealership where I bought it, Honda mall of Georgia in Buford, GA. I took it in for repairs twice, first on March 25, then again on April 2, and it spent 7 days in the shop total. Both times, the rattling persisted unchanged. The service team acknowledged it’s a model-wide defect affecting other Civics of this trim, yet no effective fix was applied. The manufacturer’s regional representative inspected it indirectly through the dealership and declared the rattling ‘normal,’ refusing further action. The service manager promised an engineer would investigate, but that never happened. There were no warning lamps or messages prior, just the sudden onset of the subwoofer speakers on the rear deck rattling on [XXX] with no earlier symptoms. It’s been consistent since, worsening the audio with every use. The dealership’s confirmation of a widespread issue, paired with the manufacturer’s dismissal, points to a design and quality control flaw they won’t address. This isn’t a one-off; it’s a systemic problem ruining a core feature that’s been happening for a decade now with the top tier trims of Honda civics. I request an investigation into Honda on why it hasn’t rectified this issue when Honda promotes “premium sound”. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT
NHTSA complaint #11653989 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the steering wheel seized with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The contact stated that the steering wheel was difficult to turn. The contact also stated while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle lost motive power with several unknown warning lights illuminated. The vehicle was able to restart. The contact stated that the battery was replaced; however, the failure recurred. The dealer was contacted. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
NHTSA complaint #11650581 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2015 Honda Civic Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, several undisclosed warning lights illuminated, and the vehicle started to lose motive power. The contact stated that the vehicle stalled after arriving at the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that there was a bypass malfunction. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not contacted. The failure mileage was approximately 117,729.
NHTSA complaint #11618660 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at approximately 65 MPH, the contact became aware that the braking system, ABS, and battery warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the vehicle lost motive power and stalled. Additionally, while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle took longer than normal to start. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic who related the failure to Technical Service Bulletin: 20-030 (Warranty Extension: 2012-15 Civic Hybrid IMA Motor Power Inverter); however, the vehicle was not covered under the TSB. The contact replaced the battery, but the failure persisted. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 100,600.
NHTSA complaint #11585236 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
The contact owns a 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid. The contact stated while driving at various speeds, the vehicle failed to accelerate while the accelerator pedal was depressed. The contact stated that several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic where it was diagnosed with the battery needing to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure recurred. The contact took the vehicle to another independent mechanic and the battery terminals were replaced. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The contact related the failure to an unknown recall. The manufacturer was informed of the failure. The manufacturer declined to offer any further assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 15,000.
NHTSA complaint #11418389 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
IT SHOWS A PROBLEM ON BOOSTER CONTROL MODULE FIRST, AND THEN ABS CONTROL MODULE PROBLEM WAS FOLLOWED IN A MONTH AFTER FIXING FIRST ONE. I AM SECOND OWNER AND BOUGHT IT 2 YEARS AGO. THERE HAS NOT BEEN PROBLEM AT NORTH CAROLINA, BUT AFTER MOVING HERE PEORIA IL WHERE IS COLDER IN WINTER HERE 2 YEARS AGO, "CHECKING BRAKE SYSTEM FOLLOWED BY CHECKING ABS, POWER STEERING, IMA ETC" ABOUT 5 CHECKING SIGNS SHOWED ON THE PANEL. THE MECHANIC SAID IT WAS BOOSTER CONTROL MODULE PROBLEM. AFTER HE REPLACING IT, THERE WAS NO PROBLEM FOR A WEEK. AND THEN WHEN I DRIVE SLIPPERY GROUND SURFACE IN A RAIN, AND SLIPPED A LITTLE, THE SAME SYMPTOM WITH CONTINUOUS WORKING MOTER ON ABS ASSEMBLY SHOWED OFF. EVEN WHEN THE KEY OUT, THE MOTER WAS STILL WORKING SO THAT THERE IS NO ELECTRICAL POWER LEFT DUE TO DISCHARGING IN THE MORNING. THE MECHANIC SAID THAT IT IS ABS CONTROL MODULE PROBLEM SO THAT HE IS FIXING IT NOW.
NHTSA complaint #11088945 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
MY SON PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE FROM AN INDIVIDUAL AT A DEALERSHIP. DROVE THE CAR HOME WITH NO PROBLEMS, THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WAS ON AND THE SELLER DID TELL HIM THERE WAS AN ISSUE WITH THE IMA BATTERY, BUT THAT IT DIDN'T KEEP FROM DRIVING IT. DIDN'T CRANK THE CAR FOR 2 DAYS. WHEN WE PUT THE 10 DAY TAG TO GET INSPECTION DONE IT WOULDN'T START. TOOK THE 12 V BATTERY OUT GOT IT TESTED AND SHOWED BAD BATTERY. REPLACED THE BATTERY, DROVE AROUND AND IT DIED THE STEERING STOPPED, THE LIGHTS STARTED FLICKERING AND IT WOULDN'T RESTART. WE TOOK THE NEW BATTERY OUT GOT IT RECHARGED BUT ARE UNABLE TO DRIVE IT MORE THAN 10 MILES WITHOUT IT FLOODING POWER AND FINALLY LEAVING STRANDED. IF IT WAS A STANDARD VEHICLE I WOULD SAY IT WAS THE ALTERNATE BUT THIS CAR DOESN'T HAVE THAT. THE IMA BATTERY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND WITHOUT IT THE CAR IS TRASH. WHAT CAN WE DO WITH THIS CAR? I CAN'T SELL IT, THAT WOULDN'T BE RIGHT. THE MAN WHO SOLD THIS CAR TO MY SON WAS WRONG IN DOING SO.
NHTSA complaint #11075685 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT "INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST SYSTEM COMPROMISE" DISPLAYED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO HONDA MOTORWERKS (500 4TH ST S, LA CROSSE, WI 54601, (888) 434-6632) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH AN INTERNAL BATTERY FAILURE THAT NEEDED REPLACEMENT. THE BATTERY WAS NOT REPLACED DUE TO COST, BUT THE CONTACT WAS ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS STILL ABLE TO OPERATE USING THE HYBRID SYSTEM OR FUEL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT USING THE HYBRID SYSTEM WAS FINE DURING THE SUMMER, BUT DURING THE WINTER MONTHS, DUE TO COLDER TEMPERATURES AND SHORTER DAYLIGHT HOURS, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE POWER WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IT WAS A KNOWN ISSUE THAT THE INTERNAL BATTERY DEGRADES OVER TIME AND FAILED TO KEEP A LONGER CHARGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND PROVIDED CASE NUMBER: 06581479. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 125,000.
NHTSA complaint #11062398 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TAKATA RECALL. HONDA DID A SAFETY RECALL IN 2015 BUT IN 2017 I GOT THE AIRBAG SIGN AGAIN IN CIVIC HYBRID AND IT'S NOT GOING EVEN MECHANIC TRIED TO REMOVE IT WITH OBD. OTHER PROBLEM IS WITH IMA SYSTEM, IT WORKS OFTEN SOMETIMES AND SIGN STAYS AT THE DASHBOARD. HONDA SHOULD RECALL FOR AIRBAG AND IMA SYSTEM AND FIX IT PERMANENTLY.
NHTSA complaint #11062508 — 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.
I TOOK MY 2013 CIVIC TO HONDA YESTERDAY TO GET A CAR KEY PROGRAMMED, AND NOW MY CAR WILL NOT RUN. IT VIBRATES REAL LOUD, AND THE ODOMETER WILL NOT GO TO 2. I HAVE TO NOW GET IT TOWED BACK TO HONDA ON 10/30/17 AND LET THEM FIX IT, AND I WILL NOT PAY A DIME. THEY DID SOMETHING TO THE COMPUTER WHILE PROGRAMMING MY KEY. I AM VERY ANGRY WITH THEM. I HAVE NOT HAD MAJOR PROBLEMS IN THE 4 YEARS I HAVE HAD THE CAR, BUT IF THIS IS NOT FIXED AT THEIR EXPENSE, I WILL SUE. ALL OVER JUST A CAR KEY.L
NHTSA complaint #11040951 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
WHILE DRIVING THE POWER STEERING DISENGAGES LEAVING ME WITHOUT ANY POWER STEERING MAKING IT EXTREMELY DIFFICULT TO TURN MY STEERING WHEEL IN EITHER DIRECTION. THERE SEEMS TO BE NO RHYME OR REASON AS TO WHEN THIS WILL OCCUR. ONLY THAT IT WILL USUALLY HAPPEN AFTER ABOUT 20 MINUTES OF STEADY DRIVING. SOMETIMES IT HAPPENS WHEN I'M GOING STRAIGHT AND OTHER TIMES WHEN I'M GOING AROUND A BEND. IT HAS SHUT OFF ON ME WHILE TRAVELING AT SPEEDS OF 65, 55, 40, 30, 20, ALL THE WAY DOWN TO 5 MPH RIGHT AS I'M PREPARING TO PARK MY VEHICLE. FORTUNATELY, THE FIRST TIME IT HAPPENED ABOUT A MONTH AGO I HAPPENED TO BE GOING STRAIGHT. I DON'T KNOW WHAT WOULD HAVE HAPPENED HAD IT OCCURRED 20 SECONDS EARLIER WHEN I WAS GOING AROUND A BEND. EVER SINCE THEN I STAY HYPER VIGILANT W/ 2 HANDS ON THE WHEEL, SO IF IT DOES HAPPEN WHILE TURNING I'LL BE ABLE TO MUSCLE MY WAY THROUGH THE TURN. SURE ENOUGH, YESTERDAY EVENING I GOT THE OPPORTUNITY TO TEST MY REFLEXES. WHILE TRAVELING 35 MPH ON A BACKROAD HIGHWAY I BEGAN TO TURN INTO THE SHARP BEND IN THE ROAD WHEN SUDDENLY THE STEERING WARNING LIGHT ILLUMINATED, AND THE POWER STEERING SIMULTANEOUSLY DISENGAGED. AS I BEGAN TO DRIFT OVER INTO THE YELLOW LINE W/ ON-COMING CARS WHIZZING PAST, I DECISIVELY PUT EVERY OUNCE OF MIGHT I HAD INTO TURNING THE WHEEL AS FAST AND AS FAR RIGHT AS I COULD UNTIL I COULD GET MY CAR SAFELY TO THE SHOULDER. I NARROWLY ESCAPED A HEAD-ON COLLISION. WITH A SIGH OF RELIEF, I PUT THE VEHICLE IN PARK, ACTIVATED MY HAZARDS AND SHUT OFF MY CAR FOR ABOUT 2 MINUTES. THAT USUALLY DOES THE TRICK. WHEN I RESTART MY CAR, I CAN USUALLY EXPECT THE POWER STEERING TO RETURN. AS I CONTINUE TO DRIVE THE ISSUE ALMOST ALWAYS SEEMS TO RESURFACE WITHIN 10 MINUTES OR SO. THE FACT THAT THE POWER STEERING JUST RANDOMLY DISENGAGES FOR APPARENTLY NO REASON WHATSOEVER IS OBVIOUSLY A SERIOUS SAFETY CONCERN. THIS REALLY NEEDS TO BE INVESTIGATED.
NHTSA complaint #11035988 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EL-1 IAM BATTERY WAS NOT WORKING AND THE SERVICE ENGINE AND SEVERAL UNKNOWN WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO PRESCOTT HONDA (3291 WILLOW CREEK RD, PRESCOTT AZ, 86301) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE BATTERY NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 76,081.
NHTSA complaint #11022878 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
"TAKATA RECALL" 2003 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID WITH IMA AND ENGINE LIGHTS WENT OFF. NO CHARGE TO BATTERY CAUSE THE CAR TO MALFUNCTIONS. SUCH AS ELECTRICAL STEERING WHEEL STOP WORKING. ENGINE LOST POWER AND STOP WHILE DRIVING ON CITY STREET AT STOP SIDE. I CHANGED NEW DIEHARD 12V BATTERY AND ALSO CHECKED AND VERIFIED THE IMA BATTERY IS GOOD (EACH CELL ABOVE 7 VOLTS). I THINK THE CAR NEED TO UPDATE SOFTWARE FROM HONDA. PLEASE HELP US FOR THE RECALL TO UPDATE SOFTWARE. MANY PEOPLE HAVE THE SAME PROBLEM AND THEY POST THEIR STORY ON YOUTUBE
NHTSA complaint #11021023 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
6659 MILES INTO OWNING THIS CAR HONDA PASADENA CHARGED ME $220 TO REPLACE ENGINE WIRING THAT HAD BEEN EATEN BY RODENTS. THIS CAR WAS PARKED IN THE SAME PLACE AS AT LEAST 3 OTHER TYPES OF CARS OVER A 13 YEAR PERIOD AND NONE OF THE OTHERS HAD THIS ISSUE. I BELIEVE THAT HONDA PASADENA WAS NOT ONLY AWARE OF THIS ISSUE IN GENERAL BUT WAS AWARE THAT THERE WAS A PROBLEM IN THE SPECIFIC CAR I PURCHASED.
NHTSA complaint #11012991 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2008 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE VEHICLE FAILED STATE INSPECTION BECAUSE THE CHECK ENGINE INDICATOR WAS ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO THE LOCAL DEALER (DCH ACADEMY HONDA, 1101 U.S 9, OLD BRIDGE, NJ, 08857) WHERE THE P0A7F CODE APPEARED (HYBRID BATTERY FAILED). THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED DUE TO THE PRICE OF THE PART. THE CONTACT ALSO HAD AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC DIAGNOSE THE VEHICLE FOR A SECOND OPINION. BOTH THE FAILURE AND PART COST WERE CONFIRMED. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS OUT OF WARRANTY AND ADVISED THE CONTACT TO KEEP CALLING THE DEALER. NO FURTHER ASSISTANCE WAS PROVIDED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 100,000.
NHTSA complaint #11010522 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH, THE ABS, POWER STEERING, AND INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE RADIO LIGHTS BLINKED, THE AIR CONDITIONER TURNED OFF, THE POWER STEERING BECAME LOOSE, AND THE ENGINE STALLED. THE CONTACT PULLED THE VEHICLE OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND HAD IT TOWED HOME. THE DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AT 800-999-1009 AND STATED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD TOO MANY MILES AND THE CONTACT WAS NOT THE ORIGINAL OWNER. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 169,000.
NHTSA complaint #11004800 — an unverified report by a vehicle owner.