California Lemon Law · Honda
Compact Car 2025–2026

Honda Civic Hybrid 11th gen (FE/FL) Problems, Recalls & Lemon Law

2025 Honda Civic Hybrid: 2 NHTSA recalls (steering, fuel pump) + phantom braking & infotainment complaints. Know your California lemon law rights.

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2
NHTSA recalls
0
Open · no fix
6
Known defects
2025–2026
Model years
The overview

What owners are dealing with

You chose the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid because it promised something rare: genuine efficiency from a trusted nameplate, at a price that makes sense. With Honda's e:HEV two-motor system delivering estimated fuel economy in the mid-40s mpg, a standard Google Built-In infotainment system, and Honda Sensing 360+ driver assistance across every trim, the 11th-generation Civic Hybrid arrived as the brand-new, first-ever Civic Hybrid in the U.S. market — offered in Sport Hybrid and Sport Touring Hybrid trims.

Within months of delivery, however, some owners began experiencing defects that are not what Honda advertises. The 2025 Civic Hybrid carries two active NHTSA recalls: recall 24V744000 for a steering gearbox manufacturing defect that causes excessive friction and difficulty steering, and recall 24V763000 for a high-pressure fuel pump that can crack and leak fuel — a genuine fire-risk condition. Both recalls emerged within the vehicle's first production year.

Beyond the formal recalls, NHTSA complaint records document the Collision Mitigation Braking System triggering hard stops on open highways with no obstacle ahead; unexpected acceleration in creep mode without driver input; and a model-wide electrical/infotainment defect confirmed by at least one Honda dealer. The Google Built-In and wireless CarPlay system — a centerpiece of the Civic Hybrid's cabin — shows the same intermittent-connectivity pattern Consumer Reports identified as the 11th-gen Civic platform's top owner-complaint category.

For owners who bought a new 2025 Civic Hybrid and now face a car that unexpectedly brakes, lurches, or drops CarPlay mid-navigation — often met at the dealership with 'operating as designed' — California law may offer remedies that Honda's warranty paperwork doesn't mention. This page documents the sourced defect record for the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid.

The problems

The defects most likely to affect you

The issues owners report most, ranked by severity — each one verified against a cited NHTSA source.

01

Low-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure - Stall or No-Start Risk

engine stalls while driving; vehicle will not start; loss of power; fuel pump recall

Catastrophic2025
02

Steering Defect - Increased Steering Effort or Sticky Steering

sticky steering; steering wheel feels stuck; increased steering effort; steering recall

Safety2025
03

Honda Sensing 360+ Phantom Braking — False CMBS Activation

car brakes suddenly with no obstacle in front; Honda Sensing slams on brakes for oncoming traffic; collision mitigation braking fires randomly on highway; emergency brake activates with no car ahead; vehicle decelerates hard at highway speed without driver input; CMBS triggers from oncoming vehicles in opposite lane

Safety2025
04

e:HEV Two-Motor System Harsh EV-to-Gas Transition / Powertrain Shudder

car shakes when gas engine kicks in; rough jerk when transitioning from electric to gasoline mode; vibration when AC or heat turns on and gas motor engages at idle; clunking or lurch when hybrid mode switches; rattling during acceleration from a stop; high-pitched whine from hybrid system at low speed; dealer says shaking is normal — operating as designed

Drivability/Reliability2025
05

9-Inch Infotainment Freeze / Wireless CarPlay and Google Built-In Connectivity Drops

CarPlay keeps disconnecting; Apple CarPlay fails to connect until full system restart; 9-inch touchscreen freezes or becomes unresponsive; display shows concentric circles instead of navigation; Google Built-In maps lose signal or crash; Bluetooth audio cuts out while driving; Android Auto pairing fails; infotainment system reboots mid-drive; backup camera goes black; center display shows multiple dashboard warnings

Functional2025
06

e:HEV Creep-Mode Unintended Acceleration / Speed Control Surge

car accelerates on its own without pressing gas pedal; vehicle surges forward in creep mode unexpectedly; unwanted acceleration in stop-and-go traffic; hybrid drive engages without driver input; car lurches forward repeatedly while foot is on brake; vehicle speed increases without pedal depression

Safety2025
Real results

What this defect was worth to a real client

A settled Margarian Law case on this exact model, published with the actual settlement math.

Known defects · 6 documented

Every confirmed defect, in plain English

Open any defect for the symptoms and why it matters for a California lemon-law claim. Each is tied to a cited NHTSA source.

Steering Defect - Increased Steering Effort or Sticky SteeringSafety2025
Symptoms

sticky steering; steering wheel feels stuck; increased steering effort; steering recall

Why it matters for your claim

Recall 24V744000 covers the 2025 Civic Hybrid's steering gearbox — a manufacturing defect that creates excessive internal friction and difficulty steering. Under Song-Beverly, a safety-recall defect that the dealer fails to repair on the first attempt, or where parts availability extends the vehicle's out-of-service time beyond 30 cumulative days, can trigger buyback eligibility. Multiple 2025 CR-V Hybrid NHTSA complaints document owners placed on waitlists for this same Hitachi Astemo gearbox part, indicating parts delays are a real risk — each day awaiting parts counts toward the 30-day threshold under Cal. Civ. Code §1793.2(d)(2).

Typical fix

Dealers will replace the worm gear spring and redistribute or add grease as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2024. Owners may contact Honda Customer Service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are SJS, MJU, QJT and VJV.

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Low-Pressure Fuel Pump Failure - Stall or No-Start RiskCatastrophic2025
Symptoms

engine stalls while driving; vehicle will not start; loss of power; fuel pump recall

Why it matters for your claim

Recall 24V763000 covers a high-pressure fuel pump that can crack and leak fuel — a genuine ignition-source/fire-risk defect that justifies Catastrophic severity. The remedy requires physical pump inspection and replacement; if the dealer's first repair does not eliminate the leak (or if parts are unavailable), the owner is driving a fire-risk vehicle. Under Song-Beverly, a documented fire-risk safety recall with inadequate remedy or extended parts delay is among the strongest categories for a buyback claim. Parts delays for this recall were documented in 2025 CR-V Hybrid NHTSA complaints; Civic Hybrid owners should track any parts-unavailable notices.

Typical fix

Dealers will inspect and replace the high-pressure fuel pump as necessary, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed February 20, 2025. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is PJW.

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Honda Sensing 360+ Phantom Braking — False CMBS ActivationSafety2025
Symptoms

car brakes suddenly with no obstacle in front; Honda Sensing slams on brakes for oncoming traffic; collision mitigation braking fires randomly on highway; emergency brake activates with no car ahead; vehicle decelerates hard at highway speed without driver input; CMBS triggers from oncoming vehicles in opposite lane

Why it matters for your claim

Unexpected hard braking at highway speed is a safety defect directly implicating the occupant-protection purpose of Song-Beverly. If the dealer documents the complaint but cannot reproduce it or issues only a software update that fails to resolve recurrence, each return visit counts toward the 'reasonable number of repair attempts' threshold under Cal. Civ. Code §1793.2(d). CMBS false-activation at highway speed creates rear-end collision risk — a safety consequence courts treat seriously in lemon-law analysis.

Typical fix

No recall or TSB remedy confirmed for Civic Hybrid as of research date. Owners are advised to report to NHTSA (safercar.gov), document each incident with date/mileage/video, and request dealer update Honda Sensing software. Disable adaptive cruise control if braking occurs repeatedly; keep a log of each incident for lemon-law documentation.

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e:HEV Two-Motor System Harsh EV-to-Gas Transition / Powertrain ShudderDrivability/Reliability2025
Symptoms

car shakes when gas engine kicks in; rough jerk when transitioning from electric to gasoline mode; vibration when AC or heat turns on and gas motor engages at idle; clunking or lurch when hybrid mode switches; rattling during acceleration from a stop; high-pitched whine from hybrid system at low speed; dealer says shaking is normal — operating as designed

Why it matters for your claim

A recurring drivability defect — shuddering, jerking, or vibration that persists across multiple dealer visits — meets the 'substantial impairment of use or value' standard under Song-Beverly even absent a formal recall. If the dealer repeatedly returns the car 'operating as designed' without resolving the shudder, each visit still counts as a repair attempt. The Accord Hybrid ICM recall (25V785000) for related software behavior demonstrates Honda's awareness of e:HEV control-software variability in this generation, strengthening an argument that Honda had constructive notice of the defect class.

Typical fix

No TSB or recall confirmed for Civic Hybrid as of research date. On Accord Hybrid, some dealers have performed ICM software recalibrations under warranty with partial improvement. Document each shudder event with date, mileage, driving conditions, and whether AC/heat was active. Request the dealer write 'customer describes rough EV-to-gas transition' on the repair order rather than allowing 'operating as designed' to close the ticket unchallenged.

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9-Inch Infotainment Freeze / Wireless CarPlay and Google Built-In Connectivity DropsFunctional2025
Symptoms

CarPlay keeps disconnecting; Apple CarPlay fails to connect until full system restart; 9-inch touchscreen freezes or becomes unresponsive; display shows concentric circles instead of navigation; Google Built-In maps lose signal or crash; Bluetooth audio cuts out while driving; Android Auto pairing fails; infotainment system reboots mid-drive; backup camera goes black; center display shows multiple dashboard warnings

Why it matters for your claim

Under Song-Beverly, infotainment defects qualify when they substantially impair use — navigation unavailability, backup-camera failure, or driver-distraction risk from a rebooting screen all meet that threshold. Recurring infotainment failures that require multiple dealer visits are directly eligible for the 'reasonable number of repair attempts' analysis. A dealer-confirmed model-wide defect (as documented in ODI 11653989) strengthens the claim that Honda had notice of the problem before the owner's first repair visit.

Typical fix

Honda dealers typically attempt a software OTA update or head-unit module reset. If the unit requires hardware replacement, Honda has replaced infotainment modules under warranty. Document each visit; request the specific software version installed after each update. If the issue recurs after two or more updates, request Honda Technical Assistance Center (TAC) involvement and escalate to Honda Customer Relations.

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e:HEV Creep-Mode Unintended Acceleration / Speed Control SurgeSafety2025
Symptoms

car accelerates on its own without pressing gas pedal; vehicle surges forward in creep mode unexpectedly; unwanted acceleration in stop-and-go traffic; hybrid drive engages without driver input; car lurches forward repeatedly while foot is on brake; vehicle speed increases without pedal depression

Why it matters for your claim

Unintended acceleration is a safety defect under Song-Beverly, regardless of whether a formal recall has been issued. A single documented instance of unintended acceleration that the dealer cannot diagnose or fix can satisfy the 'substantial impairment of safety' prong, and each return visit for the same unresolved complaint counts toward the repair-attempt threshold under Cal. Civ. Code §1793.2(d)(2). NHTSA complaint ODI 11671348 provides a Tier-3 record establishing owner notice and complaint history.

Typical fix

No TSB or recall confirmed as of research date. Owners should report immediately to NHTSA (safercar.gov) and document every incident. Request the dealer perform Honda diagnostic logging of accelerator pedal position sensor (APP) and ICM torque-command traces during each service visit. Do not allow the dealer to close the ticket without written documentation of the complaint.

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NHTSA recall history

Safety recalls, newest first

  1. Oct 14, 2024 · 24V763000

    FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

    remedy available

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Honda Accord, Accord Hybrid, 2023-2025 Honda CR-V Hybrid, and 2025 Honda Civic and Civic Hybrid vehicles. The high-pressure fuel pump may crack and leak fuel.

  2. Oct 3, 2024 · 24V744000

    STEERING

    remedy available

    Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Acura Integra, Civic Type R, CR-V Hybrid, CR-V, HR-V, 2022-2025 Civic, Civic Hatchback, 2024-2025 Acura Integra Type S, 2025 CR-V Fuel Cell EV, Civic Hybrid, and Civic Hatchback Hybrid vehicles. The steering gearbox assembly may have been manufactured incorrectly, which can cause excessive internal friction and lead to difficulty steering the vehicle.

Do these sound familiar?

Check what's happened to your Civic Hybrid

Every item below comes from this vehicle's documented defects. The more you recognize, the more a free case review is worth your time.

0Check any that apply to see where you stand.

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Your rights in California

The Song-Beverly Act protects you

California's Song-Beverly Consumer Warranty Act (Cal. Civ. Code §1790 et seq.) is among the strongest consumer protection laws in the United States. If your 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid has a defect covered by Honda's express warranty and Honda's authorized dealers cannot fix it after a reasonable number of attempts, you may be entitled to a replacement vehicle or a full refund — minus a usage deduction for miles driven before the first repair attempt.

California law presumes a lemon when: (a) a defect likely to cause death or serious bodily injury (such as phantom braking or unexpected acceleration) has been repaired two or more times without success; OR (b) any other warranty defect has been subject to four or more unsuccessful repair attempts; OR (c) the vehicle has been out of service for 30 or more cumulative days during the warranty period.

For 2025 Civic Hybrid owners, the two active recalls (24V744000 steering; 24V763000 fuel pump) involve safety-covered warranty defects. Parts delays on the steering recall — documented in NHTSA complaints on platform-adjacent vehicles — mean days at the dealer awaiting parts count toward the 30-day threshold. CMBS phantom-braking events, if unresolved, may qualify on only two repair attempts given the safety impairment. Infotainment defects qualify after four attempts.

Keep every repair order. This is general information, not legal advice; no attorney-client relationship is formed by reading it. Law as of Jul 1, 2026.

$0
out of pocket — the manufacturer pays legal fees if you win
30+
days out of service for repairs can support a claim

Do this

If the dealer says they can't duplicate it

“Could not duplicate” doesn't mean the defect isn't real. Here's exactly what to do to protect a potential California lemon-law claim.

  1. 1

    Document the moment it happens. Photos, video, and screenshots of any warning lights — with the date and the mileage.

  2. 2

    Get a repair order every visit — even “found nothing.” That paperwork is the foundation of a claim.

  3. 3

    Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Note any recall that has no available remedy yet.

  4. 4

    Track your out-of-service days. California law counts the cumulative days your vehicle spends in the shop.

  5. 5

    Keep loaner & rental records. Alternate-transport paperwork during long repairs matters.

  6. 6

    Save everything in one place. Symptoms, dates, repair orders, and every repeat visit — the intermittent ones especially.

For your Honda Civic Hybrid specifically

Honda dealers for the 2025 Civic Hybrid have closed warranty tickets as 'cannot duplicate' or 'operating as designed' — especially for phantom braking, powertrain shudder, and infotainment issues. Here is what to do:

1. Bring a written symptom log. Before each visit, write the date, exact mileage, weather, driving conditions, and precisely what happened. Hand it to the service writer — it forces a specific response and builds your paper trail.

2. Verify the repair order matches your words. Before signing in, confirm the complaint description is accurate. If it reads 'possible noise' instead of 'vehicle braked hard at 65 mph,' ask for a correction.

3. Video the symptom when safe. Dash cam footage of a CMBS phantom-brake event — showing speed, road conditions, and no obstacle — is evidence the dealer cannot dismiss as driver error.

4. Request a documented technician test drive. Ask the advisor to have the technician drive under the conditions that trigger the symptom. Request that the outcome and mileage appear on the repair order.

5. Get 'operating as designed' in writing. Ask the dealer to put that conclusion on the repair order with the technician's name. Multiple written 'operating as designed' notations show Honda acknowledged the symptom but refused repair — useful evidence.

6. File an NHTSA complaint at safercar.gov. Reference your ODI number in future visits.

7. Track every out-of-service day. California's 30-day threshold includes days awaiting recall parts — documented on 24V744000 platform vehicles.

Our take

The 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid is a brand-new nameplate entering the U.S. market with two NHTSA recalls already in place before the first model year is complete. The steering recall (24V744000) affects a massive population of Honda/Acura vehicles and has generated documented parts-availability problems. The fuel pump recall (24V763000) is a genuine fire-risk defect. These are not minor service bulletins — they are safety campaigns that Honda and NHTSA determined warranted mandatory owner notification.

The ADAS phantom-braking pattern, documented directly on the 2025 Civic Hybrid in NHTSA complaints within the first months of sale, follows an established Honda Sensing failure mode that has affected Accord, CR-V, and now Civic Hybrid. For a first-year vehicle with a new hybrid powertrain and new Google Built-In software stack, the early complaint trajectory warrants careful owner attention.

— The Margarian Law team

Free case review · Honda Civic Hybrid

See if your Civic Hybrid qualifies

If your 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid has been to the dealer multiple times for the steering recall, phantom braking, or infotainment failures — and the problem keeps coming back — you may have options under California lemon law. Margarian Law offers a free case review and can evaluate your repair orders at no cost.

FAQ

Honda Civic Hybrid lemon-law questions

What recalls does the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid have?

The 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid has two active NHTSA recalls. Recall 24V744000 covers a steering gearbox manufacturing defect causing excessive friction and difficult steering; Honda's remedy is worm gear spring replacement and regreasing at no cost. Recall 24V763000 covers a high-pressure fuel pump that can crack and leak fuel — a fire-risk condition; dealers will inspect and replace the pump as needed. Both repairs are free of charge. If you have not received recall notification or parts are unavailable, contact Honda at 1-888-234-2138 or check safercar.gov with your VIN. Parts delays are documented in NHTSA complaints; each day your car is at the dealer awaiting parts may count toward California's 30-day lemon-law threshold.

Why does my 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid brake suddenly on its own?

Multiple 2025 Civic Hybrid owners have filed NHTSA complaints (ODI 11689698; 11689578) describing the Honda Sensing 360+ Collision Mitigation Braking System (CMBS) triggering hard stops at highway speed with no vehicle directly ahead — in one case firing because an oncoming car was in the opposite lane. This phantom-braking pattern is alleged by owners across the Honda Sensing ecosystem (CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid) on the same generation of radar/camera hardware. No TSB or recall has been issued for the Civic Hybrid as of research date. Document every incident with date, mileage, road conditions, and dash cam footage if available. Report to NHTSA at safercar.gov and keep every dealer repair order. Repeated dealer visits for the same safety defect build the repair-attempt record needed for a California lemon-law claim.

Why does my 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid shake or jerk when the gas engine turns on?

The 2025 Civic Hybrid's e:HEV two-motor system uses a 2.0L LFA1 Atkinson-cycle engine that acts primarily as a generator. When the ICM commands the gas engine to fire — due to high power demand, AC load, or cold conditions — some owners report a shudder, jolt, or vibration at that transition moment. Honda dealers frequently classify this as 'operating as designed.' However, the same pattern is documented in NHTSA complaints for the 2023-2025 Accord Hybrid and 2024 CR-V Hybrid (ODI 11687151; 11642448), which share the identical e:HEV ICM architecture — and the Accord Hybrid ICM received a 2025 recall (25V785000) for a related software-reset defect. Request that the dealer document your shudder complaint on the repair order rather than accepting 'normal operation.' Each unresolved visit counts toward California's lemon-law repair-attempt threshold.

Why does CarPlay keep disconnecting on my 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid?

The 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid uses a 9-inch Google Built-In touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Consumer Reports' 2025 Honda Civic owner survey identifies in-car electronics as the top problem area, with specific owner reports of CarPlay performing 'only intermittently' and Bluetooth and Android Auto pairing described as 'spotty, glitchy.' An NHTSA complaint filed on the 2025 Civic Hybrid (ODI 11653989) documents a model-wide electrical/audio defect the dealership confirmed. Honda dealers typically attempt software updates; if the problem recurs after updates, request Honda Technical Assistance Center (TAC) escalation. Document each visit. Under California's Song-Beverly Act, infotainment defects that substantially impair your use of the vehicle qualify for lemon-law analysis after four documented unsuccessful repair attempts.

Is the 2025 Honda Civic Hybrid a lemon under California law?

Whether your specific 2025 Civic Hybrid qualifies as a lemon under California's Song-Beverly Act depends on your individual repair history, warranty coverage, and documented defects — not a general vehicle profile. That said, the 2025 Civic Hybrid already carries two NHTSA safety recalls (24V744000 steering; 24V763000 fuel pump), plus NHTSA-documented owner complaints for phantom braking, unexpected acceleration, and infotainment failures. California law allows a buyback or replacement when the same safety defect cannot be fixed after two attempts, or any defect after four attempts, or the vehicle has been out of service 30 or more days. Keep all your repair orders. A free case review with Margarian Law can tell you whether your repair history meets the threshold — no purchase obligation required.

What should I do if the Honda dealer says they can't find a problem with my Civic Hybrid?

A 'cannot duplicate' or 'operating as designed' note from the Honda dealer is not the end of your options — it is actually useful documentation. Here is what to do: (1) Ask the dealer to write the 'cannot duplicate' result on the repair order with the technician's name, date, and mileage — that creates a paper trail showing Honda was on notice. (2) Bring the vehicle back each time the symptom recurs; each visit counts as a repair attempt under Song-Beverly regardless of outcome. (3) File an NHTSA complaint at safercar.gov referencing your VIN and specific symptoms. (4) Document each incident with video or written logs including date, mileage, and conditions. (5) Request Honda's Technical Assistance Center (TAC) involvement — ask the service advisor to open a TAC case. After multiple failed repair attempts, a California lemon-law attorney can review your repair orders at no cost.

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