MajorCommonElectrical

Honda Freed: IMA Battery NiMH Cell Degradation

IMA Battery NiMH Cell Degradation is a common electrical fault on the Honda Freed on the 2011–2016 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $1,500 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 23 documented faults on the Honda Freed.

Vehicle: Honda Freed
Years: 2011–2016
Fuel: hybrid
Gearbox: cvt
System: Electrical

This page covers the Honda Freed 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 Freed faults23 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 Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) battery pack in the GP3 Freed Hybrid uses a stack of NiMH sub-cells arranged in series modules. Individual cells develop voltage imbalances over time as their capacity diverges, which prevents the battery management system from maintaining a healthy state of charge and triggers the IMA warning light. Once cell divergence is severe enough, the hybrid assist system deactivates entirely and the vehicle reverts to conventional petrol-only operation, significantly increasing fuel consumption and engine load.

What you would notice

IMA warning light illuminated on instrument panel
Loss of hybrid motor assist under acceleration
Erratic or rapidly depleting battery charge gauge
Reduced fuel economy compared to rated figures

How to check it

Where to look. Rear cargo floor, beneath load board behind rear seat

Scan for active DTCs including P1447, P1449, and P1568.
Check for illuminated IMA and check engine warning lights on the instrument cluster.
Request service history for any prior IMA battery replacement or BCM software updates.
Test drive to confirm hybrid assist gauge activity and observe whether the battery bar depletes rapidly under light acceleration.

What it costs to put right

$1,500 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 battery ever been replaced, and is there documentation?”
“Are any warning lights currently active on the dashboard?”
“What is the current real-world fuel economy compared to the rated figure?”
“Has any hybrid battery reconditioning or software reflash been performed?”

Now check the Honda Freed 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 Freed buyer questions

Is ima battery nimh cell degradation serious on a Honda Freed?

We rate it major and common on the Honda Freed. The Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) battery pack in the GP3 Freed Hybrid uses a stack of NiMH sub-cells arranged in series modules. Individual cells develop voltage imbalances over time as their capacity diverges, which prevents the battery management system from maintaining a healthy state of charge and triggers the IMA warning light. Once cell divergence is severe enough, the hybrid assist system deactivates entirely and the vehicle reverts to conventional petrol-only operation, significantly increasing fuel consumption and engine load.

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

$1,500 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 Freed years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2011–2016 Honda Freed. 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?

Scan for active DTCs including P1447, P1449, and P1568. Check for illuminated IMA and check engine warning lights on the instrument cluster. Request service history for any prior IMA battery replacement or BCM software updates. Test drive to confirm hybrid assist gauge activity and observe whether the battery bar depletes rapidly under light acceleration. Look here: Rear cargo floor, beneath load board behind rear seat