2009 Honda Civic

I HAVE A 2009 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. AFTER HAVING THE VEHICLE FOR LESS THAN 1 YEAR I NOTICED THAT THE BATTERY BEGAN TO SUDDENLY DROP IT'S STATE OF CHARGE (SOC) DURING THE FIRST FEW MILES OF DRIVING AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED FOR SEVERAL HOURS. ON SUSTAINED TRIPS THE VEHICLE WILL SUDDENLY DROP ITS CHARGE ABOUT EVERY 20 MINUTES. THE SAFETY ISSUE IS THAT WHEN THE VEHICLE SUDDENLY LOSES IT'S STATE OF CHARGE (SOC) THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT LOSS OF ACCELERATION. IF THE SUDDEN LOSS OF SOC OCCURS AT A TIME WHEN YOU ARE PULLING OUT INTO TRAFFIC, YOU FIND YOURSELF BEING UNABLE TO ACCELERATE TO AVOID THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. ON SEVERAL OCCASIONS I HAVE PULLED OUT INTO TRAFFIC WITH THE SOC READING 75% OR HIGHER, ONLY TO FIND THAT "AT THAT EXACT MOMENT", THE VEHICLE DECIDED TO DUMP ITS CHARGE. ON SEVERAL OF THOSE OCCASIONS I WAS NEARLY RUN INTO BY THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC. HONDA REPLACED THE BATTERY IN MARCH 2010 AND THE PROBLEM WENT AWAY, BUT AFTER 6 MONTHS WITH THE NEW BATTERY, THE PROBLEM RETURNED. HONDA REFUSES TO REPLACE THE SECOND BATTERY, INSISTING THAT THE VEHICLE IS OPERATING NORMALLY. *TR

TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2009 HONDA CIVIC. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 5 MPH, HE HEARD A CLANKING NOISE AND NOTICED THAT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN AUTHORIZED DEALERSHIP WHERE THE CONTACT WAS INFORMED THAT THE DRIVER SIDE AXLE EXPLODED AND HAD TO BE REPLACED AT HIS EXPENSE. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CURRENT AND FAILURE MILEAGES WERE APPROXIMATELY 31,000.

MY 2009 (AUTOMATIC) HONDA CIVIC EX SLIPPED INTO NEUTRAL FOUR DURING THE NIGHT. FOR THE FIRST THREE TIMES, THE DRIVER WOULD ALLOW THE RPM'S TO DROP CAUSING US TO SIT IN TRAFFIC FOR AN UNDEFINED PERIOD OF TIME BEFORE RETURNING THE CAR TO THE DRIVE POSITION. ON THE FOURTH TIME THIS HAPPENED, DRIVER AND I WERE IN A LARGE PARKING LOT MAKING A RIGHT TURN WITH A BUILDING ABOUT A FOOTBALL FIELD AWAY. ABOUT HALFWAY THROUGH THE TURN, THE CAR WAS PLACED BACK INTO DRIVE FROM NEUTRAL AND IT BEGAN TO DRIVE ITSELF. AS THE CAR ACCELERATED FASTER AND FASTER THE DRIVER TRIED TO SLAM ON THE BRAKES MANY TIMES WITHOUT THE PEDAL EVEN BUDGING OR THE CAR SLOWING DOWN IN THE SLIGHTEST WAY. WHEN WE TRIED TO TURN THE STEERING WHEEL IT LOCKED UP IN A STRAIGHT AWAY POSITION, CAUSING THE CAR TO HIT AT LEAST TWO LARGE CURBED MEDIANS AND GO AIRBORNE EACH TIME. DRIVER AND I BRACED OURSELVES AS THE BUILDING CAME CLOSER. WE THEN HIT THE THIRD AND FINAL CURB, THE CAR WENT AIRBORNE AGAIN SLAMMING INTO THE BUILDING AT ABOUT SIX FEET HIGH ON THE WALL. ALL AIRBAGS DEPLOYED, THE PASSENGER WINDOW SHATTERED AND WINDSHIELD CRACKED. IMMEDIATELY AFTER THE CRASH I PROCEEDED TO PLACE THE CAR INTO PARK WHEN THE SHIFTER ITSELF CAME OUT. THE CAR WAS STILL TRYING TO DRIVE ITSELF THROUGH THE BUILDING WHEN WE CRASHED. THE CIVIC WAS CONSIDERED TOTALED AND THE INSURANCE COMPANY IS FURTHER INVESTIGATING WHY THIS HAPPENED. *TR

I CURRENTLY AM THE LESSEE OF A 2009 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID STARTING THIS JANUARY, THE HYBRID BATTERY CHARGE LEVEL GOES FROM ALMOST FULL (8-10 OUT OF 10 BARS) TO VIRTUALLY ZERO (1 BAR) EVERY OTHER WEEK (THE TECHNICAL TERM FOR THIS IS A "RECALL" OR RECALIBRATING). THIS SUMMER, IT STARTED HAPPENING EVERY 3-4 DAYS, AND WHENEVER I HAD THE A/C ON. THEN, IT STARTED TO HAPPEN EVERY 100 MILES (WHICH MADE IT VERY PREDICTABLE). THE PROBLEM IS THAT WHEN IN THE 'RECALL' STATE, THE CAR IS ALMOST UNRESPONSIVE AND DOES NOT ACCELERATE MUCH, IF AT ALL. THIS POSES A SAFETY HAZARD ESPECIALLY WHEN MAKING LEFT TURNS WHEN THE ONCOMING TRAFFIC HAS A BLIND SPOT, OR IS COMING AROUND A CORNER. IT ALSO IMPACTS FUEL EFFICIENCY SUBSTANTIALLY. I HAVE SEEN ABOUT A 7 MILE-PER-GALLON DROP IN FUEL ECONOMY. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHO TOLD ME THAT THERE WERE NO CODES IN THE SYSTEM BUT THERE WERE 3 SOFTWARE UPDATES, SO THEY INSTALLED THOSE AND THAT IF I STILL HAD THE PROBLEM, TO COME BACK. I STILL HAVE THE PROBLEM SO I SCHEDULE THE APPOINTMENT AND I TAKE THE MECHANIC FOR A TEST DRIVE AND HE SEES THE CHARGE DROP RAPIDLY AND STATES THAT IT'S COMPLETELY NORMAL. I ARGUE THAT IS HAPPENS TOO OFTEN AND HE STILL SAYS "IT'S FINE." ABOUT 3 WEEKS LATER THE IMA LIGHT AND 'CHECK ENGINE' LIGHT COME ON. TURNS OUT, IT WAS A BLOWN FUSE (FOR THE A/C ELECTRIC DRIVE, FUSE #22) SO THEY REPLACE IT, AND TELL ME THAT THEY CHECKED THE CURRENT DRAW ON THE A/C JUST TO BE SAFE AND CLAIMED EVERYTHING WAS FINE. NOW, ABOUT 2 WEEKS LATER, EVERY TIME I START THE CAR IT DOES A RECALL. THIS IS BEYOND ANNOYING AND NOW I'M STARTING TO SEE DROPS OF ABOUT 10 MPG BECAUSE OF THIS PROBLEM, AS OPPOSED TO THE PREVIOUS 6 OR 7. I'M THINKING THAT HONDA KNOWS THAT THEIR NIMH BATTERY CELLS ARE PRONE TO PREMATURE FAILURE AND WILL NOT DO ANYTHING TO FIX THE ISSUE. *TR

CHECK ENGINE AND CHECK IMA LIGHT ILLUMINATED. IMA BATTERY DROPPED TO LOWEST POWER LEVEL. BATTERY LEVEL STAYED LOW AND BOTH LIGHTS REMAINED ON 2 DAYS. DEALER PERFORMED AN UPDATE TO IMA FIRMWARE AND LIGHTS WENT OFF HOWEVER BATTERY PERFORMS RECALL CHECK AT LEAST TWICE DAILY. MPG HAVE DROPPED 6 MPG IN THE WEEK FOLLOWING THE CHECK IMA ERROR. DEALER NOW STATES THERE IS NO ISSUE. I STILL HAVE NO ASSIST POWER FROM BATTERY AND VEHICLE IS IN CONSTANT CHARGE MODE. *TR

I DRIVE A 2009 HONDA CIVIC LX 5 SPEED AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION TWO PROBLEMS NEED TO BE ADDRESSED AND THE DEALERSHIP SAYS THEY ARE COMPLETELY NORMAL, AND I KNOW THEY ARE NOT NORMAL. PROBLEM 1: TRANSMISSION: WHEN COMING TO A STOP, USUALLY UNDER 10MPH THE TRANSMISSION SHIFTS VERY HARD INTO FIRST GEAR. SO HARD THAT IT SHIFTS HARD AND I HAVE MY FOOT ON THE BRAKE PEDAL THE CAR WANTS TO LAUNCH ME A LITTLE FURTHER.TWICE NOW I HAVE ALMOST HIT SOMEBODY BECAUSE WHEN IT SHIFTS HARD INTO FIRST IT WANTS TO KEEP GOING, I HAVE TO SOMETIMES PULL EMERGENCY BRAKE TO MAKE SURE I DON'T HIT ANYBODY. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN ALL THE TIME BUT WHEN IT DOES IT SCARES ME. SECOND PROBLEM: BRAKES: THE BRAKES IN THIS CAR ARE HORRIBLE EVEN WITH MY FOOT COMPLETELY DOWN THE CAR STILL HAS A HARD TIME SLOWING DOWN AND AGAIN I SEEM TO HAVE TO RELY ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE TO HELP ME STOP. I HAVE A 4 YEAR OLD SON I BOUGHT THIS CAR BECAUSE IT WAS RATED SAFE, BUT I'M TERRIFIED TO TAKE HIM ANYWHERE BECAUSE I DON'T KNOW IF I CAN STOP OR NOT. I TALK TO THE DEALERSHIP AND THEY SAY BOTH PROBLEMS ARE COMPLETELY NORMAL. ITS BRAND NEW WITH ONLY 5500 MILES ON IT SO I KNOW THIS ISN'T NORMAL. *TR

I JUST BOUGHT THIS NEW HONDA CIVIC 2009 LX SEDAN, AND AFTER DRIVING FOR FEW WEEKS, I STARTED TO HEAR SOME KIND OF NOISE IN THE CAR. ITS COMING FROM THE RIGHT PASSENGER SIDE. AND AFTER I TOOK IT TO THE SHOP, THEY TOLD ME, IT MIGHT BE THE CHANGE THAT I HAVE IN THE CAR, SO I TOOK OUT THE CHANGE AND STARTED DRIVE AGAIN, BUT IT DIDN'T WORK, I STILL HEAR THE NOISE. I DIDN'T HAVE TIME TO GO BACK AND ASK THEM TO FIX IT AGAIN. THE OTHER PROBLEM IS THE TRANSMISSION, ONE NIGHT WHEN I TRY TO PARK THE CAR, THE CAR STARTED TO SHAKING WHEN I PULL IT TO THE REVERSE MODE, THEN I TRIED FEW MORE TIMES, ITS THE SAME WITH D MODE. I WAS MAD AND WAS ABOUT TO DRIVE IT TO THE DEALER, BUT THE NEXT DAY WHEN I READY TO DRIVE IT, THE SHAKING WAS GONE. WHEN I TOOK THEM TO THE SHOP, THE DEALER INSPECT IT AND SAYS THERE IS NO PROBLEM, THEY WANT ME TO DROP THE CAR THERE FOR TWO DAYS, SO THEY CAN GO INTO DEEPER INSPECT, I REFUSED, BECAUSE I DIDN'T HAVE TIME AND I NEEDED THE CAR FOR WORK. *TR

HELLO, I HAVE A 2009 HONDA CIVIC. EVRY TIME I DRIVE IT FOR MORE THEN AN HOUR OR SO, THE GEAR SHIFT BASE WHERE THE N,RF ETC IS WRITTEN, GETS HOT. ALSO, THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHERE THE CD PLAYER IS GETS REALLY HOT. THE DEALER TELLS ME IT IS OK, THERE IS NO PROBLEM. I FIND IT HARD TO BELIEVE AS I DON'T WANT TO BE ON THE HWY WITH MY FAMILY AND THE CAR CATCHES ON FIR OR SOMETHING. HOW COULD THIS BE NORMAL. PLEASE HELP. *TR

MY 2009 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID ON ONE OCCASION WHEN STARTING OUT IN THE MORNING ACCELERATED FASTER THAN I WANTED TO GO, TO ABOUT 25-30 INSTEAD OF 15 MPH IN OUR CONDO AREA. IT WAS VERY BRIEF, AND HAS NEVER BEEN REPEATED. AFTER THE TOYOTA PROBLEMS RECENTLY, I WENT TO MY HONDA SERVICE CENTER, AND THEY ASSURED ME THAT THERE ARE NO PROBLEMS WITH HONDA ACCELERATION. THANK YOU. *TR

CAR HAS INTERMITTENT HESITATION AFTER COMING TO A COMPLETE STOP, PROBLEM APPEARS MORE OFTEN IN 90 + DEGREE WEATHER, WHICH IS COMMON IN MY HOME STATE OF FLORIDA. DEALER CHECKED CAR AND WAS UNABLE TO FIND A PROBLEM. PROBLEM IS STILL THERE, AND CAN BE A MAJOR SAFETY ISSUE IF THE CAR WERE TO HESITATE AT THE WRONG MOMENT. PROBLEM HAS BEEN PRESENT FOR MONTHS NOW, THIS IS A 2009 HONDA CIVIC 4 DOOR SEDAN (EX-L NAVI MODEL). *TR