MajorCommonElectrical

Honda Jazz: GP Hybrid 12V Auxiliary Battery Failure Causing Complete No-Start

GP Hybrid 12V Auxiliary Battery Failure Causing Complete No-Start is a common electrical fault on the Honda Jazz on the 2013–2020 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $280 to $650 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 51 documented faults on the Honda Jazz.

Vehicle: Honda Jazz
Years: 2013–2020
Fuel: hybrid
Gearbox: dct
System: Electrical

This page covers the Honda Jazz 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 Jazz faults51 documented faults on this model

What you are looking at

No photograph available

We do not hold a verified photograph of the 12V battery yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

The GP-series Jazz Hybrid operates its high-voltage hybrid system, EPS, and all control modules from a conventional 12V lead-acid auxiliary battery separate from the traction battery pack. This 12V battery is smaller than a conventional petrol car battery (to fit the hybrid underbonnet layout) and has a shorter service life under the constant charge-discharge demands of the hybrid system's DC-DC converter cycling. When it fails, the vehicle will not start or power up at all regardless of the hybrid battery state of charge. Many owners are unaware this battery exists as a separate serviceable item.

What you would notice

Vehicle completely fails to power on when the start button is pressed — no dash lights, no response — despite the high-voltage hybrid battery showing charge
Repeated need for jump-starting or the car failing to start after sitting overnight even in mild temperatures
Erratic or slow EPS, ACC, or infotainment behaviour as the 12V battery voltage sags under load before complete failure

How to check it

Where to look. Under the bonnet, passenger side front, smaller than a conventional 12V battery

Ask when the 12V auxiliary battery was last replaced. Note: a flat 12V battery on a hybrid will prevent the entire system from powering up, so a car that needed a jump start is a strong indicator. If a workshop inspection is possible: On a vehicle over 4 years old, have the 12V battery load-tested with a battery analyser — a resting voltage of 12.4V or above does not guarantee health under load.

Parts involved: 12V battery.

What it costs to put right

$280 to $650 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 12V auxiliary battery ever been replaced, and do you have a record of when?”
“Has the car ever failed to start or required a jump start?”

Now check the Honda Jazz 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 Jazz buyer questions

Is gp hybrid 12v auxiliary battery failure causing complete no-start serious on a Honda Jazz?

We rate it major and common on the Honda Jazz. The GP-series Jazz Hybrid operates its high-voltage hybrid system, EPS, and all control modules from a conventional 12V lead-acid auxiliary battery separate from the traction battery pack. This 12V battery is smaller than a conventional petrol car battery (to fit the hybrid underbonnet layout) and has a shorter service life under the constant charge-discharge demands of the hybrid system's DC-DC converter cycling. When it fails, the vehicle will not start or power up at all regardless of the hybrid battery state of charge. Many owners are unaware this battery exists as a separate serviceable item.

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

$280 to $650 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 Jazz years are affected?

Our research records this fault on the 2013–2020 Honda Jazz. 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.