2006 Honda Civic hybrid -- this vehicle relies on battery assistance for an additional 20+ horsepower but is now severely compromised by battery degradation that Honda is trying to cover up with a "software update" that only decreases vehicle's dependence on the battery thus ensures less horsepower than advertised. The car has become very dangerous due to the inability to rely on it responding appropriately when the accelerator is pressed, sudden losses of power, dying battery, and more.

- Shawnee Mission, KS, USA

Great car for the first 2 years of ownership. Started losing hybrid battery power and hybrid assist around 8.09 power and mileage suffer multiple trip to dealer and several software patches installed. Vehicle continues to lose battery at worst possible time and suddenly start at stoplights this is my wife's primary vehicle to drive to work and school by herself in the rideshare line. She no longer drives this vehicle because I fear for her safety on busy California freeways. Hybrid battery finally replaced by Honda after consulting an attorney and mentioning all the folks on the NHTSA site having the same concern. Sudden starts at stops no longer there but still has a total lack of power on acceleration due to new software package designed to save the battery received new recall letter for hybrid system that states it will further reduce hybrid usage, there is no way I am going to have that patch installed this car is useless to my family now and recently tried to trade it in, dealership do not want it due to the rising concern with customer complaints, lousy mileage, etc I would love to talk to somebody about this vehicle and even provide it to you to drive and test. This problem is amplified in warm weather and when the A/C is on. This car did not do this in the first to years of service. [xxx] information redacted pursuant to the Freedom Of Information Act (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

- Alta Loma, CA, USA

1. Honda Civic hybrid battery loses power, does not perform idle stops that recharge integrated motor assist battery, inability to accelerate on freeway onramps or when driving circumstances necessitate acceleration, decreased gas mileage. 2. at 34,347 miles began noticing ima battery doesn't last long and makes acceleration difficult. At 62, 430 miles I am concerned for myself and my family's safety. Car extremely difficult to accelerate even on streets. At 69,388 problems continue with a noticeable dip in gas mileage. At 90,747 miles ima battery sensor indicates a problem. Battery not working properly. 3. per Honda at each service only software was updated. No parts replaced. Therefore, battery is still only charges up to halfway. The battery isn't consistently dead to start with but it does die down again with driving.

- Lakewood, CA, USA

I received a notice from Honda that my 2006 Honda Civic hybrid needed a software update to stop premature battery failure. Had update performed. The vehicle is no longer a hybrid car. This car is dangerous to drive in nyc traffic as it now has no battery assist when the battery is at a 50% charge.

- Northport, NY, USA

Honda Civic 2006 sedan 4 door. Approx. 40,000 miles on the car (failure occurred as soon as odometer went pass 40,000 miles). Can't shift out of park without pressing the shift lock release button. Brake lights do not work. Contacted Honda and rep there said the issue could be with the brake light switch. Rep said Honda has issued a safety recall of 07V402000 (exterior lighting:brake lights:switch) so take car to dealer for inspection. Took car to dealer for servicing. Mechanic rep says the vehicle is not included in the safety recall, but in the 07V402000 specifically includes 2006 Civic sedans. Main issue I have is that Honda failed to notify me about this safety recall. I am the original owner and my car is registered with Honda. Last time Honda sent me a postcard about the safety recall 07V399000 so I got it fixed immediately, which probably saved my life since my wheel was on the verge of falling off!

- Boulder, CO, USA

Several times in the past the acceleration in my 2006 Honda Civic hybrid has failed to provide the extra burst of speed when needed, making me uncomfortable in traffic. When this situation happens as I am leaving my subdivision I feel helpless in a situation of which I have little control. When I need to make turn from my subdivision from a stop, I need to rapidly accelerate to 45 mph uphill. Much of the time there is traffic approaching from the left which I am unable see to until they are on the crest of that hill, approx. 150' away. As you can see, I depend on the hybrid system working properly for that extra burst of speed. When this happens I notice the ima battery charge indicator showing the battery is in a depleted state. I do not know why this occurs so rapidly when 99% of the time it is just fine. I was relieved that Honda motor co. Was proactive in notifying me of a software patch to enhance the performance of the ima system of which I had immediately installed. What my wife and I have noticed since the software patch was installed is the engine revs up higher during acceleration then there is a momentary hesitation before the ima system assisted the engine to get up to speed. Also since the patch was installed, the ima battery level indicator is at or near full charge. I have noticed an apparent decrease in fuel efficiency, but I am still compiling data to make an exact determination of the extent of that problem.

- Orland Park, IL, USA

2006 Honda Civic hybrid, quit while driving. Lost all power, had no lights, brake, turn, 4 ways etc. Luckily the car quit on a side street had it been on an busy road or interstate the car would have been disabled without the ability to warn cars coming up from behind. Car towed to dealer where it was found the DC to DC converter had shorted internally.

- Marengo, IL, USA

Honda Civic hybrid--2006. Ima assist abnormalities following most recent Honda repair campaign. My 2006 Civic hybrid was given a software update by Honda on 8/5/2010 following a campaign initiated by Honda to address loss of power and performance due to ima hybrid battery deterioration and failure. Prior to the update the vehicle would often lose battery charge suddenly, resulting in a significant loss of power and at one point stranding me in an intersection while turning left in front of oncoming traffic in July, 2010. The most recent update (I have had several from Honda in over the 4.25 yrs of ownership) has not fixed the issue of sudden loss of power from transient battery failures that occur without warning, often when accelerating up steep inclines or attempting to merge into traffic. In addition to the ongoing issues, the hybrid battery now fails to provide adequate assistance when accelerating, merging into high-speed traffic, etc. And experiences wide fluctuations in charge, jumping from 1/3 charge to completely full with sudden drops of a similar fashion. These fluctuations continue to occur regardless of driving conditions, ambient temperature, accessory or A/C use or other extenuating factors and occur multiple times per week, and multiple times per day on occasion (6 battery failures in the last week alone since the update). I have experienced at least 1 near-miss accident in the last 30 days due to sudden loss of power and Honda's multiple attempts to address the failures from a software perspective have been unsuccessful.

- Lake Zurich, IL, USA

1. loss of battery power, occurs daily. 2. the battery does not charge during deceleration nor does the engine auto-stop when the car is idle or at a red light as often as it used to do. 3. more than 30% decrease in mileage per gallon/fuel efficiency over past 4 months.

- San Mateo, CA, USA

I received a notice from Honda that my 2006 Honda Civic hybrid needed a software update to stop premature battery failure. Had update performed. The vehicle is no longer a hybrid car. It basically runs off the engine. The only time the integrate motor assist unit works is when the car is first moving from a stop, and even then it is relatively useless. The vehicle previously was excellent. Motor assist worked great. Honda issued recall update to reduce the number of claims for early battery failure. They have shut off the hybrid system in order to stop battery failure which would have cost them over $2000 per car to replace. They have not extended the warranties of existing owners like myself who have 60,000 miles. The battery will now last to the end of the warranty period because it no longer needs to work. According to the dashboard, the car is constantly charging the battery, even when I push the pedal to get onto a highway. This is not the hybrid car I purchased and used for the past 4 years. It is basically a gas engine with 40 hp. The car hit over 6500 RPM to get up a hill with one passenger, and the motor assist didn't turn on..but the power bars stayed at the middle range and Honda says it should. How does a vehicle reduce ima assist when hitting the gas" what is all this reserve battery for" probably to keep the flashing lights working when someone hits me in the back thinking I am actually moving. This update is not safe.

- Fishkill, NY, USA

My Honda hybrid 2006 looses all its indicators when the weather is either hot or cold; I loose air conditioning, and speed indicator; ima system and check engine alarms goes off. Checked several times by Honda dealer; could not figure out the problem. This has been going on for about one year. After recent recall and software update installed yesterday, the car could barely start at a light (RPM up to 6000, drive engaged, barely any move forward), and not even an alarm light on anymore; this represents a major safety issue.

- Rochester, MN, USA

I own a 2006 Honda Civic hybrid. Approximately two weeks ago I had a software update on the ima system and since that time the acceleration of my car has dramatically (and perhaps dangerously) decreased. Honda claims it was done in order to preserve the life of the battery however at no time did they say it would adversely affect the performance of the car. The gas mileage has also suffered badly. Prior to the software update the car was running fine and I was getting excellent mileage.

- Hamden, CT, USA

I have a 2006 Honda Civic hybrid that I purchased new in California in July, 2006. I'm having a serious and dangerous problem with the hybrid system (ima as Honda calls it), but Honda keeps telling me its normal because there has not been a fault code. The problem is that last year I started to notice the hybrid battery was having increasing trouble holding a charge and accurately reporting it's charge condition. The most common symptom is that I'll start driving with the charge being reported at 70% full or so, and without warning, the charge drops to 0 and the car begins to aggressively recharge the battery. This aggressive recharging takes about 5-10 minutes after which is reports it is full. But here's where the danger lies, in the first couple of minutes, there is no assist available from the hybrid battery. When starting from a stopped position, the car is extremely sluggish and slow. I have had several cases where I have been pulling across an intersection with cross traffic that doesn't stop and the car, without warning, had slipped into this recharge state and nearly resulted in an accident - the oncoming cars had to brake as I moved slowly across the intersection. My Honda dealer and Honda of America will not look into the problem unless there is a fault code. I know that others have had almost the exact same problem with their Civics. Some of them have been lucky enough to have Honda replace them hybrid battery and their problems have gone away. I am incredible upset that I have to put myself and my family at risk each time I drive this car - it is a daily problem. Please investigate. I hope you observe what I've heard from fellow owners which is that there is a wide-spread problem that Honda is trying to ignore because the solution is very expensive.

- San Jose, CA, USA

My Honda Civic hybrid ima battery (not the regular electrical system but the integrated motor) will not retain charge. When driving begins, the motor assist battery quickly (within 5 miles) will drop to zero charge leaving the car with absolutely no acceleration power. At times it is unknown if the battery is depleted until it is necessary to put my foot to the floor to avoid a problem on the road. At that point, the battery refuses to respond. Several times I have needed to accelerate to avoid an accident and the car will not respond. Honda has looked at my car and has decided that "without the ima light coming on, there is no way to diagnose the problem, " this problem occurs almost every day I drive the car (documented every day for 2 months.) I have nearly been hit 3 times, once with my children in the car. Honda refuses to do anything except "software updates" and refuses to "throw parts" (direct Honda quote) at the problem.

- Mechanicsville, VA, USA

Was at a stop sign on Sunday 5pm on driver's side window I went to close the window the window shot straight up off the track I was able to catch it before it hit ground the driver's side window is now unusable.

- Milford, PA, USA

Electronic motor assist (ema) battery failure in a 2006 Honda Civic hybrid. The car had 60,000 miles on it and the battery that powers the electronic motor failed. When the batteries become faulty: Gas mileage is decreased as well as the car's overall horsepower(by about 20-25 hp if I am correct). This makes driving the car unpredictable when in traffic. The $3,000 battery was replaced by Honda through warranty(stops at 80,000 miles). Honda had stated that the batteries should last at least 100,000 miles. The batteries seem to be going be failing in 50,000-70,000 mileage area at an extraordinary rate. I believe this may be my second replacement as in 2007 I had a complete ema failure on the highway. The electronic motor assist failed 100%. all the lights on my dashboard turned on and the rpms shot way up. The dealership had my car for over a week and then told me that it needed a software update which takes minutes to update.

- Lake Worth, FL, USA

While driving on the highway, all the dashboard lights turned off and the accelerator was not responsive. However, the brakes still worked. After coasting to a stop, the car was able to restart immediately. This failure has not yet recurred. The symptoms are very similar to those caused by a defective ignition switch, which was recalled on 2002 Honda models.

- Falmouth, ME, USA

The contact owns a 2006 Honda Civic hybrid which was purchased in November 2005. She noticed a significant decrease in the gas mileage between 10 to 15 mpg. She also stated that while driving uphill or accelerating the vehicle would lose power. There were no recalls pertaining to the failure. The failure mileage was 50,000 and the current mileage was 100,000. Updated 10/26/09. The consumer stated since the vehicle passed the 50,000 mile mark, it looses power when traveling up hill and/or acceleration. The dealer performed computer upgrades but to no avail. Updated 10/26/09.

- Shingle Springs , CA, USA

Hybrid battery immediately & without warning loses its entire charge (from full to zero immediately) causing a forced major recharge of hybrid battery, giving the car almost no power with no warning (under normal conditions it never reaches zero--a mild recharge will kick in once it gets half-full). But now it goes from full to zero immediately with no warning. Almost caused accident this month when it happened again while on freeway (almost got smashed into when lost power on fwy). Honda's techs verified the problem with my car but because they receive no error code they refuse to do any fixes and replace the batteries even though problem is well-known (just search the hybrid car forums for others with the exact same problem). Happens a few times each month now, always without warning, always immediately from full (or near full) to zero. This is not the same as a normal gradual depletion as you use the hybrid system under normal use. It suddenly discharges the hybrid battery from full to zero and forces a major recharge pulling away most of the car's power that can easily cause an accident. But even though Honda has verified the problem on my car themselves and it's a known problem, they refuse to replace the hybrid battery because they don't get an error code (and in calif by law, hybrid battery has 8-10yr warranty). Their answer to me was to just keep driving the car no matter how unsafe it is because without a code they won't fix it (too expensive for a "blind" fix). For others who've reported the same problem, Honda got "rid" of the problem by "updating" the car's software to basically turn off the hybrid system so the defective battery won't even be used). This is not a fix. They don't want to fix problem even though they're obligated to. Happens numerous times now. They've verified it. And recently 2 times that almost got me smashed into. Latest 2 times was Sept 2009, but has happened for about the last 8-9 months. Honda admits problem, but refuses to fix.

- Fountain Valley, CA, USA

My 2006 Civic hybrid has multiple problems with the ima: Here's a short list: 1. cannot sit at traffic light more than 20 seconds without hybrid battery draining itself and causing car not to be able to accelerate when light turns green. 2. cannot use A/C when over 95 degrees outside or hybrid battery drains itself, making car unable to function correctly 3. cannot use cruise control at all or hybrid battery drains itself 4. cannot go over 70 mph or tac revs so high that car acts as though it will overheat or shut down. Multiple trips to Honda service for help resulted in 5 computer updates in last 3 months. Was assured this would fix all problems. Hasn't fixed a one yet. Have been driving a loaner car from dealer for 1.5 weeks until they figure out problem. Feel like sitting duck on the road, especially at stop lights because when light turns green, there is a real possibility that I will not be able to move and fear getting rear-ended. Problems seemed to center around use of compressor with A/C or defrost.

- Wamego, KS, USA