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Honda e:HEV / i-MMD vs Honda IMA híbrido: which engine is more reliable?

According to our risk index, the Honda IMA híbrido carries less risk than the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD: 21/100 (low risk) versus 34/100 (moderate risk). The Honda e:HEV / i-MMD has 2 documented serious faults, the main one being «Cracked high-pressure fuel pump (Honda campaign 6YP)»; the Honda IMA híbrido has 1 documented serious fault, the main one being «IMA hybrid system DC/DC converter failure with engine stall (Civic Hybrid 2005-2006)».

Risk index

Honda e:HEV / i-MMD

34

Moderate risk · 2 serious faults

Risk index

Honda IMA híbrido

21

Low risk · 1 serious fault

Lower risk

The index (0–100) weights the severity and frequency of the three most serious documented faults. How it is calculated

17 sourcesHow we work

Is the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD reliable?

The Honda e:HEV hybrid system (formerly i-MMD) has no serious, widespread faults documented in the sources consulted. The most cited issue is the 12 V battery going flat when the car stands unused and, on the 2.0, a recall for the high-pressure fuel pump.[1][2][3]

See the 3 of the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD faults

Is the Honda IMA híbrido reliable?

Honda's IMA hybrid system (Insight II, Jazz Hybrid, CR-Z and Civic Hybrid) has a good reputation for reliability in the British press, and its documented weak point is the ageing of the high-voltage battery, which turns on the IMA warning light. There were also two one-off campaigns: the DC/DC converter on the 2006 Civic Hybrid and the CR-Z software.[4][5][6]

See the 3 of the Honda IMA híbrido faults

Side-by-side comparison

Comparison of Honda e:HEV / i-MMD and Honda IMA híbrido
Honda e:HEV / i-MMDHonda IMA híbrido
Technical data
TypeEngineEngine
FuelPetrolPetrol
Displacement——
TimingChainChain
Power109–184 hp88–132 hp
Productionsince 2018[1][7]1999–2016[5][8][9][10][11]
Reliability
Risk index (what is it?)34Moderate risk21Low risk
Documented faults33
Of high or critical severity21
Worst severityHigh severityHigh severity
Main faults
  1. High severity: Cracked high-pressure fuel pump (Honda campaign 6YP)
  2. High severity: Faulty fuel pump impeller on the 2019-2020 CR-V hybrid (Honda 6FE campaign)
  3. Low severity: 12 V battery going flat and hybrid system failing to start
  1. Medium severity: High-voltage IMA battery degradation and IMA warning light on
  2. High severity: IMA hybrid system DC/DC converter failure with engine stall (Civic Hybrid 2005-2006)
  3. Medium severity: CR-Z IMA hybrid system software: the car may move when the engine stalls
Most expensive documented repairup to €25012 V battery going flat and hybrid system failing to startPublished figure[1]No reliable data
Which versions to buy
BuyRecommended versions
  • e:HEV 1.5 (LEB-H5) 109-131 hp system output (Jazz IV, HR-V III)[1][7]
  • 1.3 i-VTEC IMA 98 (LDA-MF6 / LDA3, Insight II, 2009-2014)[5][6]
  • 1.3 i-VTEC IMA (LDA-MF6 / LDA3, Jazz Hybrid, 2011-2015)[5][12][13]
  • 1.5 i-VTEC IMA 132 (LEA1, CR-Z with lithium-ion battery, 2013-2016)[11][14]
With cautionVersions to be cautious about
  • i-MMD 2.0 184 hp system output (CR-V V hybrid)[1][2]
  • e:HEV 2.0 184 hp system output (Civic XI)[2][15]
  • 1.3 i-DSI IMA 110 (LDA-MF5 / LDA2, Civic Hybrid VIII, 2006-2011)[4][16][17]
  • 1.5 i-VTEC IMA 123 (LEA1 / LEA-MF6, CR-Z with NiMH battery, 2010-2012)[4][11][14]
AvoidVersions to avoidNoneNone

Severity of each fault: green, low; amber, medium; red, high; dark red, critical. How we rate them

Cars that each one is fitted to

Honda e:HEV / i-MMD

Honda IMA híbrido

Other comparisons

With the Honda e:HEV / i-MMD

With the Honda IMA híbrido

Compare other engines

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Sources

Every fact on this page links to its source. If you find an error, let us know.

  1. Sistema híbrido Honda e:HEV (i-MMD): problemas, fiabilidad y coches que lo llevanMotordex · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026 · in Spanish
  2. Honda recalls 1.3 million cars: fuel pump fire risk (KBA 14559R)Car-Recalls.eu · Motoring press · published 17 March 2025 · consulted 29 October 2026
  3. Fiabilité Honda HR-V (2022): pannes et témoignagesFiches-auto.fr · Motoring press · consulted 30 October 2026 · in French
  4. DVSA – base de llamadas a revisiónDVSA (Reino Unido) · Official body · consulted 8 October 2026
  5. Used Honda Insight Mk2 buying guideDrivingElectric · Motoring press · published 24 October 2019 · consulted 8 October 2026
  6. Honda Insight (2009 - 2014) used car reviewRAC · Motoring press · published 13 February 2015 · consulted 8 October 2026
  7. Honda LEB-H5 (1.5 i-MMD e:HEV): experiencias, problemas, consumo y consejos de compraAutohints · Technical documentation · consulted 29 October 2026 · in Spanish
  8. Integrated Motor AssistWikipedia · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  9. Honda L engineWikipedia · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  10. Honda CR-ZWikipedia · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026
  11. Used Honda CR-Z buying guideDrivingElectric · Motoring press · published 31 October 2022 · consulted 8 October 2026
  12. Fiabilité et pannes Honda Jazz 2 (2008-2015)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  13. Honda JazzWikipedia (DE) · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German
  14. Used Honda CR-Z reviewAuto Express · Motoring press · published 14 August 2016 · consulted 8 October 2026
  15. Guide d'achat Honda Civic (nueva campaña 6YP, 4.740 híbridos en Francia)L'argus · Motoring press · published 7 January 2025 · consulted 29 October 2026 · in French
  16. Fiabilité et pannes Honda Civic (2006-2011)Fiches-auto.fr · Other source · consulted 8 October 2026 · in French
  17. Honda Civic 8 (2005-2011): alle bekannten Probleme & KrankheitenGebrauchtwagenberater.de · Motoring press · published 22 September 2024 · consulted 8 October 2026 · in German