Honda plans to recall 45,335 Civic Hybrid sedans worldwide to repair a voltage converter defect that could stop the car's engine. The japan maker plans to recall 7,219 of the vehicles sold in Japan and another 38,116 sold overseas, mostly in the U.S.

Honda learned about the defect -- which could cause a short circuit that would stop the engine and prevent it from restarting -- from overseas reports, the company said in documents filed Thursday with the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The affected vehicles were manufactured between September 2005 and September 2006, they said.

Honda also plans to recall 72,597 Elysion minivans due to defective sliding door locks, according to separate documents filed Thursday with the ministry.