2006 Honda Civic Hybrid Electrical system Problems
- Complaints
- 21about this part
- Share
- 38%of 55 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 84,175miles
- Trend
- StableComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are within 25% of the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 21 complaints about the electrical system of the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid, 38% of the 55 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 84,175 miles. 1 recall campaign on record is filed under a similar system.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“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“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“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“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“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 radio are off to reduce electrical load. Fuel economy also dropped about 10 mpg after the software upgrade. Without ima, the car has slow freeway acceleration, especially when traveling uphill. …”
NHTSA complaint #10425228, filed 2011-09, 78,000 milesRelated recalls
- 11V106000Mar 2, 2011Honda is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 honda civic hybrid vehicles. There is a potential for the voltage converter that relays power from the…Covers: Honda Civic Hybrid 2006–2007
Related service bulletins
- 10237952Jun 13, 2023Service News - The navigation clock and date are incorrect. This is due to a limited GPS receiver Capacity resulting in a rollover of the internal chip memory; the rollover…
- 10206994Jan 29, 2022ServiceNews Article - The clock shows the incorrect time. This issue is due to a limited GPS receiver capacity resulting in "rollover" of the internal chip memory; the "rollover"…
- 10142649Jan 18, 2014Service bulletin - Due to improvements in battery manufacturing efficiency, once stocks of original IMA batteries are depleted, new battery designs will be available for IMA…
- 10045879Jun 19, 2013Honda: information on replacement and removal of junction board from old ima battery and new battery mounted before battery is installed. Models 2003-11 civic hybrid, 2011-12…
- 10051509Dec 21, 2012Honda: warranty coverage has been extended on some vehicles for the ima battery module. Models 2003-2008 civic hybrids.
- 10043248Jan 12, 2012Honda: on some model vehicles, there is an alternator/starter tester (ast) module capable of testing alternators, installed on gr8 diagnostic battery station.
Electrical system: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 1 | 13% |
| 2015 | 1 | 20% |
| 2013 | 2 | 22% |
| 2012 | 4 | 33% |
| 2010 | 8 | 67% |
| 2009 | 10 | 36% |
| 2008 | 19 | 30% |
| 2007 | 34 | 53% |
| 2006 | 21 | 38% |
| 2005 | 11 | 23% |
| 2004 | 3 | 9% |
| 2003 | 6 | 12% |
Other parts of the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid
13 complaintsFuel system
8 complaintsVehicle speed control
7 complaintsAir bags
6 complaintsEngine cooling
6 complaintsEngine
5 complaintsSteering
5 complaintsBrakes
4 complaintsOther or unknown
4 complaintsExterior lighting
2 complaintsSuspension
2 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology