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2006 Honda Civic Hybrid Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 55 complaints with NHTSA about the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid, most often about the electrical (38% of complaints, typically around 84,000 miles). It is the 3rd most complained-about Civic Hybrid model year since 2000 and has 7 recalls.
Most common 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid problems
Electrical
21 complaints · 38%Half of these problems showed up before 84,000 miles. Parts named most often: propulsion system.
The vehicles battery has failed and the car does not have enough power to safely pull into intersections or incoming traffic. There have been several near misses due to this issue. We are terrified when driving the vehicle.
The ima battery has failed. The ima battery was given a computer "patch" last year to help the ima perform better than it had. The performance after a stop was very poor and the pick up lagging seriously behind the engine. The "patch" did not work, it made matters worse. I am now faced with the large expense of having…
Transmission
13 complaints · 24%Half of these problems showed up before 78,000 miles. Parts named most often: automatic transmission.
After my 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid received an integrated motor assist (ima) software upgrade in 2010, if the car is parked for one day (such as a sunday, if I do not drive the car) the ima battery will drain within one half mile of leaving my home the next day, on a level roadway, even if the ventilation system and…
Honda performed an ima software update on 12/22/2010. Since that time the availability of electrical assist has been greatly reduced. Even when the battery reads full, I cannot be sure that electrical assist will be available, or, if it is available, how long it will last. Several times it has suddenly failed in the…
Engine
11 complaints · 20%Half of these problems showed up before 121,500 miles.
While driving at about 20 MPH, the transmission disengaged from the engine. When accelerator was pressed, the engine would freely rev to the redline but there was no movement of the car. The car was going up a hill when this happened. The car was rolled backward, almost into traffic at a busy intersection. Car had to…
My daughter, [] was entering on freeway from ramp and the car suddenly lost acceleration, she had to stop on right side of emergency lane. Fortunately the time was not rush hour and no vehicles behind her hit her car. We took to a Honda dealer they diagnosed ima battery is no good and need to replace. Information…
Fuel system
8 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 136,000 miles.
The gas tank started leaking and I found out there was not a recall but there is a service bulletin on the gas tank in which Honda extended the warranty to 10 years and 120,000 miles. Honda knows there are defective gas tanks and will not replace them if the car has over 120,000. What does mileage have to do with a…
I had the Honda dealership perform the ima software 'upgrade' in 2010 as part of the recall for this vehicle to further extend the life of the ima battery. Since that time, the ima battery has failed twice. First in jan 2012. This battery was replaced under the extended warranty for this part provided by Honda when…
Speed control
7 complaints · 13%Half of these problems showed up before 85,000 miles.
Honda did a recall on the software, supposedly to save the hybrid batteries for early failure. After the change the car experienced les miles per gallon gas efficiency, and worse, the car's acceleration was drastically reduced. Now when I try to enter a freeway I feel I am taking my life in my own hand. It is…
"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…
Air bags
6 complaints · 11%During oct 2013 I began to see the airbag warning light come on sporadically. Asked the Honda dealer to investigate and they said there was no problem because it is not on all the time. I went to another mechanic that I use and they ran a diagnostic and said it was defective and needed to be replaced. I paid $2289.17…
Takata recall - my son was driving this car and hit another car from the rear on a US highway. This car was totaled. Six airbags went off in the car he hit, but none went off in this car. He sustained minor physical injuries, but has been emotionally traumatized and requires psychosocial therapy. I have been unable to…
Steering
5 complaints · 9%On at least four occasions, once while moving at about 30 MPH, the entire car shut down. The gas engine shut off, power steering and brakes went dead, and the dash went blank. I had to place the car in park, and then remove and reinsert the key in order to restart. This has happened once, though not while moving…
The contact owns a 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, the power steering malfunctioned without warning. The contact mentioned that the steering would turn to the right independently. The vehicle was taken to the dealer. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The vehicle…
Other or unspecified
4 complaints · 7%Mpg decreased 6-8 mpg in the past week. Driving up steep hill today, car lost power and started to roll backward a few feet before brake finally kicked in. Pressed accelerator for about 40 seconds but car would not move up the hill. Battery had drained from full charge to one bar within 3 miles.
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…
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2006 Honda Civic Hybrid recalls
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began august 12, 2019. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are f5f and q5e.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 acura tsx, 2011-2014 tsx sport wagon, 2010-2013 zdx, 2008-2012 honda accord, 2010-2011 accord crosstour, 2006-2011 civic and civic hybrid, 2008-2010 civic gx ngv, 2012-2015 crosstour, 2007-2011 cr-v, 2009-2013 fit, 2014 fit EV, 2010-2014 insight, and 2009-2015 pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began july 5, 2019. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are m4o, p4r, t4q, and w4p.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 acura tsx, 2011-2013 tsx sport wagon, and 2010-2012 zdx and 2008-2012 honda accord, 2010-2011 accord crosstour, 2006-2011 civic, civic hybrid and civic ngv, 2012-2014 crosstour, 2007-2011 cr-v, 2009-2013 fit, 2010-2013 insight, and 2009-2015 pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The manufacturer has mailed an interim notification, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are ke1 and ke2.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2009-2012 acura tsx, 2011-2012 acura tsx wagon, 2010-2012 acura zdx, 2008-2012 honda accord, 2010-2012 honda accord crosstour and honda insight, 2009-2012 honda fit, 2009-2012 pilot, 2007-2011 honda cr-v, 2012 honda fcx clarity and 2006-2011 honda civic, civic hybrid, civic ngv vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, if not included in "zone a" above, honda is recalling certain 2009 acura tsx, honda fit and pilot, 2008-2009 honda accord, 2006-2009 civic, civic hybrid and civic ngv, and 2007-2009 honda cr-v vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, i
Air bags: inflator module
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began march 2017. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall is ka4, ka5, ka6, and ka7.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain model year 2009-2011 acura tsx, 2011 tsx wagon, 2010-2011 acura zdx, 2008-2011 honda accord, 2010-2011 accord crosstour, 2006-2011 civic, civic hybrid, and civic gx, 2007-2011 cr-v, 2010-2011 fcx clarity and insight, and 2009-2011 fit, and pilot vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in alabama, california, florida, georgia, hawaii, louisiana, mississippi, south carolina, texas, puerto rico, american samoa, guam, the northern mariana islands (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands, or "zone a." additionally, unless already included in "zone a" above, honda is recalling certain model year 2008 honda accord, 2006-2008 civic, civic hybrid and civic gx, and 2007-2008 cr-v vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in arizona, arkansas, delaware, the district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, neb
Electrical: electrical system
Risk: This failure will cause the headlights to turn off, the engine to stall, and prevent the vehicle from being restarted, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the voltage converter free of charge. The safety recall began on march 25, 2011. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009 a select option 4.
Full defect summary
Honda is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 honda civic hybrid vehicles. There is a potential for the voltage converter that relays power from the integrated motor assist (ima) system to the vehicle's electrical components to fail.
Engine
Risk: The terminal may come into contact with the metal cover, which can result in an electrical short that may blow the ima fuse. A blown fuse will cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will install a plastic cover attached to a metal bracket over the rubber cap. The recall began on february 26, 2006. Owners may contact honda at 1-800-999-1009.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles, certain parts of the integrated motor assist (ima) system are located under a metal cover behind the rear seat-back. Over time the weight of rear seat passengers may cause the metal cover to come into contact with a rubber cap covering an electrical terminal. The rubber cap may get pinched, exposing the electrical terminal.
Equipment: owners/service/other manual
Risk: The language in the owner's manuals is not in accordance with the current mandatory requirements.
Fix: Honda will send a postcard to dealers and owners with the correct NHTSA vehicle safety hotline information and with instructions to insert the card into the "reporting safety defects" section of the owner's manual. The recall began on august 2, 2006. Owners may contact honda at 1-800-999-1009, acura at 1-800-382-2238 or honda motorcycles at 1-866-784-1870.
Full defect summary
On certain passenger vehicles and motorcycles, the owner's manuals contain incorrect contact information for the national highway traffic safety administration's (NHTSA) vehicle safety hotline.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
Summary
Nhtsa received a petition on or about july 18, 2022, requesting that federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the united states. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under odi number 11486072. Fmvss 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kg or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after march 1, 2021.on january 27, 2023, NHTSA opened defect petition (dp) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt
Questions about the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid
- What are the most common problems with the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: electrical (21 complaints, typically around 84,000 miles); transmission (13 complaints, typically around 78,000 miles); engine (11 complaints, typically around 121,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid have?
- 7 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 27, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2006 a bad year for the Honda Civic Hybrid?
- It is the 3rd most complained-about Civic Hybrid model year since 2000, with 55 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.