MajorCommonTransmission

Honda Jazz: i-DCD Hill-Start Stall and Creep Stall

i-DCD Hill-Start Stall and Creep Stall is a common transmission fault on the Honda Jazz on the 2014–2021 cars, and we rate it major. Putting it right costs $0 to $6,500 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: 2014–2021
Fuel: hybrid
Gearbox: dct
System: Transmission

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 Clutch yet. We would rather show none than show a picture of a different part.

What goes wrong

Distinct from general low-speed judder, the Jazz hybrid's i-DCD system can abruptly stall the petrol engine when the driver attempts to creep forward in heavy traffic, manoeuvre slowly in a car park, or hold on a slight uphill gradient at idle throttle. The dual-clutch's engagement logic struggles to balance the transition between electric motor creep torque and clutch slip torque, resulting in an unexpected stall that requires a restart. Honda's TSB software updates improved the electric motor fill-in strategy but stalls still occur in the worst-affected units.

What you would notice

Engine cuts out suddenly during slow-speed manoeuvring or hill-start attempts with light throttle
Requires key-off restart after stall; does not restart automatically in some firmware versions
Jerky or hesitant behaviour when transitioning from brake hold to creep at low gradient
Error message or warning tone on the MID before stall in later-firmware versions
Issue more pronounced when the battery state of charge is low and EV creep torque is limited

How to check it

Where to look. Drivetrain — i-DCD dual-clutch and integrated motor/generator unit, controlled by PCM/TCM

On a slight uphill gradient, release the brake with zero throttle and allow the car to creep — observe whether the engine stalls. Also test slow manoeuvring in a car park at walking pace with minimal throttle. Confirm the PCM and TCM are on the latest Honda software calibration version by checking with a Honda dealer using HDS.

Parts involved: Clutch.

What it costs to put right

$0 to $6,500 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 car ever stalled unexpectedly in slow traffic, in a car park, or during a hill start?”
“Has a Honda dealer confirmed the latest i-DCD transmission software calibration has been applied?”
“After any stalls, was a diagnostic code stored — and if so, what was the dealer's diagnosis?”

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 i-dcd hill-start stall and creep stall serious on a Honda Jazz?

We rate it major and common on the Honda Jazz. Distinct from general low-speed judder, the Jazz hybrid's i-DCD system can abruptly stall the petrol engine when the driver attempts to creep forward in heavy traffic, manoeuvre slowly in a car park, or hold on a slight uphill gradient at idle throttle. The dual-clutch's engagement logic struggles to balance the transition between electric motor creep torque and clutch slip torque, resulting in an unexpected stall that requires a restart. Honda's TSB software updates improved the electric motor fill-in strategy but stalls still occur in the worst-affected units.

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

$0 to $6,500 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 2014–2021 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.