Honda - Well known issues with hybrid battery

OddballJamie

Pretty obvious why the previous owner let it go as the warranty ended.

Anything you would have saved in fuel has gone into the new battery. You may as well bought something fun.

nissarm

Here is the evidence:

Hybrid vehicles are considered a risky long-term purchase by some, with unknown reliability of hybrid batteries and worries of possible replacement costs. While those fears may be exaggerated, Consumer Reports has found some damning evidence on one particular model: the Honda Civic Hybrid.

For Consumer Reports’ April 2013 issue, the magazine finds that while other hybrid vehicles have an excellent reliability report, the Civic Hybrid has been plagued with serious problems.
“The Civic Hybrid, which has been a reliable car overall in most years, has a big problem with its drive battery,” the report starts. “The 2009 model was the worst: Almost one in five owners needed a replacement hybrid battery in our 12-month survey period.”
The issues aren’t limited to just the 2009 model either. “But more than 10 percent of owners of the 2003, 2004, and 2010 models also needed one.”
Honda offers an 8 year, 100,000 mile warranty for Civic Hybrids, which can also go up to 10 years/100,000 miles depending on the state. Many of the models above should still be covered under warranty, but if they aren’t, a replacement battery isn’t cheap, coming in between $2,000 and $4,000.
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s SaferCar.gov website, there are 9 complaints on 2009 Honda Civics, the majority of which cite the electrical powertrain as a potential safety hazard.
Honda has no official response, though the automaker did share with AutoGuide an email sent to Consumer Reports after the report was published.
“We are sorry to read that some of your Honda Civic Hybrid subscribers have experienced IMA battery issues during their ownership,” it reads. ” While the majority of Honda owners experience very few problems with their vehicles, we regret the inconvenience that any repair imposes on our customers.”
Honda also claims that a software update was issued to protect older models of the car from premature battery failures.
“Honda provided a software update to owners of 2006-2008 Civic Hybrids to help extend the life of the IMA battery and will continue to provide the most updated technology to our customers as it becomes available,” continues the email.
While Honda has yet to comment on how many battery replacements have been issued, the company did issue a technical service bulletin (TSB) in late 2012 which extends the IMA battery warranty. On vehicles that were covered for 10 years/100,000 miles, the battery is now covered for 11 years/137,000 miles. The TSB also helps vehicles that were covered for 8 years/80,000 miles, which are now covered for 9 years/96,000 miles. Replacement batteries that were bought are covered for 36,000 miles, or three years.
Honda switched to a new lithium-ion battery pack in 2012-2013 Civic Hybrid, (as well as Acura ILX Hybrid), and neither Safercar nor Consumer Reports have any reported complains with the electrical system.

nissarm

More evidence:


Honda Civic Hybrid Battery Failure
Copyright AA1Car
Battery failure problems in the first and second generation Honda Civic Hybrids have become a major concern for many Honda owners. The problem has been premature battery failure, which often is NOT covered under warranty. The affected vehicles are 2003 to 2005 Civic Hybrids (1st gen) and 2005 to 2011 Civic Hybrids (2nd gen).
The high voltage hybrid battery is part of the Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system and is located behind the back seat. In the 1st gen Civics, the battery is a 144 volt nickel metal hydride (NiMH) battery. The 2nd gen Civic Hybrids have a more powerful 158.4 volt NiMH battery. The failure rate is reportedly higher in the 2nd gen Civics than in the older ones.
The average service life of the Honda Civic IMA battery in the Honda Civic Hybrids is only about seven years, and in some cases much less. By comparison, the high voltage hybrid battery in the Toyota Prius has proved to be extremely durable and trouble-free.
The LA Times reports that over four percent of the hybrid batteries in California Civics have had to be replaced for various reasons, a figure which many officials says is too high to be acceptable.
Cause of Honda Civic IMA Battery Failures
The leading cause of premature bttery failure with the Honda Civic hybrid IMA batteries has been undercharging. Honda blames the problem on "frequent stop-and-go city driving with the A/C on, especially during warm weather. This type of driving can leave the hybrid battery in a low state of charge. Over time, this can cause battery deterioration and failure.
For maximum service life, the hybrid battery must be maintained at 50 to 60 percent of its full charge. This requires driving the car often enough to keep the battery charged up (at least once every month). If the car sits for more than a month (especially during hot weather), the battery may get so low that it never fully recovers and eventually fails.
Also, if a battery is allowed to fully discharge and is not recharged within 90 days, it may not accept a normal charge and fail prematurely.
Extreme heat can also damage the battery. If a car has been damaged and is repainted, curing the paint in a bake over that exceeds 150 degree F may damage the battery. Body repair shops are cautioned to not let the oven temperature get too high when working on a Honda Civic Hybrid.

BeenThroughItAll

So you want to base your action, in the UK, on information from US websites and US-based research from US-based organisations. Websites from the US, a notoriously litigious society.

Good luck with that.

Spicy_McHaggis

nissarm wrote: »

Here is the evidence:

Hybrid vehicles are considered a risky long-term purchase by some, with unknown reliability of hybrid batteries and worries of possible replacement costs. While those fears may be exaggerated, Consumer Reports has found some damning evidence on one particular model: the Honda Civic Hybrid.

For Consumer Reports’ April 2013 issue, the magazine finds that while other hybrid vehicles have an excellent reliability report, the Civic Hybrid has been plagued with serious problems.
“The Civic Hybrid, which has been a reliable car overall in most years, has a big problem with its drive battery,” the report starts. “The 2009 model was the worst: Almost one in five owners needed a replacement hybrid battery in our 12-month survey period.”
The issues aren’t limited to just the 2009 model either. “But more than 10 percent of owners of the 2003, 2004, and 2010 models also needed one.”
Honda offers an 8 year, 100,000 mile warranty for Civic Hybrids, which can also go up to 10 years/100,000 miles depending on the state. Many of the models above should still be covered under warranty, but if they aren’t, a replacement battery isn’t cheap, coming in between $2,000 and $4,000.
According to the National Highway Transportation Safety Administration’s SaferCar.gov website, there are 9 complaints on 2009 Honda Civics, the majority of which cite the electrical powertrain as a potential safety hazard.
Honda has no official response, though the automaker did share with AutoGuide an email sent to Consumer Reports after the report was published.
“We are sorry to read that some of your Honda Civic Hybrid subscribers have experienced IMA battery issues during their ownership,” it reads. ” While the majority of Honda owners experience very few problems with their vehicles, we regret the inconvenience that any repair imposes on our customers.”
Honda also claims that a software update was issued to protect older models of the car from premature battery failures.
“Honda provided a software update to owners of 2006-2008 Civic Hybrids to help extend the life of the IMA battery and will continue to provide the most updated technology to our customers as it becomes available,” continues the email.
While Honda has yet to comment on how many battery replacements have been issued, the company did issue a technical service bulletin (TSB) in late 2012 which extends the IMA battery warranty. On vehicles that were covered for 10 years/100,000 miles, the battery is now covered for 11 years/137,000 miles. The TSB also helps vehicles that were covered for 8 years/80,000 miles, which are now covered for 9 years/96,000 miles. Replacement batteries that were bought are covered for 36,000 miles, or three years.
Honda switched to a new lithium-ion battery pack in 2012-2013 Civic Hybrid, (as well as Acura ILX Hybrid), and neither Safercar nor Consumer Reports have any reported complains with the electrical system.

What's your point?

Yes there's a long term risk as you've found out. That report was written in 2013 your car was built in 2004, your car then would have been 9 years old. Do you think Honda knew the result of that report when they built your car?

As already said a battery is a consumable whether it's in a car, power drill or tv remote. The wear out and when they do you replace them.

Or do you think Honda should recall your car after 10 years?

whitecloud663

You have 2 options. Either get the battery replaced and pay from your own pocket or sell it and get a petrol Toyota Auris.

BeenThroughItAll

whitecloud663 wrote: »

You have 2 options. Either get the battery replaced and pay from your own pocket or sell it and get a petrol Toyota Auris.

What the !!!! goes on in your head?

whitecloud663

nissarm wrote: »

I am surprised this has not been resolved before the cars were sold. I cannot pay for another battery and Honda will not help, as it is past the 8 year warranty for IMA battery issues??

Should i go to the small claims court. What other options are available to me?

I don't understand why you're surprised?

Often faults do not become apparent until they have been launched on sale to the public. This isn't really a fault anyway, you're car is 10 years old and it says in the so called 'evidence' you have provided that the service life for the IMA battery is 7 years. Therefore you should feel lucky that your battery lasted longer than the states service life.

If you want you can take Honda to court but I can promise you that you won't win because you don't have any point to argue on lol. If you do claim I hope Honda counter claims for wasting everyone's time

maninthestreet

Didn't you realise before you bought the car that the battery, being 8 years old then, would likely need to be replaced during your ownership of the vehicle? Or did you really think the battery would last for the life of the vehicle, which could well be over 10 years??

Maybe you should investigate this option:

http://cityautos-reading.co.uk/repair.html

bob_a_builder

Surely the time to do all that battery research was prior to purchase
not after it breaks