CleanMPG Reviews the 2008 Honda Civic Hybrid

Highway driving is its strength.

Hi All:

I should have done this six months ago but given the recent rise in the number and severity of IMA NiMH recal events on HCH-II’s, I am pulling any future used car recommendation from this automobile. It provided great fuel economy as new but recal events create both a power and fuel efficiency deficit similar to driving a car with 1/4 of its capability removed due to poor pack longevity. While Honda has the ultimate responsibility to make this right, it is Sanyo’s NiMH batteries that are causing the nightmare for all concerned and it is too bad for all of our sakes

I also reduced the HCH-II's reliability rating to a 1 due to this recurring problem

Wayne

Hi Wayne: I drove my 2006 to Colville WA and return Sat. and managed 66 US mpg. each way. I have notice one or 2 recal per week . In-fact I had one on the return trip. That was my best trip and return to date. Hope the light comes on soon as I did purchase extended warranty. 7 years 120,000 kilometers. I am at 95,000 Kilometers now. I purchased the car Dec. last mth. of the first year so I have about 14 mths. and 25,000 Kil to go on the warranty. The odd recal I get is not even noticeable to my style of driving! H

Is it Sanyo's fault or Honda's implementation?

We purchased our first Honda in '81, were loyal to that brand through 6 vehicles. Our last purchase was a second gen. '06 Civic Hybrid. Switched to Toyota Prius in 2010, with our Civic having increasingly frequent recals. It's still on the road, still not showing any error codes. All-in-all a very frustrating experience.

I somehow doubt Honda is going to acknowledge the problems with their hybrid. Considering the relatively low number of vehicles involved, I think it's kinda sad: this will hurt their reputation, and drive customers to the competion.

I don't think it will drive me away as Honda makes one heck of a auto in my opinion! It will take more than the odd recal to drive me to another brand. H

It really is the monitoring of the batteries that is largely to blame. Honda's battery management system is extremely crude, simplistic, and any other inadequate adjective you can think to apply to it. Yes, the pack would be easier to cool and a bit more energy dense if it was composed of prismatic rather than cylindrical cells, but that's not the main issue here.

You're too kind, LOL. They're in my bad car manufacturer right now, will be for some time.

I recollect talking to Honda Canada about missing underbody panels on the Canadian model. I mentioned that I had a shop manual, and her immediate response was "where did you get that?".

I felt like I'd been caught with contraband, LOL. There's an infuriating disregard in that corporate structure for what keeps them in business.

Hi Mendel
I believe the auto company,s are all similar. I still like the feel of a Honda. This is my second only. I wasn't crazy about my CRV really , but the Civic I like. H

I think you're right: put Toyota in similar circumstances, would they behave differently? Maybe not.

OTOH, maybe they were cagey enough to not drop themselves into such a predicament, designing a battery with more reserve.