SEVERAL TIMES IN THE PAST THE ACCELERATION IN MY 2006 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID HAS FAILED TO PROVIDE THE EXTRA BURST OF SPEED WHEN NEEDED, MAKING ME UNCOMFORTABLE IN TRAFFIC. WHEN THIS SITUATION HAPPENS AS I AM LEAVING MY SUBDIVISION I FEEL HELPLESS IN A SITUATION OF WHICH I HAVE LITTLE CONTROL. WHEN I NEED TO MAKE TURN FROM MY SUBDIVISION FROM A STOP, I NEED TO RAPIDLY ACCELERATE TO 45 MPH UPHILL. MUCH OF THE TIME THERE IS TRAFFIC APPROACHING FROM THE LEFT WHICH I AM UNABLE SEE TO UNTIL THEY ARE ON THE CREST OF THAT HILL, APPROX. 150' AWAY. AS YOU CAN SEE, I DEPEND ON THE HYBRID SYSTEM WORKING PROPERLY FOR THAT EXTRA BURST OF SPEED. WHEN THIS HAPPENS I NOTICE THE IMA BATTERY CHARGE INDICATOR SHOWING THE BATTERY IS IN A DEPLETED STATE. I DO NOT KNOW WHY THIS OCCURS SO RAPIDLY WHEN 99% OF THE TIME IT IS JUST FINE. I WAS RELIEVED THAT HONDA MOTOR CO. WAS PROACTIVE IN NOTIFYING ME OF A SOFTWARE PATCH TO ENHANCE THE PERFORMANCE OF THE IMA SYSTEM OF WHICH I HAD IMMEDIATELY INSTALLED. WHAT MY WIFE AND I HAVE NOTICED SINCE THE SOFTWARE PATCH WAS INSTALLED IS THE ENGINE REVS UP HIGHER DURING ACCELERATION THEN THERE IS A MOMENTARY HESITATION BEFORE THE IMA SYSTEM ASSISTED THE ENGINE TO GET UP TO SPEED. ALSO SINCE THE PATCH WAS INSTALLED, THE IMA BATTERY LEVEL INDICATOR IS AT OR NEAR FULL CHARGE. I HAVE NOTICED AN APPARENT DECREASE IN FUEL EFFICIENCY, BUT I AM STILL COMPILING DATA TO MAKE AN EXACT DETERMINATION OF THE EXTENT OF THAT PROBLEM. *TR
1992
AIR BAGS
AIR BAG & 3 POINT RESTRAINT FAILED AND INJURIES AND LOSS OF TEETH RESULTED. WHEN IS AN AUTO MANUFACTURER RESPONSIBLE FOR DEFECTIVE EQUIPMENT???*AK