2018 Honda Clarity Electric

Closed defect petition · opened January 27, 2023 · closed August 7, 2023 · led to recall 22V063000

the electrical system

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.

crash · towed · 9,975 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HONDA CLARITY ELECTRIC. THE CONTACT STATED AFTER REVERSING INTO A PARKING SPACE AND SHIFTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE STARTED TO MOVE FORWARD AT 5 MPH ON ITS OWN COLLIDING WITH A POLE. THE CONTACT WAS ABLE TO DEPRESS THE BRAKE PEDAL TO STOP THE VEHICLE. THE CONTACT STATED NO AIR BAGS DEPLOYED, NO ONE WAS INJURED, AND NO POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO LOCAL DEALER FREEWAY HONDA (1505 AUTO MALL DR, SANTA ANA, CA 92705) WHERE THE FAILURE CAUSE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED. THEN THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CALIBER COLLISION (1620 E MCFADDEN AVE, SANTA ANA, CA 9270) TO DO THE BODY REPAIRS. THE VEHICLE HAD NOT BEEN …

NHTSA complaint 11316151, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

crash · towed · 21,000 miles

THE CAR STOPPED AND TURNED INTENSELY. *TR

NHTSA complaint 11325464. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

The vehicle exhibits a dangerous electrical defect involving uncontrolled power-cycling. After shutting down the car, it automatically restarts itself in a continuous loop. During these episodes, the dashboard flickers, the drivetrain shudders, and the vehicle becomes unresponsive to manual 'Stop' button or brake inputs. Most critically, the car autostarts while parked in an enclosed garage. As a Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), once the EV battery depletes, the internal combustion engine (ICE) engages automatically. This creates a life-threatening risk of Carbon Monoxide (CO) poisoning for residents in the connected home. A Honda dealership has professionally diagnosed the cause as a failure of the …

NHTSA complaint 11708588, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Since last Wed. (9/24/2025), the car started to show the warnings of "Adaptive Cruise Control Problem", "Brake Hold System Problem", "Brake System Problem", "Electric Parking Brake Problem", and "Road Departure Mitigation System Problem" from time to time. I bought this VHonda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid 2018 in June 2023 as the HoneTrue Certified. Then probably the same time, the car lose the EV mode by itself, and only drives in the gas mode. I found this issue and late manually changed it to EV mode. WHile then it again dropped the EV mode during the driving today (9/28/2025). When I tried to press the EV button, it shows "Drive Mode Change Unavailable"! After stopped at home, I re-started …

NHTSA complaint 11690222, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

The AC hasn't been out for a while and the defrost option doesn't work because of that. I believe that is a safety issue.

NHTSA complaint 11687181. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

The steering makes a horrible clunking sound, and is impercice/sloppy. Dealership refused to acknowledge any issue. Increased effort required to stay within lane. Tie rods are not damaged or worn, issue appears to be with steering rack as far as I can tell.

NHTSA complaint 11625285. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

I bought this car used with a governmental help from replace my ride program, since I bough the car form a dealer [XXX] ) within few days, I took it to the dealer twice for thermostat replacement and spark plugs. and recently, There was an extended warranty from Honda for the ac condenser as this car has a major problem with ac. I took it to the dealer Honda of Riverside, California and they told me, indeed your condenser needs replacement and the good news, In California, Honda has extended its warranty. Then, they said, but you need to replace your evaporator and I need to pay $2350.26 and they refused to replace the ac condenser under warranty without replacing the evaporator and paying …

NHTSA complaint 11601789, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AC working intermittently since the day I bought. Honda replaced the condenser but now the evaporator is leak. This caused the defrost can not work properly. The leaking condenser and the evaporator are well known problems for Clarity owners. Honda should recall this.

NHTSA complaint 11595039. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.