Honda GP2: common faults & what to check

Which Honda GP2 are you looking at?

Pick the year and the engine. The faults below narrow to that exact combination, because a 1.8 and a 2.4 of the same car do not fail the same way. Free, no account needed.

Start your free check on this Honda GP2

No plate needed. You get the risk score, the buyer's checklist and the guided inspection for the exact car you picked above — not the whole nameplate.

The checks worth doing on a Honda GP2 before you hand over any money. Every documented fault is listed below, each with its own page.

• Costly issue

  Request a hybrid battery diagnostic scan showing individual cell voltages and state-of-charge balance across all modules.

  See why

  Hybrid Battery Cell Imbalance Causing Assist Failure

  Individual lithium-ion cells within the GP7/GP8 hybrid traction battery develop unequal state-of-charge over accumulated mileage. The battery management system progressively restricts motor assist as cell imbalance worsens, ultimately disabling hybrid drive entirely. Cold weather and high mileage accelerate cell degradation. Grey imports commonly arrive with no documented battery health history, making the fault undetectable without diagnostic scanning of individual cell voltages.

  What you would notice

  • Hybrid or IMA system warning light illuminated on dashboard
  • Reduced or completely absent electric motor assist at low speeds
  • Vehicle reverts to petrol-only operation unexpectedly
  • Hybrid battery charge gauge fluctuating erratically or pinned at one extreme
  • Noticeable and progressive drop in fuel economy

  Typically $1,200–$5,500 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Conduct a test drive starting from a fully cold engine and apply light throttle acceleration between 10 and 40 km/h.

  See why

  CVT Belt Judder Under Light Throttle from Cold Start

  The steel push-belt CVT fitted to petrol GK8 and GK9 Shuttle variants exhibits belt-to-pulley slippage judder when applying light throttle during cold start warm-up. The push-belt loses adequate traction against the drive and driven pulleys until CVT fluid reaches full operating temperature, producing a shudder or vibration transmitted through the floor and seat. Degraded or contaminated CVT fluid from infrequent service intervals significantly worsens the condition. Grey imports frequently arrive with unknown CVT fluid change history, making this fault common on higher-mileage examples.

  What you would notice

  • Shudder or vibration felt through floor and seat during light-throttle take-off
  • Judder most pronounced within the first five to ten minutes after a cold start
  • Vibration diminishes or disappears completely once CVT fluid reaches operating temperature
  • Slipping sensation when accelerating gently at low speed in traffic

  Typically $220–$4,800 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Connect a Honda-compatible scanner and read IMA battery cell voltage spread.

  See why

  IMA NiMH Traction Battery Cell Degradation

  The GP2 Fit Shuttle uses Honda's Integrated Motor Assist (IMA) system with a NiMH traction battery pack. Individual battery cells lose capacity unevenly with age, causing the IMA system to reduce assist capability and eventually display the IMA battery warning light. Severe degradation requires battery replacement or individual cell rebuilding.

  What you would notice

  • IMA battery warning light illuminated on instrument cluster, often appearing at high mileage
  • Reduced fuel economy as combustion engine compensates for reduced electric assist

  Typically $1,500–$4,000 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Check battery manufacture date on the label; replacement every 3–4 years is recommended in NZ conditions.

  See why

  12V auxiliary battery drain causing IMA fault

  The GP2 Fit Shuttle Hybrid uses Honda's first-generation IMA (Integrated Motor Assist) system, which requires a separate 12V lead-acid auxiliary battery to power the hybrid control module, body control module, and ancillary electronics. Unlike full hybrid architectures, the IMA system does not robustly top-charge the 12V battery from the main NiMH high-voltage pack under all operating conditions. Frequent short trips and extended city driving leave the 12V battery in a chronic partial-discharge state. When the auxiliary battery drops below the voltage threshold required to initialise the IMA control module, the system triggers an IMA fault and disables hybrid motor assist, reverting to petrol-only operation. The 12V battery is commonly overlooked during standard hybrid servicing.

  What you would notice

  • IMA warning light illuminated on instrument cluster
  • Loss of electric motor assist — petrol engine only operation
  • Difficulty starting or vehicle fails to start
  • Multiple warning lights appearing simultaneously across systems
  • Fault codes that clear temporarily but return within days

  Typically $280–$750 to put right.

• Costly issue

  With vehicle raised, grasp front wheel at 6 and 12 o clock and rock — vertical play indicates bearing wear.

  See why

  Front Lower Control Arm Ball Joint Wear

  Front lower arm ball joints wear causing clunking on rough surfaces. Joint wear is accelerated on vehicles used for frequent short urban trips with high steering lock inputs.

  What you would notice

  • Clunking from front suspension over bumps and speed humps
  • Handling imprecision and vague steering feel when cornering

  Typically $350–$700 to put right.

• Costly issue

  Connect Honda Techstream-compatible scanner and look for IMA motor resolver codes.

  See why

  L13A IMA Motor Resolver Sensor Fault

  The IMA electric motor resolver sensor tracks motor rotor position for precise torque control. Sensor degradation causes the IMA system to detect position errors, resulting in reduced assist, error codes, and in some cases the IMA system disabling entirely and entering charge-only mode.

  What you would notice

  • IMA warning light with reduced or absent electric motor assist
  • IMA system entering charge-only mode where the motor never provides drive assistance

  Typically $900–$3,000 to put right.

What these repairs cost on other cars

Some of the Honda GP2’s documented faults are repairs other models share. Each page lists the documented NZ cost for every model it affects.

• Hybrid Battery Replacement Cost
• CVT Gearbox Repair Cost

Other Honda models