2009 Honda CIVIC HYBRID problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
28 owner complaints analyzed
5 distinct recall campaigns
52,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2009 model year. Data snapshot: . 21 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Electrical System is the most frequently named component, appearing in 10 of 28 complaints (35.7%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Electrical and battery issues | 13 | 46.4% |
| Transmission and shifting | 4 | 14.3% |
| Steering behavior | 2 | 7.1% |
| Engine operation | 1 | 3.6% |
| Braking behavior | 1 | 3.6% |
| Fuel system concerns | 1 | 3.6% |
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 | 10 |
| Power Train | 6 |
| Air Bags | 5 |
| Suspension | 4 |
| Engine | 3 |
| Visibility/Wiper | 3 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 2 |
| Electrical System:Propulsion System:Traction Battery | 1 |
Electrical System: 10; Power Train: 6; Air Bags: 5; Suspension: 4; Engine: 3; Visibility/Wiper: 3; Engine And Engine Cooling: 2; Electrical System:Propulsion System:Traction Battery: 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 6 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 2 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 7 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 1 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 4 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 6; 25,000 to 49,999: 2; 50,000 to 74,999: 7; 75,000 to 99,999: 1; 100,000 to 149,999: 4; 150,000 and above: 1
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (7). 7 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 |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 9 |
| 2013 | 2 |
| 2014 | 4 |
| 2015 | 5 |
| 2016 | 1 |
| 2017 | 4 |
| 2018 | 3 |
2012: 9; 2013: 2; 2014: 4; 2015: 5; 2016: 1; 2017: 4; 2018: 3
Pattern summary
Electrical System leads the component reports. Electrical and battery issues appears in 13 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 4 complaint narratives. Steering behavior appears in 2 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 10447704 · 2012-02-12 (February 12, 2012)
IMA BATTERY IS DEFECTIVE, WEARS OUT EARLIER THAN DESIGNED, CAUSES DANGEROUSLY SLOW EPISODES OF BEING ABLE TO ACCELERATE FROM A STAND STILL AND ACCELERATE TO MERGE WITH HIGHWAY SPEED TRAFFIC. GETS HORRIBLE FUEL MILEAGE, NO WHERE AS ADVERTISED, ESPECIALLY IN VERY HOT WEATHER. **03/01/2012 UPDATED BF THE CONSUMER STATED THE IMA BATTERY LIGHT ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER SUGGESTED A SOFTWARE UPGRADE UPDATE. WHEN THE CONSUMER TURNED THE VEHICLE OFF, AND BACK ON AGAIN, THE LIGHT DID NOT ILLUMINATE. UPDATED 03/16/12 *TR
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10447704 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10449772 · 2012-02-29 (February 29, 2012)
HONDA CIVIC HYBRID HAS A PROBLEM WITH THE BATTERY THAT THE SYSTEM USES TO RUN THE INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST BETWEEN THE TRANSMISSION AND THE ENGINE TO ASSIST THE GAS ENGINE WHEN ACCELERATING. AS THE BATTERY DETERIORATES, IT DOES NOT CHARGE AS WELL, HOLD A CHARGE AND THEREFORE DOES NOT ASSIST AS WELL TO ACCELERATE, CAUSING A DANGEROUS SITUATION AT TIMES TO MERGE WITH TRAFFIC OR ACCELERATE FROM A STAND STILL. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 12,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10449772 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10479998 · 2012-10-13 (October 13, 2012)
NOTICED ABOUT A WEEK AGO THAT THERE WAS A WHINING NOISE COMING FROM THE ENGINE WHILE IN GEAR. IT DOESN'T MAKE THE NOISE IN PARK OR NEUTRAL OR WHEN AT A STOP AND THE ENGINE SHUTS OFF. TOOK IT TO DCH HONDA IN TEMECULA,CA AND AFTER AN HOUR THEY CALLED ME AND TOLD ME MY TRANSMISSION IS BAD AND IT WILL COST ME $5250 TO GET A NEW ONE INSTALLED. I HAD THE IMA BATTERY REPLACED LAST YEAR WITH LESS THAN 40K MILES ON THE CAR. STILL ONLY GET 38 MPG AVG. ON HIGHWAY. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 66,245 miles reported. Look up ODI 10479998 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10507075 · 2013-04-04 (April 4, 2013)
AS WITH MOST OF THE COMPLAINTS ON THIS SITE, THE VEHICLE BATTERY HAD TO BE REPLACED AFTER THE IMA LIGHT CAME ON. IT HISTORICALLY FLICKERED ON AND OFF AND WE THOUGHT INITIALLY NOTHING OF IT. WE THEN DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE ONLY TO FIND OUT THAT HONDA HAS IGNORED THE COMPLAINTS ABOUT THIS ISSUE, & INSTEAD HAVE HAD THEIR DEALERSHIPS DECIDE ON WHETHER TO REPLACE OR NOT. INITIALLY THE DEALERSHIP TOLD MY WIFE & I THAT IT WOULD COST $4.5K+ TO REPLACE THE BATTERY, BECAUSE IT WAS NO LONGER A WARRANTABLE ITEM. THERE WAS NO MENTION OF ANYTHING HONDA WAS …
Owner-reported narrative. 130,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10507075 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10609494 · 2014-07-10 (July 10, 2014)
CAR DIED AT 50MPH ON A STRAIGHT FLAT ROAD FOR NO REASON. DASHBOARD DISPLAY WENT BLANK AND POWER STEERING LOST. PUT CAR INTO NEUTRAL, RESTARTED THE CAR IN NEUTRAL AND RECOVERED POWER STEERING AND ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS. THIS IS THE SECOND SIMILAR INCIDENT BUT THE FIRST AT HIGH SPEED. MECHANICS SAID THERE WAS A CORRODED BATTERY CABLE, THEN LATER INDICATED THAT IT JUST NEEDED TO BE TIGHTENED, HOWEVER, THE BATTERY IS BRAND NEW AND THE CABLE WAS CHECKED AND THE CONNECTION WAS SECURE AND ENTIRELY FREE OF CORROSION JUST DAYS BEFORE. IN ADDITION, TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 50,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10609494 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10474295 · 2012-09-08 (September 8, 2012)
THE CAR HAS A PROPENSITY TO LURCH FORWARD AT LOW SPEEDS. WHEN MAKING A TURN OR STOPPING AT A LIGHT THE ENGINE INTERMITTENTLY WILL REV AND THRUST THE VEHICLE FORWARD. IF THE DRIVER IS NOT KNOWLEDGEABLE OR PREPARED FOR THIS TENDENCY, THE VEHICLE CAN THRUST FORWARD AND STRIKE WHATEVER IS IN ITS PATH. THE SECOND PROBLEM THAT I HAVE ENCOUNTERED IS THAT THE VEHICLE USES A MALFUNCTIONING INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST (IMA) FEATURE THAT IS SUPPOSED TO GIVE THE VEHICLE EXTRA POWER TO ENTER A HIGHWAY AND SAFELY MERGE WITH ONCOMING TRAFFIC. UNFORTUNATELY, TH…
Owner-reported narrative. 20,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10474295 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11021130 · 2017-09-01 (September 1, 2017)
FUEL TANK LEAKING AT THE FILL NECK BASE, VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN A GARAGE AND LEFT A SMALL PUDDLE OF FUEL AND GAS FUMES INFILTRATED THE HOME. THE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AT THE TIME OF THE INCIDENT. HONDA ISSUED AND EXTENDED WARRANTY ON "SOME" 2006-2011 HONDA CIVIC HYBRIDS BUT MY VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN THE WARRANTY EXTENSION.
Owner-reported narrative. 69,890 miles reported. Look up ODI 11021130 at NHTSA ↗