Honda Civic Hybrid: Battery Unreliable, Consumer Reports Says - Green Car Reports
The 2012 Honda Civic dampened the publication’s enthusiasm for the Honda brand. Now comes word from Consumer Reports that earlier Honda Civic Hybrid models , previously deemed reliable, may suffer from premature high-voltage battery pack failures. The earlier Honda Civic Hybrids , particularly the 2009 model, don’t measure up well against the competition. Over a 12-month survey period, nearly 20 percent of 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid owners required a battery replacement, while the replacement rate on 2003, 2004 and 2010 Civic Hybrid models exceeded 10 percent. Cars that were previously covered for 10 years or 100,000 miles are now covered for 11 years or 137,000 miles, while cars originally sold with an eight-year, 80,000-mile warranty are now covered for nine years or 96,000 miles. Honda claims that a software update (for 2006-08 Civic Hybrid models) helped to extend IMA battery life, and the automaker promises it will “continue to provide the. Source: www.greencarreports.com
