Honda Motor Co.'s line of Civic hybrid's from 2006 to 2008 have encountered problems with battery life. The Japanese automaker's solution is to install software updates, which according to Civic hybrid owners, is making their vehicles considerably slower and has even cut the gas mileage.

Honda's high-tech batteries for these hybrids have been losing their ability to hold a charge years before the warranty is up, but Honda's policy is to not replace any batteries until they are completely dead. So instead of exchanging the old batteries for new ones, Honda began installing software updates that are supposed to extend the life of the battery and "improve performance," but Civic hybrid drivers are saying otherwise.

According to Jason Marchesano, a 2007 Civic hybrid owner from Overland Park, Kansas, his car battery lost its ability to hold a decent charge last year, and when approaching Honda about the problem, they installed a software update that cut the vehicle's fuel efficiency and made the car's response much slower. Several weeks ago, Marchesano went to Honda once again with the problem, which prompted yet another software update. With each additional update, his Civic became slower and less fuel efficient. Today, the vehicle receives 33 miles per gallon, when it originally received 45 mpg brand new.

Many believe that Honda is holding a no exchange policy unless the battery is completely dead because the company does not want to replace thousands of batteries at approximately $3,000 a piece. Amongst the believers is the California Air Resources Board.

"We want to know if they're coming up with a strategy to try to protect the battery so they don't have to replace them," said John Urkov, chief of the air board's vehicle branch.

The California Air Resources Board is also concerned with the potential emissions these updated Civic hybrids could be giving off, since the software protects the battery by limiting its part in running the 20-horsepower electric motor while increasing the role of the Civic hybrid's 93-horsepower, four-cylinder gasoline engine.

"It becomes a potential air quality concern for us," said Urkov.

Environmentally-concerned boards are not the only ones who are having problems with the software updates. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is currently monitoring and discussing complaints from 2007 Civic hybrid drivers with Honda, noting that hazards such as a sudden loss of power are safety issues concerned with this vehicle's battery.

Nearly one third of complaints about the 2007 Civic hybrid are regarding battery troubles, and mention potential concerns like loss of power while trying to pass someone, or while on a freeway onramp.

As a warning to 2006, 2007 and 2008 Honda Civic hybrid drivers, Honda sent out a letter to over 100,000 owners of these vehicles to let them know that their car batteries "may deteriorate and eventually fail" much earlier than previously expected, and instructs the driver to consider a software update.

"This is certainly not a financial decision," said Chris Martin, a Honda spokesman. "This is not just to prolong the life of the battery, it also helps improve the performance."

Some Honda Civic hybrid drivers agree with Martin's stance, saying that software updates have improved their vehicle's mileage and pace. Joe Goldberg of Harrisburg, Pa. is one of the satisfied customers.

"I haven't really noticed a decrease in mileage," said Goldberg. "I don't lose the battery nearly as frequently as before."

Martin declined to comment on Honda's meetings with regulators, what the nationwide failure rates are for these batteries, and what it costs Honda to replace them under warranty. Though he did mention that these batteries are sold at a retail price of $2,100, not including shipping and installation, and that shortened battery life on these vehicles is due to "certain circumstances" such as using the air conditioning too much or driving in stop-and-go traffic.

shortened battery life on these vehicles is due to "certain circumstances" such as using the air conditioning too much or driving in stop-and-go traffic.