HONDA CIVIC HYBRID · model year

2005 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID

69 NHTSA complaints, 8 crash reports, and 6 active recalls for this specific cohort.

NHTSA overall rating

Not crash-tested

New Car Assessment Program

The 2005HONDACIVIC HYBRID carries 69 consumer safety complaints in NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation database for this specific model-year cohort. Within that volume, owners reported 8 crashes, 0 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 fatalities. No NCAP 5-star crash-test rating is available for this model year in the federal database.

Component-level analysis is where model-year complaints become actionable: the top complaint category for the 2005 CIVIC HYBRID is power train with 20 filings, followed by air bags (15) and electrical system (10). Concentration in one or two component groups is the classic signature of a systemic defect; a flat distribution usually reflects normal aging, warranty complaints, or isolated build-plant variability. This model year has 6 active recall campaigns, which means the manufacturer is obligated to remedy the covered defect at no charge for the life of the vehicle — the full NHTSA campaign numbers are listed below.

NHTSA currently has 77 investigation files overlapping the 2005 CIVIC HYBRID, and 9 remain open. Owners comparing this cohort against neighboring years should pair the counters above with the complaint-by-year trend on the parent model page — a spike in a single year often tracks to a platform refresh, a new transmission supplier, or an updated ECU calibration. Use the related-complaint feed below to read raw owner narratives before deciding whether any pattern here affects your specific use case.

69
Complaints
8
Crashes
0
Fires
7
Injuries
0
Deaths

Total Complaints

69 filings

Crashes Reported

8 reports

Source

NHTSA ODI

Federal complaints database

Complaints vs. fleet median (215)

At or below the fleet median complaint volume.

Complaints by Component

ComponentCount
POWER TRAIN20
AIR BAGS15
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM10
UNKNOWN OR OTHER5
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL4
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING2
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM2
ENGINE2
STRUCTURE:BODY1
SUSPENSION1
STRUCTURE1
STEERING1
SERVICE BRAKES1
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY1
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION1

Recalls (6)

15V32000028/05/2015

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2007 Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, 2006 Ridgeline, 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2003-2006 Acura MDX, and 2002-2003 Acur

19V49900027/06/2019

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2003-2006 MDX, 2001-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot and 2006 Ridgeline vehicles. The

19V50100027/06/2019

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2006 Acura MDX, 2005-2012 RL, 2003-2007 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV, 2002-2006 CR-V, 2003-2011 Element, 2007-2008 Fit, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2008 Pilot, and 2006-2014 Ridgeline vehicles.

15V37000015/06/2015

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic vehicles manufactured March 21, 2000, to January 20, 2005, 2001-2004 Honda Civic GX vehicles manufactured June 14, 2000, to August 19, 2004, 2003-2005 Honda Civic Hybrid vehicles manufactured February 24, 2002, to

19V18200006/03/2019

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling specific 2003 Acura 3.2CL, 2013-2016 ILX, 2013-2014 ILX Hybrid, 2003-2006 MDX, 2007-2016 RDX, 2002-2003 3.2TL, 2004-2006, and 2009-2014 TL, 2010-2013 ZDX and 2001-2007 and 2009 Honda Accord, 2001-2005 Civic, 2003-2005 Civic Hybrid, 2001-2005 Civic GX NGV

14V70000004/11/2014

AIR BAGS

American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2001-2005 Honda Civic, 2003-2004 Civic CNG and Element, 2002-2005 CR-V, 2002-2004 Odyssey, 2003-2005 Accord, Pilot, Civic Hybrid, and Acura MDX, 2005 Acura RL and 2006 Honda Ridgeline vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in ge

Recent Complaints

20190322CrashAIR BAGS

I WAS SEEING DOWN THE ROAD AND A TRUCK WAS STOPPED AT A GREEN LIGHT I RAN INTO HIM MY AIRBAGS DID NOT COME OUT

Mileage: 150,000

20190227AIR BAGS

MY AIR BAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY STAYS ON. NO CODES COME UP WHEN AUTO REPAIR SHOP HOOKED IT UP SO I CAN'T EVEN GET A DIAGNOSIS AND ATTEMPT TO REPAIR. THE SAFETY HAZARD ASPECT WORRIES ME IMMENSELY BUT IT'S MY ONLY VEHICLE SO I'M FORCED TO DRIVE IT REGARDLESS. ALL AVAILABLE RECALLS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED. MY CAR HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AFTER I PUT IT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE WHEN I'M AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO HESITATES TO SWITCH GEARS TO ACCELERATE AT A NORMAL RATE TO SAFELY MERGE ONTO A ROAD OR INTERSTATE WHETHER I'M STOPPED FIRST OR TURN RIGHT IN AT A LOW SPEED AND ATTEMPT TO MERGE.

Mileage: 168,000

20190227POWER TRAIN

MY AIR BAG LIGHT CONSTANTLY STAYS ON. NO CODES COME UP WHEN AUTO REPAIR SHOP HOOKED IT UP SO I CAN'T EVEN GET A DIAGNOSIS AND ATTEMPT TO REPAIR. THE SAFETY HAZARD ASPECT WORRIES ME IMMENSELY BUT IT'S MY ONLY VEHICLE SO I'M FORCED TO DRIVE IT REGARDLESS. ALL AVAILABLE RECALLS HAVE BEEN PERFORMED. MY CAR HESITATED TO ACCELERATE AFTER I PUT IT IN DRIVE OR REVERSE WHEN I'M AT A COMPLETE STOP. THE TRANSMISSION ALSO HESITATES TO SWITCH GEARS TO ACCELERATE AT A NORMAL RATE TO SAFELY MERGE ONTO A ROAD OR INTERSTATE WHETHER I'M STOPPED FIRST OR TURN RIGHT IN AT A LOW SPEED AND ATTEMPT TO MERGE.

Mileage: 168,000

20180417POWER TRAIN

WHEN STARTING FROM A COMPLETE STOP THE TRANSMISSION SHUDDERS AND LACKS TAKE OFF POWER WHICH COULD BE A DANGEROUS PROBLEM.

Mileage: 207,000

20180113AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL. MY AIRBAG LIGHTS HAVE BEEN ON SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO. WAS TOLD BY USED CAR DEALER THAT THEY WILL GO OFF WHICH THEY HAVEN'T.

Mileage: 87,000

20180112AIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL. HONDA DID A SAFETY RECALL IN 2015 BUT IN 2017 I GOT THE AIRBAG SIGN AGAIN IN CIVIC HYBRID AND IT'S NOT GOING EVEN MECHANIC TRIED TO REMOVE IT WITH OBD. OTHER PROBLEM IS WITH IMA SYSTEM, IT WORKS OFTEN SOMETIMES AND SIGN STAYS AT THE DASHBOARD. HONDA SHOULD RECALL FOR AIRBAG AND IMA SYSTEM AND FIX IT PERMANENTLY.

Mileage: 130,000

20180112ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

TAKATA RECALL. HONDA DID A SAFETY RECALL IN 2015 BUT IN 2017 I GOT THE AIRBAG SIGN AGAIN IN CIVIC HYBRID AND IT'S NOT GOING EVEN MECHANIC TRIED TO REMOVE IT WITH OBD. OTHER PROBLEM IS WITH IMA SYSTEM, IT WORKS OFTEN SOMETIMES AND SIGN STAYS AT THE DASHBOARD. HONDA SHOULD RECALL FOR AIRBAG AND IMA SYSTEM AND FIX IT PERMANENTLY.

Mileage: 130,000

20171104ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

CVT TRANSMISSION VIOLENTLY SHAKES AT SPEEDS 0-10 AND CAUSES AUTO STOP TO ENGAGE AT ALL TIMES EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING THROUGH CONGESTED TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. IT PERFORMS POORLY WHEN IN MOTION IN ANY STREET OR HIGHWAY WHEN DRIVING VERY SLOW OR AFTER ACCELERATING AT A STOPLIGHT.

Mileage: 162,000

20171104POWER TRAIN

CVT TRANSMISSION VIOLENTLY SHAKES AT SPEEDS 0-10 AND CAUSES AUTO STOP TO ENGAGE AT ALL TIMES EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING THROUGH CONGESTED TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. IT PERFORMS POORLY WHEN IN MOTION IN ANY STREET OR HIGHWAY WHEN DRIVING VERY SLOW OR AFTER ACCELERATING AT A STOPLIGHT.

Mileage: 162,000

20171104VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL

CVT TRANSMISSION VIOLENTLY SHAKES AT SPEEDS 0-10 AND CAUSES AUTO STOP TO ENGAGE AT ALL TIMES EXTREMELY DANGEROUS WHEN DRIVING THROUGH CONGESTED TRAFFIC ON THE HIGHWAY. IT PERFORMS POORLY WHEN IN MOTION IN ANY STREET OR HIGHWAY WHEN DRIVING VERY SLOW OR AFTER ACCELERATING AT A STOPLIGHT.

Mileage: 162,000

20161209UNKNOWN OR OTHER

TAKATA HEAR REPLACEMENTS ARE DEFECTIVE HOW DO YOU FIND OUT IF REPLACEMENT IS DEFECTIVE HAVE ONLY RIGHT EYE AND IF INJURED MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE NEW HEADLIGHTS ARE A MENACE SOME NOW WITH 8 LIGHTS AND ONE WHERE ALL GREEN. THEY ARE NOT AIMED ON ROAD BUT SO STRONG IN CAR CAN READ SOME SET SO THEY ARE HIGHER THAT WINDOWS. I SLOW DOWN TO 20MPH TO BE ABLE TO SEE SAFELY EITHER WAY OTHERS DO NOT LIKE THAT SPEED IN 50MPH ZONE BUT NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WHEN LIGHTS LIKE AN INTERROGATION ROOM BLINDING YOU. IF YOU NEED 8 LIGHTS YOU SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING AND THESE BEADY START WHITE LIGHTS ARE BLINDING. NEED TO GO BACK TO TWO LIGHTS SHINED ON THE ROAD NOT 4-8 IN DIFFERENT COLORS THE HEIGHT OF THE WINDOW AIMED AT THE INTERIOR LIKE A TROOPER LIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 68,000

20161209EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS

TAKATA HEAR REPLACEMENTS ARE DEFECTIVE HOW DO YOU FIND OUT IF REPLACEMENT IS DEFECTIVE HAVE ONLY RIGHT EYE AND IF INJURED MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE NEW HEADLIGHTS ARE A MENACE SOME NOW WITH 8 LIGHTS AND ONE WHERE ALL GREEN. THEY ARE NOT AIMED ON ROAD BUT SO STRONG IN CAR CAN READ SOME SET SO THEY ARE HIGHER THAT WINDOWS. I SLOW DOWN TO 20MPH TO BE ABLE TO SEE SAFELY EITHER WAY OTHERS DO NOT LIKE THAT SPEED IN 50MPH ZONE BUT NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WHEN LIGHTS LIKE AN INTERROGATION ROOM BLINDING YOU. IF YOU NEED 8 LIGHTS YOU SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING AND THESE BEADY START WHITE LIGHTS ARE BLINDING. NEED TO GO BACK TO TWO LIGHTS SHINED ON THE ROAD NOT 4-8 IN DIFFERENT COLORS THE HEIGHT OF THE WINDOW AIMED AT THE INTERIOR LIKE A TROOPER LIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 68,000

20161209AIR BAGS

TAKATA HEAR REPLACEMENTS ARE DEFECTIVE HOW DO YOU FIND OUT IF REPLACEMENT IS DEFECTIVE HAVE ONLY RIGHT EYE AND IF INJURED MAY NOT BE ABLE TO DRIVE NEW HEADLIGHTS ARE A MENACE SOME NOW WITH 8 LIGHTS AND ONE WHERE ALL GREEN. THEY ARE NOT AIMED ON ROAD BUT SO STRONG IN CAR CAN READ SOME SET SO THEY ARE HIGHER THAT WINDOWS. I SLOW DOWN TO 20MPH TO BE ABLE TO SEE SAFELY EITHER WAY OTHERS DO NOT LIKE THAT SPEED IN 50MPH ZONE BUT NOT SAFE TO DRIVE WHEN LIGHTS LIKE AN INTERROGATION ROOM BLINDING YOU. IF YOU NEED 8 LIGHTS YOU SHOULD NOT BE DRIVING AND THESE BEADY START WHITE LIGHTS ARE BLINDING. NEED TO GO BACK TO TWO LIGHTS SHINED ON THE ROAD NOT 4-8 IN DIFFERENT COLORS THE HEIGHT OF THE WINDOW AIMED AT THE INTERIOR LIKE A TROOPER LIGHT. *TR

Mileage: 68,000

20160902AIR BAGS

[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 15,000

20160902SEAT BELTS

[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 15,000

20160902UNKNOWN OR OTHER

[XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6). *TR

Mileage: 15,000

20160727CrashAIR BAGS

TAKATA RECALL: MY DAUGHTER SUFFERED INJURY AS AIRBAG REPLACED UNDER TAKATA RECALL BLEW UP ON HER WITH INTENSE FORCE CAUSING INJURY AND TEARING OFF HER WRIST. SEAT BELT ALSO CAUSED INJURY AS THEY TIGHTEN AND CUT HER CHECK AREA. IT WAS LIGHT COLLISION WHEN PASSING CAR SCRAPPED HER FRONT BUMPER. MY DAUGHTER FEEL AIRBAG IMPACT CAUSED MORE DAMAGE THAT LIGHT COLLISION.. AIRBAG CUT HER WRIST AND THREW HER HEAR BACK AND SOME DUST OR POWER WENT IN HER EYES.. WITH THE RESULT SHE LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE AND HER PASSENGER SIDE RAN THROUGH THE SIDE CURB.

Mileage: 189,000

20160321POWER TRAIN

MY 2005 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID IS EXPERIENCING A SHUDDER WITH MOMENTARY LOSS OF POWER UPON ACCELERATION FROM A STATIONARY POSITION. VEHICLE HAS BEEN TAKEN TO HONDA DEALERSHIP FOR A CLUTCH BURNISHING PROCEDURE. THIS TEMPORARILY FIXED THE PROBLEM FOR APPROXIMATELY 3000-4000 MILES. PROBLEM HAS RETURNED AND HAS BECOME A SAFETY CONCERN AS THERE IS MOMENTARY LOSS OF ACCELERATION POWER DURING THE SHUDDER EVENT. DEALERSHIP INSISTS ON CHARGING FOR ANOTHER BURNISHING PROCEDURE THOUGH IT IS OUTLINED IN A TECHNICAL NOTICE. THIS SHUDDERING HAPPENS UPON EVERY ACCELERATION FROM A STATIONARY POSITION. IT IS NOT INTERMITTENT AND CAN BE FELT EVERY TIME I ACCELERATE.

Mileage: 80,000

20160229ELECTRICAL SYSTEM

AS I AM DRIVING ON A FOUR LANE ROAD, WITH HIGH TRAFFIC, MY ENGINE AND BATTERY LIGHTS COME ON. THE CAR SEEMS SLUGGISH. I NOTICE THAT THE IMA HAS STOPPED WORKING. THE CAR STOPPED ACCELERATING AT ITS NORMAL PACE. THIS MADE IT DANGEROUS FOR ME TO MANEUVER IN TRAFFIC. I JUST PULLED INTO THE CLOSEST AUTO PLACE I COULD FIND. THEY SAID IT NEEDED A NEW HYBRID BATTERY. SINCE I AM AFRAID TO DRIVE IT WITH ITS UNPREDICTABLE STATE I GOT ON LINE AND SEE THERE WAS A RECALL ON THE VOLTAGE CONVERTER. NOW I NEED TO GET IT TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP, PAY FOR THEM TO DIAGNOSE IT, AND SEE IF HONDA WILL COVER THE COST OF A NEW BATTERY. I WILL PROBABLY GET IT TOWED THERE SINCE I AM SCARED TO DRIVE IT NOW.

Mileage: 69,000

20151127CrashAIR BAGS

I TOTALLED MY CAR AND NOT ONE OF MY AIR BAGS CAME OUT..ON CITY STREET IN MOTION I HYDROPLANED..

Mileage: 94,000

Compare 2005HONDACIVIC HYBRID to Similar Vehicles

NHTSA Investigations 9 Open

View all investigations

Frequently Asked Questions

How many complaints does the 2005 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID have?
The 2005 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID has 69 NHTSA complaints, 8 crashes, 0 fires, 7 injuries, and 0 deaths reported.
Are there any recalls for the 2005 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID?
Yes, the 2005 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID has 6 recall(s). The most common affected component is AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE. Recalls are issued by NHTSA and manufacturers must provide a free remedy.
What are the most common problems with the 2005 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID?
The most-complained component for the 2005 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID is POWER TRAIN with 20 complaints. Other frequently reported areas include AIR BAGS and ELECTRICAL SYSTEM.
Is the 2005 HONDA CIVIC HYBRID safe to buy?
Review the complaint history, crash and fire reports, safety ratings, and recall status on this page to make an informed decision. No NHTSA crash test rating is available for this model year. Compare with other model years using the links above.
Where does this data come from?
All complaint, recall, and safety rating data is sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Complaints are filed by vehicle owners through NHTSA's Office of Defects Investigation.

Vehicle Safety Guides

Data as of 2025. Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) complaints database, NHTSA recall campaign API, NHTSA NCAP crash-test ratings, and NHTSA FARS for fatality cross-reference.