MajorCommonElectrical

Honda Fit: IMA battery cell imbalance & IMA warning light

IMA battery cell imbalance & IMA warning light is a common electrical fault on the Honda Fit on the 2007–2013 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $600 to $4,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. Below is what goes wrong, the symptoms to notice on a test drive, where to look, and what to ask the seller before you hand over any money. It is one of 42 documented faults on the Honda Fit.

Vehicle: Honda Fit
Years: 2007–2013
Fuel: hybrid
System: Electrical

This page covers the Honda Fit as a model. Some faults only affect particular engines or build years — enter a plate below to narrow the list to one car.

All Honda Fit faults42 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph for this fault yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of something else.

What goes wrong

The GE Jazz Hybrid uses a Ni-MH IMA battery pack consisting of multiple sub-packs wired in series. Individual cells degrade at different rates causing voltage imbalance between modules. The IMA ECU detects the imbalance and illuminates the IMA warning light, reduces or disables hybrid assist, and may force engine-only operation increasing fuel consumption significantly. Pack capacity commonly falls below 50 percent of original by 120,000 km. Cell reconditioning can restore function temporarily; full pack replacement is the definitive repair.

What you would notice

IMA warning light illuminated on dashboard
Hybrid assist reduced or absent during acceleration
Battery charge gauge fluctuating erratically
Noticeably increased fuel consumption versus original specification
Engine starting more frequently than expected at idle stops

How to check it

Where to look. IMA Ni-MH battery pack located under rear seat or behind rear seat backrest

Look for any cell deviating more than 0.2V from pack average.
Check IMA ECU fault codes P1447, P1449, P1568 and related battery fault codes.
Inspect battery ventilation duct condition for blockages that accelerate thermal degradation.
If a workshop inspection is possible: Connect Honda HDS or compatible OBD scanner and read IMA battery module voltages.

What it costs to put right

$600 to $4,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That is for this job on its own, not for the car.

An estimate, in NZD, for the repair as normally carried out. What a specific car costs depends on which part has failed and what it damaged on the way — treat this as the floor for a negotiation, not a quote.

Ask the seller

“Has the IMA warning light ever illuminated during ownership?”
“Has the IMA battery been reconditioned or replaced and when?”
“What is the current fuel economy compared to when the car was new?”

Now check the Honda Fit you are actually looking at

Everything above is true of the model, and it is free. What it does not tell you is whether THIS car has been looked after: its odometer history and whether the reading has ever gone backwards, whether there is still money owing on it, whether it has been reported stolen, how many owners it has had and what it is really worth today. That comes from the official records for that plate. Enter the plate for the free details, or get the full history and a market valuation from $13.49.

Not sure what you would be paying for? See what a full KickTyres check includes.

Where this comes from

The failure described above is documented in published sources — owner forums, technical service bulletins, recall notices and workshop write-ups — held in our fault database. The inspection instructions and the cost estimate are KickTyres’ own interpretation of them, and it is a starting point for an inspection rather than a manufacturer statement.

Honda Fit buyer questions

Is ima battery cell imbalance & ima warning light serious on a Honda Fit?

We rate it major and common on the Honda Fit. The GE Jazz Hybrid uses a Ni-MH IMA battery pack consisting of multiple sub-packs wired in series. Individual cells degrade at different rates causing voltage imbalance between modules. The IMA ECU detects the imbalance and illuminates the IMA warning light, reduces or disables hybrid assist, and may force engine-only operation increasing fuel consumption significantly. Pack capacity commonly falls below 50 percent of original by 120,000 km. Cell reconditioning can restore function temporarily; full pack replacement is the definitive repair.

How much does it cost to fix on a Honda Fit?

$600 to $4,000 at New Zealand independent workshop rates. That figure is for this job on its own. A car showing the symptoms on this page is usually worth either walking away from or negotiating down by at least the repair figure.

Which Honda Fit years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2007–2013 Honda Fit. Build dates move around, especially on imported cars, so treat the range as the years to look hardest at rather than a guarantee either way. The official records tell you the exact build and first registration date for the car in front of you.

How do I check for it before I buy?

Look for any cell deviating more than 0.2V from pack average. Check IMA ECU fault codes P1447, P1449, P1568 and related battery fault codes. Inspect battery ventilation duct condition for blockages that accelerate thermal degradation. If a workshop inspection is possible: Connect Honda HDS or compatible OBD scanner and read IMA battery module voltages. Look here: IMA Ni-MH battery pack located under rear seat or behind rear seat backrest