What 24 owners told NHTSA about the 2018 Honda Clarity Electric

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 Body Control Module (BCM). This module failure also causes the anti-theft alarm to trigger uncontrollably and renders the keyless entry system inoperable. This defect turned the vehicle into a life-safety hazard in a residential setting. Visual documentation of the uncontrolled power-cycling and dashboard flickering can be viewed at: [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11708588

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 the car, I can change it to EV mode.

NHTSA ODI 11690222

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 ODI 11687181

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 ODI 11625285

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 that much of money. I called Honda for help (goodwill) and after about a month (without having my car and many emails and phone call and time and efforts) Honda final response was "sorry, you have high mileage" Case [XXX] I really need your help to protect me from them. Thank you [XXX] [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI 11601789

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 ODI 11595039

AC evaporator leaks under normal usage and low mileage.

NHTSA ODI 11585619

The A/C isn't working (AGAIN!) this time due to a leak in the A/C evaporator. The dealership just replaced the condensor 7 mos ago and now the evaporator is bad. Honda's whole A/C seems to be a problem for everyone.

NHTSA ODI 11583345

I received a notice in the mail last YEAR stating that there was a problem with fuel pump in Honda Clarity and there would be a recall. I cannot get my car serviced. Honda will not respond. A dealer said not safe to drive. And they said they have no idea if they will even have parts this YEAR. Help please.

NHTSA ODI 11578115

Despite what your website says, there is a recall on this car - for the fuel pump. Honda has sent notice of the recall but they have NO parts and NO timeline for the repair. The dealer advised me not "to drive long distances" in the car - that is not an acceptable resolution. Also, I asked the dealer if they could narrow down part availability to "weeks, months or years" and they told me they could not.

NHTSA ODI 11572190

A/C system has gone out for the third time on the Honda Clarity. This is a safety issue in Minnesota due to windshield fogging during the winter. The A/C system is used to dry the cabin air and prevent fogging. Honda had an extended warranty on the A/C condenser, however, now the A/C evaporator is failing under the same conditions. Dealer wants $2832 to repair.

NHTSA ODI 11563333

I was driving straight, no objects in my way, 100 yards behind the car in front of me, and the car automatically breaked with the brake sign flashing on the dash and dinging, bringing me to almost a full stop without my ability to control the car. I had been going ~50mph. It was jarring. I lurched forward, bags and anything on seats flew off. The car behind me almost hit me. There was no reason for the stop. The car has NEVER done this before. I drive 500 miles per week commuting.

NHTSA ODI 11555399

The vehicle's air condition has been broke down three times. It is leaking freon every where. It costs me $826 to fix the problems. The extended warranty only cover part of the issue. The Honda should cover all the freon leaking related problem.

NHTSA ODI 11524743

The infotainment display camera combination is the worst system in any vehicle I’ve seen that has these installed. If it is daylight the screen is nearly impossible to see anything plainly. Someone is going to back into other vehicles or people. This occurs every day the car is used and backed up while the sun is up.

NHTSA ODI 11517949

The engine revs very high and the car dramatically slows down. This has happened three times (including today) in the two years I have owned the car. Once was extremely dangerous as it happened on an Interstate highway when traffic was at highway speeds. We were able to avoid getting in an accident though. Why is there no recall for this common problem with this car?

NHTSA ODI 11513787

While driving home at night I exited the 60 Freeway and turned right to go up a hill. The car would not move forward and I had to pull over. I noticed the battery indicator had 1 bar on it and the engine revved but the car would not go. After waiting the battery got recharged and we were able to complete our trip. I believe we were at risk due to the car slowing so suddenly it could have resulted in being rear ended. The car has not been taken yet to a dealer for this issue or been inspected by anyone. There were no warning lights or sounds from the car. This is second time this has happened in similar circumstances.

NHTSA ODI 11495376

The car suddenly suspends LCAS, ACC (all related with camera located on the windshield) emergency breaking system on the road without any warning causing dangerous situation for me. I had couple of times a probability of severe accidents.

NHTSA ODI 11495074

all four doors will not lock and unlock. the power door motors do not function properly.

NHTSA ODI 11446328

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2018 HONDA CLARITY. THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING AT 45 MPH, THE RPM'S REVVED UP ABNORMALLY. THE CONTACT ASSOCIATED THE FAILURE WITH THE VEHICLE RUNNING OUT OF ELECTRICAL VEHICLE RANGE. THE CONTACT STATED NO WARNING LIGHT WAS ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO CHARLIE'S HONDA (448 WESTERN AVE, AUGUSTA, ME 04330) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH NO FAILURE. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT HE HAD THE TRANSMISSION FLUID CHANGED HOWEVER, THE FAILURE OCCURRED. THE MANUFACTURER HAD NOT BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 60,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.

NHTSA ODI 11397702

THE CAR STOPPED AND TURNED INTENSELY. *TR

NHTSA ODI 11325464

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 REPAIRED AS OF YET. THE MANUFACTURER HAD BEEN INFORMED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 9,975. *LN THE CONSUMER STATED PRIOR TO THIS INCIDENT THE VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED CRASH WHERE THE VEHICLE WAS REARENDED. THERE WAS A POLICE REPORT FILED. THE CONSUMER PICKED THE VEHICLE UP FROM BEING REPAIRED THE DAY BEFORE STRIKING THE POLE. *JS *BF*JB

NHTSA ODI 11316151

VEHICLE'S SAFETY FEATURES (BRAKE ASSIST AND/OR COLLISION MITIGATION BRAKING SYSTEM) WILL ACTIVATE EITHER EXCESSIVELY OR OCCASIONALLY WHEN THERE IS NO OBSTRUCTION WHATSOEVER. THE FULL FORCE BRAKING IN TRAFFIC FOR NO APPARENT REASON COULD EASILY CAUSE ANOTHER VEHICLE TO CRASH INTO MINE.

NHTSA ODI 11268550

NO SPARE TIRE PROVIDED. ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE PROMISED BY HONDA WAITING TIME HAPPENED MORE THAN 4 HOURS. THIS IS POTENTIALLY DANGER WHILE WAITING FOR ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE FROM HONDA AND IT DOESN'T HAVE SPARE TIRE. SINCE ITS NEW CAR PURCHASE, HONDA PROMISED THEY FREELY PROVIDE FIRST THREE YEARS ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE. MY RECENT TRAVEL GOT TIRE FLATTENED FRONT ONE PASSENGER SIDE. TOWING TO HONDA DEALER LATER FOUND TIRE WAS NOT REPAIRABLE ( MIEAGE AT THAT TIME 3000, 3 MONTHS OLD) . MY SUSPECT TIRE STRENGTH VS VEHICLE WEIGHT. 2) THE PEDALING SPACE FOR FOOT PLACEMENT WAS VERY NARROW WHILE PUTTING FOOT ON GAS /ACCELERATOR PEDAL AND INFACT UPPER PORTION OF FOOT IS TOUCHING /STRUCK WITH TOP OF COMPARTMENT CHANMBER IN THAT AREA. THIS IS SERIOUS ISSUE IF SHOE GETS STRUCK WHILE PEDALING. 3) WHILE SEAT HEIGHT ADJUSTED THE HEAD OF THE DRIVER AND ROOF ARE ALMOST TOUCHING. ITS VERY NARROW SPACE BETWEEN HEAD OF THE DRIVER AND ROOF. WHAT HAPPENS IF AN ACCIDENT , NOT SURE HOW SAFETY WITH THIS ISSUE?

NHTSA ODI 11192999

WHILE PARKED IN MY DRIVEWAY I RECEIVED A NUMBER OF ERROR MESSAGES WHEN I STARTED THE CAR. CAR IS NOW AT HONDA DEALER SINCE 4/5/2018. I WAS TOLD THE LARGE BATTERY NEEDS TO BE REPLACED AND IT IS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE THE CAR. DEALER UNABLE TO GIVE ME AN ETA ON THE BATTERY. MANY OTHER OWNERS ARE EXPERIENCING THESE SIMILAR ERROR CODES.

NHTSA ODI 11088371