2007 Honda Civic

I HAVE OWNED MY 2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID FOR ABOUT 21MONTHS. I STARTED TO HAVE ISSUES WITH THE IMA (INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST, HYBRID BATTERIES) LAST SUMMER (2008) AND CONTINUE TO HAVE ISSUES TO DATE (MAY 2009). THE IMA BATTERY THAT POWERS THE ASSIST MOTOR HAS BEEN UNPREDICTABLE AND HAS HAD DEGRADED PERFORMANCE FOR THE PAST YEAR CAUSING THE CAR TO BE UNDERPOWERED AND UNSAFE TO DRIVE ON THE HIGHWAY. THE IMA SYSTEM ROUTINELY FULLY DISCHARGES (ESPECIALLY DURING THE HOT SUMMER MONTHS IN ARIZONA) AND LEAVES THE CAR ONLY TO RUN ON THE UNDERPOWERED 1.3 L GAS ENGINE. THE CAR IS VERY SLUGGISH, CAUSING SAFETY ISSUES WHEN ACCELERATION IS NEEDED IN CITY OR INTERSTATE DRIVING. MY WIFE DRIVES 3 KIDS TO SCHOOL (35 MILES ON WAY) ON A DAILY BASIS AND IS CONCERNED FOR THE KIDS AND HER SAFETY ON THE HIGHWAY. THE BATTERIES ALSO ARE LOCATED UNDER THE REAR PASSENGER SEAT. DUE TO THE EXCESSIVE HEAT THE REAR PASSENGERS (MY KIDS) ARE ALWAYS COMPLAINING THAT THE SEAT IS WARM AND THAT IS EXCESSIVELY HOT IN THE BACK SEAT SINCE THE PROBLEM FIRST WAS OBSERVED IN LAST SUMMER 2008, I HAVE TAKEN IT TO SEVERAL DIFFERENT HONDA DEALERSHIPS. THEY ALL STATE THAT THIS IS 'NORMAL' OPERATION AND UNLESS THE SERVICE LIGHT COMES ON THAT NOTHING IS WRONG. THE SERVICE LIGHT THEY ARE REFERRING TO IS THE P1433 BATTERY DEGRADED CODE THAT STATES TO REPLACE THE BATTERIES. IT SEEMS ODD THAT THEY WAIT UNTIL THE BATTERIES ARE TOTALLY FAILED AND DEPLETED BEFORE THEY WILL CHANGE THEM. I NOTICED THAT HONDA DOES HAVE A TSB OUT COVERING EXCESSIVE HEAT AND THAT IT CAN SEVERELY DAMAGE THE IMA BATTERIES. THIS STATES THAT IF THE TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 150 DEGREES F THAT THE BATTERIES CAN BE DAMAGED OR FAIL. I KNOW THAT HEAT SOAKING THE CAR FOR 8-10 HOURS IN THE FULL SUN AT 110+ DEGREES (SHADE TEMP) CAN EASILY HEAT THE IMA BATTERIES TO VERY CLOSE TO 150 DEGREES. I AM HIGHLY CONCERNED FOR THE SAFETY OF MY WIFE AND KIDS THAT SHE DRIVES AND OTHERS THAT MAY BE EFFECTED. *TR

ALL 2006-2008 HONDA CIVIC SI (COUPE & SEDAN) MODELS THAT HAVE EXPERIENCED ANY ISSUES RELATED TO THE 6MT, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, (A) NOTCHY SHIFTING (B) RESISTANCE GOING INTO ANY GEAR (PARTICULARLY 2ND & 3RD) (C) GRINDING OF ANY TYPE, IN ANY GEAR NOT CAUSED BY OPERATOR ERROR (D) TRANSMISSION NOT ENGAGING INTO ANY GEAR (PARTICULARLY 2ND & 3RD) (E) TRANSMISSION KICKING OUT/POPPING OUT INTO NEUTRAL FROM 3RD GEAR (F) A THIRD GEAR WITH AN IMPRECISE GATE THAT SOMETIMES ALLOWS FOR THE SHIFTER TO BE UNSURE WHETHER TO ENGAGE IN 3RD OR RETURN TO NEUTRAL. (G) HAD YOUR TRANSMISSION/SYNCROS REPLACED AND ARE EXPERIENCING TRANSMISSION WOES AGAIN WITH THE SAME (OR OTHER) GEARS. *TR

2007 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID VERY UNSTABLE ON ICY ROAD CONDITIONS ESPECIALLY AT LOW SPEEDS WHEN CYCLING BETWEEN ELECTRIC MOTOR, GAS ENGINE AND COMPLETELY SHUTTING OFF. IN STOP AND GO TRAFFIC IF I DID NOT PUT THE VEHICLE INTO NEUTRAL THE CAR WOULD LURCH AND LOSE TRACTION WHEN CYCLING THROUGH DRIVE SYSTEMS. AS A SIDE BAR I HAD 4 NEW TIRES INSTALLED ON THE VEHICLE ON JANUARY 14, 2009. 12 DAY PRIOR TO THE ICY ROAD CONDITIONS. HONDA NEEDS TO ADDRESS THIS ISSUE. *TR

THIRD GEAR ON MY '07 HONDA CIVIC SI COUPE IS BOTH FREQUENTLY IMPOSSIBLE TO ENGAGE (EVERY THIRD OR FOURTH SHIFT CHANGE) AND POPS OUT OF GEAR DURING DRIVING (TYPICALLY 2-3 TIMES AN HOUR DURING CONTINUOUS DRIVING). THIS POSES POTENTIAL DANGERS WHILE DRIVING AS THERE IS FAILURE IN THE APPLICATION OF POWER TO THE DRIVEN WHEELS, WHICH IS ESSENTIAL FOR CONTROLLING THE VEHICLE. THE ISSUE IS KNOWN TO BE COMMON IN THE 6 SPEED SI TRANSMISSION. HONDA DENIES THE ISSUE, STATING THAT THE ENGAGEMENT PROBLEM IS CAUSED BY NOT FULLY DEPRESSING THE CLUTCH. I ALWAYS FULLY DEPRESS THE CLUTCH WHEN SHIFTING, HAVE DRIVEN MANUALLY TRANSMISSION VEHICLES FOR 41 YEARS, AND HAVE NEVER HAD THIS PROBLEM WITH ANY VEHICLE, LET ALONE A GEARSHIFT WHICH POPS OUT OF GEAR DURING NORMAL DRIVING). THE FAILURE TO ENGAGE IS PROBABLY MORE AN ANNOYANCE THAN AN ISSUE, HOWEVER THE POPPING OUT OF GEAR WHILE DRIVING IS A SERIOUS ROAD HAZARD AND RISK; FOR EXAMPLE, IF ONE IS CORNERING ON SNOW COVERED OR WET PAVEMENT, THE SUDDEN LOSS OF POWER TO THE DRIVEN WHEELS COULD CAUSE THE VEHICLE TO VEER OFF COURSE AND RESULT IN A CRASH. THE UNFORTUNATE DRIVER WHO DOES NOT IMMEDIATELY RECOGNIZE THE LOSS OF POWER TRANSMISSION, OR WHAT TO DO TO RECOVER, IS CERTAINLY PLACED IN A HIGHLY COMPROMISED POSITION, TO SAY THE LEAST, AND AT WORST MAY FIND HIM OR HERSELF IN A VEHICLE WHICH IS TOTALLY OUT OF CONTROL. NOTHING HAS BEEN DONE BY HONDA TO EITHER ACKNOWLEDGE OR CORRECT THE ISSUE. THIS IS AN ACCIDENT WAITING TO HAPPEN. THE ISSUE HAS EXISTED SINCE THE VEHICLE WAS NEW, AN HAS BECOME PROGRESSIVELY WORSE WITH TIME. *TR

I HAVE A 2007 HONDA CIVIC SI. I HAVE APPROXIMATELY 36600 MILES ON IT AND I HAVE BEEN HAVING THE 3RD GEAR SYNCRO ISSUE SINCE SUMMER 2008 (I BOUGHT THE CAR 2/2/08. WHEN I TOOK MY CAR IN THE OTHER DAY TO HAVE THEM ADDRESS THE 3RD GEAR SYNCRO ISSUE AFTER THEY TOOK THE CAR APART THEY TOLD ME MY CLUTCH PLATE WAS SEVERELY WARN DOWN AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED AND THAT IT WAS NOT COVERED UNDER MY EXTENDED WARRANTY. I ASKED THEM IF THIS WAS CAUSED FROM THE 3RD SYNCHRO AND I WAS TOLD "NO" BUT I HAVE BEEN READING THAT IT IS A DIRECT RESULT. I AM NOT HAPPY WITH HONDA AND THEY NEED TO INCLUDE ALL THE GEARS SYNCHROS AND THE CLUTCH IN THE TSB. ALSO THE TIRES WEAR ON INSIDE AND I WAS INFORMED THAT THE SI WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE TSB BECAUSE IT HAS A DIFFERENT SUSPENSION. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2007 HONDA CIVIC. THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED IN NOVEMBER 2007. A FEW MONTHS LATER, HE WAS UNABLE TO SHIFT INTO THIRD GEAR WITHOUT IT MAKING A LOUD NOISE. THE FAILURE WAS PROGRESSIVE AT TIMES AND INTERMITTENTLY HE WAS UNSUCCESSFUL AT SHIFTING INTO THIRD GEAR. THE CONTACT STATED THAT IF THE ROTOR FAILED IT COULD CAUSE A CRASH. A COMPLAINT WAS FILED WITH THE MANUFACTURER AFTER THREE ATTEMPTS TO NOTIFY THEM OF THE FAILURE. THE MANUFACTURER STATED THAT THEY HAVEN'T RECEIVED COMPLAINTS RELATED TO THE FAILURE AND IT IS NOT A SAFETY CONCERN. THE DEALER STATED THAT THERE IS A TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 14,000 AND THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 14,800.

I HAVE A 2007 CIVIC SI WITH ONLY 12,000 MILES ON IT. ISSUE: 3RD GEAR HARD TO ENGAGE. IT IS AN INTERMITTENT SAFETY PROBLEM. WHEN 3RD GEAR DOES NOT ENGAGE I HAVE TO GO TO 2ND OR 4TH GEAR, THAT CAUSES VEHICLE TO SLOW DOWN DURING MERGING. COMPLAINT TO DEALERSHIP TWICE. FIRST TIME TRANSMISSION OIL REPLACED BUT DID NOT FIX THIS ISSUE. 2ND TIME DEALERSHIP TOLD ME THAT THEY CANNOT DUPLICATE THE ISSUE. HONDA NEEDS TO RECALL ALL THESE FAULTY MANUAL TRANSMISSIONS BEFORE SOMEONE DIES. *TR

I WAS SHIFTING EASILY FROM 1ST TO 2ND GEAR AT 15-18MPH AND APPROXIMATELY 3K RPM. MY MANUAL TRANSMISSION FAILED AT THAT TIME, AND I LOST POWER-- NEARLY CREATING AN ACCIDENT. THE FAILURE INVOLVED BROKEN TEETH OF THE COUNTERSHAFT AND FINAL (RING) GEAR. THIS TYPE OF FAILURE HAS BEEN DOCUMENTED PREVIOUSLY IN MANY INTERNET FORUMS, BUT PERHAPS NOT FORMALLY. HONDA SHOULD HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT MODELS EXPERIENCING SUCH FAILURE, REPRESENTED BY THE NUMBER OF TRANSMISSIONS / COUNTERSHAFT / FINAL DRIVE GEARS SOLD BY THEIR PARTS DISTRIBUTOR. AS A PHYSICIAN, I FEEL THAT HONDA SHOULD RECALL THESE VEHICLES IMMEDIATELY TO PREVENT SERIOUS INJURY & ROAD HAZARDS FROM THIS TRANSMISSION FAILURE-- RAYMOND BERNAL, M.D. *TR

HONDA CIVIC HYBRID, CAR WAS WORKING FINE AT PURCHASE, ONCE THIS PROBLEM OCCURRED IT HAS BEEN OCCURRING FREQUENTLY EVER SINCE. THE MALFUNCTION MOSTLY OCCURS AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN PARKED IS THE HOT SUN, ONCE ENGINE IS STARTED WITHIN 3-10 MINUTES ENGINE WILL RUN ROUGH, THE IMA SYSTEM (INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST) WILL START CHARGING THE IMA BATTERY (158 VOLT NICKEL METAL HYDRIDE BATTERY) THEN SUDDENLY EMPTY THE COMPLETE CHARGE OF THE IMA BATTERY WITHIN 10 SECONDS. WHILE THE IMA SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING WHICH IS USUALLY 5-20 MINUTES THE BRAKING IS SEVERELY AFFECTED; WHEN LETTING OFF THE ACCELERATOR THE CAR DOES NOT WANT TO SLOW DOWN, IT FEELS LIKE THE CRUISE CONTROL IS ON AND BRAKING FORCE IS GREATLY REDUCED. ALSO, WHILE THE IMA SYSTEM IS MALFUNCTIONING, THE IMA ASSIST ELECTRIC MOTOR STOPS WORKING AND THE ACCELERATION IS SEVERELY REDUCED TO THE POINT THAT IT IS DIFFICULT TO ACCELERATE WITH THE TRAFFIC, IF YOU HAD TO ACCELERATE IN A HURRY TO AVOID AN ACCIDENT, IT WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WHILE MALFUNCTIONING. THIS PROBLEM OCCURS SEVERAL TIMES PER WEEK DURING THE WARMER MONTHS, SOMETIMES SEVERAL TIMES PER DAY. ALSO, SINCE THIS MALFUNCTION HAS STARTED THE GAS MILEAGE HAS SEVERELY DROPPED. CAR HAS BEEN IN FOR SERVICE SEVERAL TIMES AND I HAVE BEEN TOLD BY HONDA THAT THEY CANNOT FIND ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE CAR. IT IS MY UNDERSTANDING THAT MANY CIVIC HYBRIDS ARE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM AND HONDA IS NOT CURRENTLY ADDRESSING THIS. THIS MALFUNCTION MAKES THIS CAR AN UNSAFE HAZARD TO DRIVE.*TR