Battery Propulsion System problems of the 2007 Honda Civic Hybrid

I purchased the car new in December 2007 and was initially pleased. Unfortunately, the performance of the vehicle has decreased significantly, apparently due to a software update installed by Honda on August 2010 (see service bulletin 10-034). Honda states that the software update was intended to extend the life of the hybrid battery but is silent about the obvious adverse impact on gas mileage, power, and emissions. The hybrid integrated motor assist (ima) assist is operating erratically such that when trying to accelerate (e. G. , when merging onto an interstate or passing on a highway) the car may have the expected response or a very limited response from the unassisted 1. 3 liter engine. Just last week when I was merging onto an interstate one time the ima did not provide any assist and I was concerned due to the fast approaching traffic. I never know whether the car will have the expected acceleration. The ima behavior can vary from minute to minute while driving even under the same conditions. Has dot and NHTSA studied a 2007 Civic Hybrid after the software update was applied?.

When pulling out onto a busy 55 mph highway from a side street, my car unexpectedly was unable to provide any electrical propulsion from the hybrid motor. The hybrid battery state of charge indicator was at 6 out of 8 bars of battery level while waiting at the stop sign, but when the demand for electrical assist was given, the battery level immediately dropped to 2 out of 8 bars and provided little or no hybrid motor assist. My vehicle struggled to accelerate up to speed of oncoming traffic, even with the accelerator pedal depressed all the way to the floor (wide open throttle). Luckily, the oncoming traffic was able to react quickly enough to avoid a collision, but I do not feel safe putting myself and other motorists at risk like this. This vehicle was never designed to operate solely on the gasoline engine, as it is under-powered by design and dependent on assistance from the electric motor. The car has since had several occasions where the battery level has unpredictably dropped and lacked hybrid electric assist. My main safety concern arises not only from this lack of propulsion from the designed manufacturer's specifications, but in the unpredictability of to what magnitude the acceleration is affected. Usually the vehicle operates correctly and is able to provide at least some electric assist, as predicted and intended. However, it is the rare and unpredictable occasion that it does not that could lead to a serious accident.