Potential Hazards
Honda hybrids do not present any unusual hazards. The vehicles have performed well in standard crash tests, with no damage to high-voltage components in front, side, or rear impacts.
FLAMMABLE FLUIDS
Gasoline-electric hybrids have the same potential fire and explosion hazards as conventional vehicles. (See model-specific for flammable fluid capacities.)
UNDEPLOYED AIRBAGS AND TENSIONERS
All Honda hybrids have front airbags and front seat belt tensioners. The Civic and Accord also have side airbags for front-seat occupants, and the Accord is equipped with side curtain airbags as well. These systems all use pyrotechnic devices with a deactivation time up to 3 minutes.
Being struck at close range by a deploying front or side airbag, or cutting into an unactivated inflator, can result in moderate to severe injuries. Injuries can also result from contact with a deploying side curtain airbag, or having a seat belt tensioner activate unexpectedly.
To reduce the risk of injury during the deactivation period, we recommend the following:
- Keep out of the path of an undeployed front airbag, and do not cut into the center of the steering wheel or dashboard where the front airbags are stored.
- Do not cut into the rear (C) pillar on the Accord Hybrid where the side curtain inflator is stored.
You should also be aware that extreme heat (320-356°F; 160-180°C) can cause unintended airbag inflation.
ELECTRIC SHOCK POTENTIAL
Unprotected contact with any electrically charged (hot or live) high-voltage component can cause serious injury or death. However, receiving an electric shock from a Honda hybrid is highly unlikely because of these facts:
- Contact with the battery module or other components inside the battery box can occur only if the box is damaged and the contents are exposed, or the box is opened without following proper precautions.
- Contact with the electric motor can occur only after one or more components are removed.
- The high-voltage cables can be easily identified by their distinctive orange color, and contact with them can be avoided.
It's also important to understand that there are only two situations in which the cables can potentially be hot in a Honda Insight or a Civic Hybrid:
1. The ignition switch is on, the engine is running, and the vehicle is accelerating. In this case, the high-voltage battery module is sending current to the motor.
2. The ignition switch is on, the engine is running, and the vehicle is decelerating. In this case, the motor is generating electric current and sending it to the battery module.
With the Accord Hybrid, there is a third situation in which the cables can be hot.
3. The ignition switch is on, the engine has been turned off by the Auto Idle Stop feature, and the air conditioner is on. In this case, the high-voltage battery module is sending current to the air conditioner compressor.
The only condition common to all three situations in which the cables can be hot is that the ignition is on. Therefore: When the ignition switch is off, electric current cannot flow into the high-voltage cables.
HIGH-VOLTAGE BATTERY ELECTROLYTE
Small quantities of a highly alkaline liquid electrolyte, which is corrosive to human tissue, are used in the manufacture of the high-voltage battery cells. However, in the finished cells, electrolyte is non-liquid and sealed in a metal case, and any leakage would be extremely rare.
Moreover, the electrolyte is non-flammable, non-explosive, and creates no hazardous fumes or vapors in normal operating conditions.
12-VOLT BATTERY ELECTROLYTE
Any hazards from contact with the 12-volt battery electrolyte are the same as those with batteries in conventional passenger vehicles.