Which parts fail
Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).
Mileage when the problem started
Owner reports
Selected complaints filed with NHTSA by 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid owners, lightly cleaned up (personal details are redacted by NHTSA).
My son purchased this vehicle from an individual at a dealership. Drove the car home with no problems, the check engine light was on and the seller did tell him there was an issue with the ima battery, but that it didn't keep from driving it. Didn't crank the car for 2 days. When we put the 10 day tag to get inspection done it wouldn't start. Took the 12 v battery out got it tested and showed bad battery. Replaced the battery, drove around and it died the steering stopped, the lights started flickering and it wouldn't restart. We took the new battery out got it recharged but are unable to drive it more than 10 miles without it flooding power and finally leaving stranded. If it was a standard vehicle I would say it was the alternate but this car doesn't have that. The ima battery needs to be replaced and without it the car is trash. What can we do with this car? …
Tl* the contact owns a 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid. While driving at an unknown rate of speed, the low beam head lamps shorted and the vehicle stalled without warning. The contact was able to coast the vehicle into a parking lot. The vehicle stalled again and was unable to be restarted. The contact was unable to determine if the VIN was included in NHTSA campaign number: 11V106000 (electrical system). The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer who replaced the dc/dc converter, but the failure recurred. The ima warning light and the service engine warning light illuminated. The vehicle restarted with hesitation and stalled again. The vehicle was towed to the dealer who replaced the ima battery module and updated the PCM with new software. The vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure several times and provided no remedy. The approximate failure mileage was 58,028.
My daughter, [redacted] was entering on freeway from ramp and the car suddenly lost acceleration, she had to stop on right side of emergency lane. Fortunately the time was not rush hour and no vehicles behind her hit her car. We took to a Honda dealer they diagnosed ima battery is no good and need to replace.
I would very much like to share my concerns over the safety of the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid that we purchased new from a dealer. The car performed well for a few years, until Honda decided to tell me to go to the dealer and "upgrade" the software controlling the Hybrid motor-battery system. Immediately following the software update, the car was utterly devoid of power, and dangerous to drive when merging on the freeway, even when driving alone without other weight in the car. If I drive my two young children with me, it's very scary as the car must be absolutely floored the entire time while merging. No doubt this is strongly affecting the fuel economy of the car as well, as it gets only in the mid 30s, when originally advertised much higher. Also, I can't imagine anyone ever buying this car with the pathetic level of power it exhibits, therefore the resale value is now next to nothing. …
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 to my local Honda dealer. The have reprogrammed the ima system (pursuant to several service bulletins) to no avail. …
Flashing ignition "immobilizer" light - system code "c-1": with low battery voltage, or a disconnected or "dead" battery, vehicle cannot be started, either by "jump starting" or replacing the 12v car battery. This is due to a defect, in all "j VIN" Civic hybrids, on the micu board located in the under-dash fuse relay box. Defect results in the electronic key codes being lost with low or no 12v ignition system voltage. The only remedy is to have the car towed to an authorized Honda dealer to have all keys (car comes with 3 sets of keys) reprogrammed to the ignition immobilizer system. Only a Honda dealer can perform this operation. Because of this defect, vehicle operator and any passengers can be left stranded and in an unsafe position. The only remedy is to have the car towed to a dealer, if available, to have the immobilizer system reprogrammed. …
While driving the power steering disengages leaving me without any power steering making it extremely difficult to turn my steering wheel in either direction. There seems to be no rhyme or reason as to when this will occur. Only that it will usually happen after about 20 minutes of steady driving. Sometimes it happens when I'm going straight and other times when I'm going around a bend. It has shut off on me while traveling at speeds of 65, 55, 40, 30, 20, all the way down to 5 MPH right as I'm preparing to park my vehicle. Fortunately, the first time it happened about a month ago I happened to be going straight. I don't know what would have happened had it occurred 20 seconds earlier when I was going around a bend. Ever since then I stay hyper vigilant w/ 2 hands on the wheel, so if it does happen while turning I'll be able to muscle my way through the turn. …
Due to poor performance after a recent Honda ima Hybrid battery software update, the electronic battery had turned itself off in order to extend its life. When the battery turned off, the primary electronic brakes were also turned off. When an accident happened on the opposing direction of traffic, it sent debris across the freeway barrier into my lane. I attempted to decrease my speed in order to maneuver around the debris, but I did not have sufficient braking power. If the brakes were not disabled in order to extend the battery life and decrease Honda of America's financial responsibility to replace batteries under warranty, I would not have ran over the debris that almost sent me straight into the median wall. I had seen the accident with plenty of time to slow down and I would have made it safely around the debris if I had proper working brakes. …
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 anything because the ima system light does not illuminate (OBD does not show a fault) although the dealer can reproduce the problem after keeping the car overnight. …
Honda's software reflash of the ima system in 2010 has caused my car to operate erratically. The Hybrid battery is often completely unavailable to assist the regular motor when needed to accelerate to merge into high speed traffic, to pass other vehicles, or to avoid collisions. Additionally, when taking off from a stop the car sometimes hesitates to start moving, stutters, jerks or lurches. I have not been able to achieve more than 29 mpg since the software update, approximately 10 mpg less than I was getting before the update. California small claims court awarded me $9,867.19 against Honda - see www.dontsettlewithhonda.org for 26 page judgment of the court. **03/01/2012 bf
Related recalls
Electrical system
Honda is recalling certain model year 2006-2007 Honda civic hybrid vehicles. There is a potential for the voltage converter that relays power from the integrated motor assist (ima) system to the vehicle's electrical components to fail.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the voltage converter free of charge. The safety recall began on March 25, 2011. Owners May contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009 a select option 4.
NHTSA investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
Electrical complaints in other Civic Hybrid years
Frequently asked questions
How common are electrical problems on the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid?
NHTSA has 21 complaints about the electrical system of the 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid, 38% of the model year's 55 complaints. The component named most often is propulsion system › traction battery (2 mentions).
Is there a recall for 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid electrical problems?
Yes — NHTSA recall 11V-106 (electrical system, Mar 2, 2011). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
At what mileage do 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid electrical problems start?
Half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 88,000 miles, and 6% before 25,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.