2006 Honda CIVIC HYBRID problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
55 owner complaints analyzed
7 distinct recall campaigns
105,618 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2006 model year. Data snapshot: . 46 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 21 of 55 complaints (38.2%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 23 | 41.8% |
| Steering behavior | 7 | 12.7% |
| Engine operation | 6 | 10.9% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 10.9% |
| Fuel system concerns | 5 | 9.1% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 7.3% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Electrical System | 21 |
| Power Train | 12 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 8 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 7 |
| Air Bags | 6 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 6 |
| Engine | 5 |
| Steering | 5 |
Electrical System: 21; Power Train: 12; Fuel/Propulsion System: 8; Vehicle Speed Control: 7; Air Bags: 6; Engine And Engine Cooling: 6; Engine: 5; Steering: 5
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 3 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 8 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 7 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 15 |
| 150,000 and above | 10 |
Under 25,000: 3; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 8; 75,000 to 99,999: 7; 100,000 to 149,999: 15; 150,000 and above: 10
100,000 to 149,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (15). 9 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 2 |
| 2012 | 18 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 6 |
| 2015 | 12 |
| 2016 | 4 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 2 |
| 2021 | 1 |
2011: 2; 2012: 18; 2013: 2; 2014: 6; 2015: 12; 2016: 4; 2017: 4; 2018: 4; 2019: 2; 2021: 1
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 23 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 6 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10425228 · 2011-09-13 (September 13, 2011)
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. THE HONDA DEALER SAYS THEY CANNOT DO ANY…
Owner-reported narrative. 78,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10425228 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10440526 · 2011-12-20 (December 20, 2011)
THE INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST (IMA) HYBRID SYSTEM LOSES POWER WITH NO KNOWN PRECIPITATING FACTORS OR ADVANCE INDICATION OF FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WILL IMMEDIATELY REDUCE POWER TRAIN OUTPUT PRIOR TO THE DASH GAUGES INDICATING A NEAR-COMPLETE LOSS OF IMA BATTERY CHARGE AND FUNCTION MOMENTS LATER, WITH ONLY THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE PROVIDING MOTIVE POWER. WITHIN 3-4 MILES OF DRIVING, THE IMA BATTERY CHARGE, AS INDICATED BY THE DASH METER, WILL THEN IMMEDIATELY JUMP TO A COMPLETELY FULL LEVEL IN A SIMILARLY UNEXPLAINED FASHION. INDEPENDENT OF …
Owner-reported narrative. 70,504 miles reported. Look up ODI 10440526 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10449708 · 2012-02-29 (February 29, 2012)
ON AT LEAST FOUR OCCASIONS, ONCE WHILE MOVING AT ABOUT 30 MPH, THE ENTIRE CAR SHUT DOWN. THE GAS ENGINE SHUT OFF, POWER STEERING AND BRAKES WENT DEAD, AND THE DASH WENT BLANK. I HAD TO PLACE THE CAR IN PARK, AND THEN REMOVE AND REINSERT THE KEY IN ORDER TO RESTART. THIS HAS HAPPENED ONCE, THOUGH NOT WHILE MOVING, SINCE THE IMA SOFTWARE UPDATE. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 65,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10449708 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10559557 · 2014-01-13 (January 13, 2014)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2006 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE POWER STEERING MALFUNCTIONED WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE STEERING WOULD TURN TO THE RIGHT INDEPENDENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE DEALER. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 80,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10559557 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10489192 · 2012-12-18 (December 18, 2012)
THE IMA (HYBRID BATTERY) SYSTEM IN MY 2006 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID HAS RECENTLY SUFFERED SEVERAL FAILURES RESULTING IN NEAR LOSS OF POWER AND CONTROL. IN THE MOST SERIOUS INSTANCES, THE "CHARGE" INDICATED FOR THE IMA BATTERY WILL SUDDENLY DROP (FROM A THREE-QUARTERS OR HALF-CHARGE TO NO CHARGE) IN A FEW SECONDS WHILE ACCELERATING INTRO TRAFFIC (FROM AUTO STOP) RESULTING IN AN MARKED, SUDDEN DECREASE IN ACCELERATION. IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO PREDICT WHEN THIS WILL HAPPEN -- AND IT HAS ALREADY RESULTING IN 2 NEAR ACCIDENTS. I HAVE REPORTED THIS ISSUE …
Owner-reported narrative. 89,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10489192 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10542374 · 2013-09-07 (September 7, 2013)
MPG DECREASED 6-8 MPG IN THE PAST WEEK. DRIVING UP STEEP HILL TODAY, CAR LOST POWER AND STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARD A FEW FEET BEFORE BRAKE FINALLY KICKED IN. PRESSED ACCELERATOR FOR ABOUT 40 SECONDS BUT CAR WOULD NOT MOVE UP THE HILL. BATTERY HAD DRAINED FROM FULL CHARGE TO ONE BAR WITHIN 3 MILES.
Owner-reported narrative. 100,304 miles reported. Look up ODI 10542374 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10561075 · 2014-01-22 (January 22, 2014)
MY DAUGHTER HAS BEEN DRIVING A 2006 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID; AFTER ABOUT A MONTH AND HALF, EVERYTIME SHE FILLS UP THE GAS TANK. THERE'S A ORDER/SMELL OF GASOLINE. SOMETIME IN DECEMBER, WE TOOK THE CAR TO ELK GROVE HONDA FOR THE SMELL OF GASOLINE. ELK GROVE HONDA SERVICE DEPARTMENT TOLD US; WE NEEDED TO REPLACE THE FUEL TANK COSTING ABOUT $800.00. AFTER DOING SOME RESEARCH; THE NEW YORK TIMES REPORTED, ON 12-19-11 GAS LEAKS WITH 2006-2011 HONDA CIVIC HYBRIDS FUEL TANKS. HOWEVER, IN THE ARTICLE, HONDA IS NOT DOING A RECALL BUT EXTENDING THE WARRA…
Owner-reported narrative. 170,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10561075 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10606106 · 2014-06-26 (June 26, 2014)
THE GAS TANK STARTED LEAKING AND I FOUND OUT THERE WAS NOT A RECALL BUT THERE IS A SERVICE BULLETIN ON THE GAS TANK IN WHICH HONDA EXTENDED THE WARRANTY TO 10 YEARS AND 120,000 MILES. HONDA KNOWS THERE ARE DEFECTIVE GAS TANKS AND WILL NOT REPLACE THEM IF THE CAR HAS OVER 120,000. WHAT DOES MILEAGE HAVE TO DO WITH A GAS TANK THAT JUST HANGS UNDER A CAR THAT HAS SO LITTLE GROUND CLEARANCE YOU WOULD GET STUCK ON A ROUGH ROAD. THEY KNOW THE GAS TANKS WILL LEAK AND BECOME DANGEROUS AND YET THEY WON'T REPLACE THEM AND GET THEM OFF THE ROAD. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 136,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10606106 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10448116 · 2012-02-15 (February 15, 2012)
CVT IS SLIPPING, HARD TO POWER UP HILLS, DOESN'T KICK IN AFTER A STOP AND SOMETIMES STAYS ON OR SPEEDS UP AROUND CORNERS. JUST HAD THE TRANSMISSION OIL CHANGED AND PROBLEM HAS NOT IMPROVED. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 128,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10448116 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10680731 · 2015-02-02 (February 2, 2015)
WHILE DRIVING AT ABOUT 20 MPH, THE TRANSMISSION DISENGAGED FROM THE ENGINE. WHEN ACCELERATOR WAS PRESSED, THE ENGINE WOULD FREELY REV TO THE REDLINE BUT THERE WAS NO MOVEMENT OF THE CAR. THE CAR WAS GOING UP A HILL WHEN THIS HAPPENED. THE CAR WAS ROLLED BACKWARD, ALMOST INTO TRAFFIC AT A BUSY INTERSECTION. CAR HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE DEALER. AT THE DEALER BIG ISLAND HONDA, THEY DID NOT EXPERIENCE THE MALFUNCTION AND COULD NOT SOLVE THE PROBLEM. WE DROVE THE CAR HOME. THE NEXT DAY WE DROVE IT AGAIN AND THE PROBLEM FLARED UP AGAIN. THIS TI…
Owner-reported narrative. 121,348 miles reported. Look up ODI 10680731 at NHTSA ↗