The 2006 Honda Civic Hybrid has 3 recalls, the most serious involving two separate electrical issues in the hybrid system that can expose a high-voltage terminal or damage the converter that powers the vehicle's 12-volt electrical components.
In the first electrical concern, weight from rear seat occupants can over time push a metal cover against a rubber cap protecting a high-voltage terminal, pinching the cap and leaving the terminal exposed. In the second, the DC-DC converter, which steps the hybrid battery's 158 volts down to 12 volts to run the car's standard electrical systems, may have been damaged before assembly and can fail to supply that power reliably. On the steering side, the electric power steering system can lose its assist without warning, making the wheel significantly harder to turn at low speeds and raising the risk of a crash.