2006 Honda Civic Hybrid Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year most often describe hybrid assist and battery problems, including sudden power loss and weaker performance that many tie to a 2010 software update. Fuel tank leaks and gasoline odor, Takata airbag recall repair delays, and sudden power steering loss are also described, and reported mileage spans a wide range.

1. 1
   Electrical system

   Weaker hybrid assist after software update

   • 17 complaints (31%)
   • median 73,790 mi at 5.5 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • filed 2011–2015

   Owners describe the hybrid assist and battery performing worse after the IMA software update, many dating it to 2010, with the battery draining when the car sits and acceleration feeling slower. Some report lower fuel economy after the update, and one says a patch made pickup worse. One owner says the battery shut itself off to extend its life, and that the electronic brakes shut off with it. Where mileage is stated, reports range from about 40,000 to 187,000 miles, and many date the change to an update performed around 2010.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the hybrid battery and its control software have been updated, and whether any battery warranty extension or replacement was done. On a test drive, check the battery gauge and whether assist responds smoothly when pulling away and merging.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Due to poor performance after a recent Honda ima hybrid battery software update, the electronic battery had turned itself off in order to extend its life. When the battery turned off, the primary electronic brakes were also turned off. When an accident happened on the opposing direction of traffic, it sent debris across the freeway barrier into my lane. I attempted to decrease my speed in order to maneuver around the debris, but I did not have sufficient braking power. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10608176, filed 2014-07, 186,900 miles

   “I would very much like to share my concerns over the safety of the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid that we purchased new from a dealer. The car performed well for a few years, until Honda decided to tell me to go to the dealer and upgrade the software controlling the hybrid motor-battery system. Immediately following the software update, the car was utterly devoid of power, and dangerous to drive when merging on the freeway, even when driving alone without other weight in the car. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10449753, filed 2012-02, 40,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Sudden loss of acceleration or hybrid assist

   • 22 complaints (40%)
   • median 86,675 mi at 6.9 yrs old (20 state mileage)
   • filed 2011–2018

   Owners describe the car losing power suddenly, with the battery gauge dropping quickly or jumping back, and in some cases the car could not accelerate at all. Some say the car ran on the gasoline engine alone, and others describe assist that works only sporadically on highways. According to complaints, dealers diagnosed or replaced the assist battery, and one owner says the problem continued afterward. Where mileage is stated, reports range from about 35,000 to 178,000 miles, and several describe the loss while accelerating from a stop, entering a freeway, or climbing a hill.

   2 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the hybrid battery has been tested or replaced, and whether any warranty extension applies to this car. On a test drive, watch the battery gauge and check that assist responds smoothly when merging or climbing a grade.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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, filed 2015-08, 178,460 miles

   “The integrated motor assist (ima) battery is failing prematurely on my car, the assist works sporadically. When passing traffic on the highway I have to really mash the gas pedal to the floor, because the assist is absent for lack of power. Honda installed a software fix(bulletin 10-034) that greatly reduces the battery ability to function at full capacity, so they could make the battery last longer and not have to replace them under warranty. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10447326, filed 2012-02
3. 3
   Fuel system

   Fuel tank leaks and gasoline odor

   • 6 complaints (11%)
   • median 133,500 mi at 8.7 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2014–2018

   Owners describe a strong gasoline smell in the cabin or near the rear of the car, sometimes after refueling, and some report gasoline dripping from the tank area with a puddle under the car when parked. Some describe a cracked tank leaking fuel and fumes, and in one case a dealer said the tank needed replacing at a cost of several hundred dollars. According to complaints, a bulletin extended warranty coverage for fuel tanks, and some owners say they were not told about it and that no recall was issued. Where mileage is stated, reports range from about 60,000 to 170,000 miles, and several describe odor or leaking after refueling.

   What to check: Check for a gasoline smell inside the car, and look under the car near the tank and filler hose for wet spots or drips. Ask whether the tank has been inspected and whether any warranty extension bulletin applies to this vehicle.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “My daughter has been driving a 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid; after about a month and half, everytime she fills up the gas tank. There's a order/smell of gasoline. Sometime in december, we took the car to elk grove Honda for the smell of gasoline. Elk grove Honda service department told us; we needed to replace the fuel tank costing about $800.00. After doing some research; the new york times reported, on 12-19-11 gas leaks with 2006-2011 Honda civic hybrids fuel tanks. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10561075, filed 2014-01, 170,000 miles

   “I can smell a strong gas odor near the rear of the car. I looked under the car and could see gas dripping from the gas tank where the filler hose goes into the tank. There is a puddle of gas under the car when it is parked.”

   NHTSA complaint #10821252, filed 2016-01, 133,500 miles
4. 4
   Air bags

   Takata airbag recall repair delays

   • 6 complaints (11%)
   • median 106,235 mi at 10.5 yrs old (3 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2019

   Owners describe Takata airbag recall notices where the replacement part was unavailable, with some saying the manufacturer took longer than a reasonable time to provide the repair. The recall repair was reportedly refused because of the car's high mileage, and another owner paid to replace a passenger airbag and harness after an intermittent warning light. Another describes a crash in which the car's own airbags did not deploy while the other vehicle's airbags did. Where mileage is stated, reports are at about 106,000 to 109,000 miles, and one says the repair was refused because of high mileage.

   Recall 16V346000Recall 17V030000Recall 19V378000Recall 19V5020003 related service bulletins

   What to check: Enter the VIN on the manufacturer's recall lookup and ask the dealer whether the passenger airbag inflator or any replacement part is covered by an open recall. Ask for written confirmation of the replacement part's recall status if one was installed.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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 contact anyone who will help us.”

   NHTSA complaint #11052326, filed 2017-12, 106,235 miles

   “Takata recall we are continuously refused a recall of the airbags . Other models with the same part number are being replaced , but because we have a high mileage car they refuse us . Is this true and is it legal ?”

   NHTSA complaint #10871770, filed 2016-06
5. 5
   Steering

   Power steering cuts out while driving

   • 6 complaints (11%)
   • median 124,000 mi at 10.0 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2012–2018

   Owners describe power steering that failed or disengaged while driving, leaving the wheel very hard to turn, and in some cases the steering turned on its own. Some describe the engine stalling, headlights turning off, or the whole car shutting down at the same time, and one says the failure happened as the car was slowing to park. One owner says the failure recurred after a recall repair, and another says the steering stopped after a battery was replaced. Where mileage is stated, reports range from about 65,000 to 222,000 miles, and where speeds are given the loss happened at about 30 to 65 miles per hour.

   What to check: On a test drive, turn the wheel from side to side at low and moderate speeds and check for sudden stiffness, drift, or pull. Ask whether the dealer checked power steering and battery codes, and whether any recall repair is documented.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11035988, filed 2017-10, 124,000 miles

   “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. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11075685, filed 2018-03, 222,050 miles

Buying note. Anyone considering this model year should ask for records of the 2010 IMA software update, battery work, and any recall repairs, and test-drive for smooth acceleration and steady assist. Fuel odor and airbag recall status are also worth checking, since several owners describe both.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 53 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.