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2018 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid
Solid pick. The complaint record is strong for its age. It does carry safety recalls, so confirm every one shows "remedy completed" on the VIN before money changes hands.
130 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 17, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Fuel system problems dominate (29% of complaints).
The math, shown
Full methodology →Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
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 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Fuel system (38) · Engine (25) · Transmission & drivetrain (19) · Electrical system (17)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Fuel system
29%38 complaints · 17 in the last 2 years
“I received a letter in October 2024 about an inoperable fuel pump and a recall for the vehicle. However, after 3 months, the dealership does not have the fuel pump rep…”
Engine
19%25 complaints · 3 in the last 2 years
“Since fuel pump recall fix by dealership, “Emission System Problem” started appearing in my car due to the way fuel pump recall was fixed. They already attempted to fi…”
Transmission & drivetrain
15%19 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“When driving on the highway and car runs low on electric charge the engine revs up and the car slows down when changing to engine mode. When this happens, the car slow…”
Electrical system
13%17 complaints · 5 in the last 2 years
“The Day Time Running light on the left side of the car just stopped working. The DRL is not damage. I checked for impact marks.”
Recalls (1)
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.
Fuel System, Gasoline · 23V858000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.
Before you hand over money
Verify the recall work was done
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 2018 Honda CLARITY PLUG-IN HYBRID beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2018? See how every Clarity Plug-in Hybrid model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid 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.