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2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell
Limited data: few reports on file, read the verdict loosely
Too few owner complaints are on file to affirm this car. Treat it as unproven, not endorsed, and lean hard on a professional pre-purchase inspection.
3 owner complaints · 3 recalls · data verified July 17, 2026 · source: NHTSA
What the record shows so far
Only 3 owner complaints on file for this exact model year, too few to judge long-term reliability. Treat this as unproven, not endorsed, and lean on a professional inspection.
The math, shown
Full methodology →How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
NHTSA crash-tested this model year but didn’t publish an overall star rating for it.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, plotted where owners report it happening.
Equipment
67%2 complaints
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HONDA CLARITY FUEL CELL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V315000 (EQUIPMENT) AND STATED THAT THE MA…”
Fuel system
33%1 complaints
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HONDA CLARITY FUEL CELL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE FUEL SYSTEM INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DUBLIN HONDA (…”
Steering
33%1 complaints
“THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT 10 MINS. RETURN TO CAR AND START IT. THE 'POWER MANAGEMENT' WARNING DISPLAYED. FOLLOWING WITH BRAKE SYSTEM, TPMS, ELECTRIC POWER STEERING,…”
Electrical system
33%1 complaints
“THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT 10 MINS. RETURN TO CAR AND START IT. THE 'POWER MANAGEMENT' WARNING DISPLAYED. FOLLOWING WITH BRAKE SYSTEM, TPMS, ELECTRIC POWER STEERING,…”
Recalls (3)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Equipment · 19V315000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Clarity Fuel Cell vehicles. Internal components may corrode and cause the water pump to fail.
Risk: A failure of the water pump can cause the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began June 10, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is L4N.
Electrical System · 18V921000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Clarity Fuel Cell vehicles previously repaired under recall 18V-068. The previous software remedy may have been incomplete. As a result, the fuel cell control unit (FC-ECU) may misinterpret a small cell voltage drop, causing the vehicle to have a partial or complete loss of power.
Risk: A loss of power can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda has notified owners, and dealers will update the FC-ECU software, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is A3O.
Electrical System · 18V068000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017 Clarity Fuel Cell vehicles. The fuel cell control unit (FC-ECU) may misinterpret a small cell voltage drop, causing the vehicle to have reduced, or a complete loss of, power.
Risk: A loss of power can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install a software update, free of charge. The recall began February 28, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is R0L.
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2017 Honda CLARITY FUEL CELL beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2017? See how every Clarity Fuel Cell model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.