I am leasing a 2009 Honda Civic Hybrid. I have had the car since June 2009, and just this past Saturday, for no apparent reason, the IMA Light comes on (yellow IMA light at the bottom left of the main dash, with a yellow pic of an engine below it). I have not noticed any significant loss in power when accellerating (not that there was much to lose in the first place!). Manual says to take it to dealer ASAP. What is this??

 

The IMA (Integrated Motor Assist- electric motor and 158V battery systems) threw a fault code- could be a number of different reasons. You can retrieve and reset the code with an OBD-II scanner, or simply take it to the dealer where they will do it for you. If the IMA is still providing assist and charge functionality then it shouldn't be a big issue, and any repair should be completely covered under warranty.

 

My IMA light came on and the dealer found that several cells in the IMA battery had died. I needed a new one (covered by warranty). Take it to the dealer ASAP!

 

This is not the first time I've heard this problem come up... Starting to make me a little nervous!