Trending Issue: Battery Failures Starting To Plague Many Hybrid Owners

Owners of 2006 and later Honda Civic Hybrids are finding that the batteries that power the cars' Integrated Motor Assist electric drive system aren't always living their expected lifespan and there are concerns that a fix Honda is providing to prolong battery life can reduce the hybrids' fuel economy.

Honda recently mailed letters to more than 100,000 owners of ''06-'08 Civic Hybrids in the U.S. and Canada acknowledging that their cars' batteries could deteriorate and fail prematurely and that the automaker has developed a software fix to correct the problem. 


 


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uaw_lax - 8/17/2010 10:08:06 AM

-2 Boost

Really not a good year for Japanese cars.

Agent009 - 8/17/2010 11:14:35 AM

-4 Boost

They are simply seen in the same light as everyone else now. Sort of like the storybook "The Emperor's New Clothes". Everyone thought their world was beautiful, while in reality it was a misconception. they were normal like everyone else

Larrybel2000 - 8/17/2010 1:50:01 PM

+4 Boost

You are on point saying that they are seen in the same light now. However, we can thank them for raising the bar through the 70s & 80s. American manufacturers took notice and adapted to a higher standard.

Larry B.
Key West.

uaw_lax - 8/17/2010 11:46:09 PM

-4 Boost

Hey ignorance it's posted you got your wish and all of the seat belts are being inspected on this recall and not swept under a rug like a Toyota recall.

quizz - 8/17/2010 1:25:15 PM

-1 Boost

I just can't get over the replacement cost of a battery after 100,000 miles. $5,000 is a lot of money considering you paid only $25,000 for it and are most likely "budget" conscious when you bought the car and are in no position to shell out $5,000 just to replace a stupid battery.

thstone - 8/17/2010 4:31:25 PM

-3 Boost

The real and true costs of hybrid ownership are now coming to light. I am still expecting at least one or two class action lawsuits to be a result of the unexpected high costs of battery replacement.

FanboyOfTheTruth - 8/17/2010 10:35:49 PM

+2 Boost

Honda IMA = fail. But attempts to pitch Honda IMA's failure as other hybrid makers' are just as pathetic (yes I'm talking about you Agent009). With proper battery management software maintaining the battery charge level between an appropriate range, hybrid batteries can last for the life of the vehicle itself.

StickShiftCamry - 8/18/2010 9:23:38 AM

+3 Boost

Hmm, theres a couple of medallion TAXI companies in NY. Their fleet consist of Toyota Prius and Camry yellow cabs that within less than 2 yrs have almost 200,000 miles on them and the cars are used 24 hrs a day in brutal NYC streets, those things r working like new and giving the same gas mileage as advertised...So if these hybrids work this good under such harsh conditions, i'm sure the conservative person that buys these will get trouble free life out of them...