2018 Honda CLARITY PLUG-IN HYBRID
Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report
Quick Summary
The 2018 Honda CLARITY PLUG-IN HYBRID has 196 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 3.1x the segment average of 64. The most common issue is fuel system problems (19% of all complaints), specifically: the hv (hybrid vehicle - gas) fuel range is wildly overinflated. the car has a 7 gallon tank so it should be about 300 miles on a full tank according to the epa estimate. however, it often shows in excess of 800 miles. this is eventually going to cause someone to run out of gas in a dangerous situat. There is 1 recall issued for this model year. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.
196
Total Complaints
1
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
3.1x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems(top 5 of 8)
FUEL SYSTEM
38 complaints- • THE HV (HYBRID VEHICLE - GAS) FUEL RANGE IS WILDLY OVERINFLATED. THE CAR HAS A 7 GALLON TANK SO IT SHOULD BE ABOUT 300 MILES ON A FULL TANK ACCORDING TO THE EPA ESTIMATE. HOWEVER, IT OFTEN SHOWS IN EXCESS OF 800 MILES. THIS IS EVENTUALLY GOING TO CAUSE SOMEONE TO RUN OUT OF GAS IN A DANGEROUS SITUAT
- • WHEN I BOUGHT THE CAR, I HAVE A HV RANGE OF 340 MILES WITHOUT EV RANGE. SO WHEN I GET HOME I STARTED TO CHARGE MY CAR. NEXT MORNING I HAVE ENOUGH EV TO TRAVEL TO WORK BUT IS NOT ENOUGH TO MAKE TO WORK SO I HAVE TO USE SOME OF THE HV RANGE. SO I CHARGE FROM HOME AND CHARGE FROM WORK AND THAT'S MY DAI
- • WITH DRIVING WITH A FULLY CHARGED BATTERY DRIVING IN ECON (EV) MODE, THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION (ICE) CAME ONLINE WHEN STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN. AFTER ACCELERATING, THE ICE STOPPED RUNNING AFTER A COUPLE OF MINUTES AND THE CAR RESUMED RUNNING IN EV MODE. THIS REPEATED SEVERAL TIMES, AND NOT ALWAYS WHEN
“THE HV (HYBRID VEHICLE - GAS) FUEL RANGE IS WILDLY OVERINFLATED. THE CAR HAS A 7 GALLON TANK SO IT SHOULD BE ABOUT 300 MILES ON A FULL TANK ACCORDING TO THE EPA ESTIMATE. HOWEVER, IT OFTEN SHOWS IN EXCESS OF 800 MILES. THIS IS EVENTUALLY GOING TO CAUSE SOMEONE TO RUN OUT OF GAS IN A DANGEROUS SITUAT”
— NHTSA complaint filing
When Problems Appear on the 2018 Honda CLARITY PLUG-IN HYBRID
Based on 97 owner complaints that included an odometer reading. Median mileage at time of complaint: 3K miles. Most complaints cluster in the 0-30K miles range.
ENGINE
TRANSMISSION
FUEL SYSTEM
ELECTRICAL
OTHER
SPEED CONTROL
Mileage figures are self-reported by owners in NHTSA complaint filings. Peak bucket = the mileage range with the most complaints for that component; it reflects when owners noticed and reported problems, not necessarily when the fault first occurred.
Recalls (1)
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.
Charging Cost Calculator for 2018 Honda CLARITY PLUG-IN HYBRID
Live EIA pricesBased on EPA fuel-economy ratings and EIA weekly retail prices (2026-07-20). Real-world cost varies with driving style, trim/engine, terrain, and traffic.
Estimated Insurance Cost for 2018 Honda CLARITY PLUG-IN HYBRID
How this estimate is calculated
Coverage assumed: 100/300/100 liability + comprehensive/collision, $500 deductibles. Data sources: NAIC 2024 + HLDI loss studies.
Maintenance & Warranty
Recommended Honda CLARITY PLUG-IN HYBRID Service Intervals
Maintenance Minder shows exact intervals based on your driving. CVT-equipped models (Civic, HR-V, Accord Hybrid) need CVT fluid service, not conventional ATF.
"Severe service" conditions (heavy towing, extreme temps, city stop-and-go) typically halve these intervals. Always consult your vehicle's owner's manual for the authoritative schedule.
Honda New-Vehicle Warranty Coverage
These are the terms for a new Honda. If you're buying a used 2018 CLARITY PLUG-IN HYBRID, remaining coverage is usually pro-rated from the vehicle's original in-service date. Not all coverage transfers between owners — check with a Honda dealer for VIN-specific remaining warranty.
EV Incentives for 2018 Honda CLARITY PLUG-IN HYBRID
Updated 2026-07Federal Tax Credit (Section 30D) — Expired 2025-09-30
Section 30D new clean vehicle credit ($7,500 max) expired for vehicles acquired after Sept 30, 2025 per Public Law (One Big Beautiful Bill Act). Vehicles acquired on or before that date remain eligible on the buyer's 2025 return. No federal purchase credit exists for post-9/30/2025 acquisitions.
State-Level Incentives (Still Active in 14 States)
Source: US Department of Energy Alternative Fuels Data Center + state DOR / DEQ program pages. Program details and eligibility limits change frequently — always verify with the linked source before purchase.
Estimated Repair Costs
Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.
🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist
Based on 196 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:
- ☐FUEL SYSTEM: THE HV (HYBRID VEHICLE - GAS) FUEL RANGE IS WILDLY OVERINFLATED. THE CAR HAS A 7 GALLON TANK SO IT SHOULD BE ABOUT 300 MILES ON A FULL TANK ACCORDING TO THE EPA ESTIMATE. HOWEVER, IT OFTEN SHOWS IN EXCESS OF 800 MILES. THIS IS EVENTUALLY GOING TO CAUSE SOMEONE TO RUN OUT OF GAS IN A DANGEROUS SITUAT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐ENGINE: I FILLED THE SEVEN GALLON GAS TANK YESTERDAY, AND THE DASHBOARD RANGE DISPLAY CALCULATED THE RANGE OF THE CAR ON GAS POWER AS 871 MILES. I HAVE BEEN DRIVEN MOSTLY ON ELECTRIC BATTERY POWER, BUT WITH ONLY SEVEN GALLONS OF GAS IN THE TANK, THAT RANGE IS ABSURD. NEW DRIVERS OF THE VEHICLES MIGHT BELIEV
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS: TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2018 HONDA CLARITY PLUG-IN HYBRID. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING AT 35 MPH, WHEN HE REAR-ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY AND THE FORWARD COLLISION WARNING FAILED TO ALERT THE CONTACT OF THE VEHICLE AHEAD. NO MEDICAL ATTENTION WAS RECEIVED. A POLICE REPORT WAS FIL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐TRANSMISSION: VEHICLE ENGINE RESPONDED TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL INPUT, BUT WOULD NOT TRAVEL AT GREATER THAN 25 MILES PER HOUR ON SLIGHT UPHILL. VEHICLE HAD BEEN STARTED AFTER BEING OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS. HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY WAS DRAINED AND VEHICLE WAS OPERATING EXCLUSIVELY ON GAS ENGINE. VEHICLE HAD BEEN I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
- ☐RECALLS: Verify all 1 recall have been completed — free at any Honda dealer
- ☐General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)
Honda CLARITY PLUG-IN HYBRID — Year Comparison
How does 2018 compare to other years? Fewer complaints = more reliable.
Full years-to-avoid analysis →NHTSA Safety Rating
No NHTSA safety rating available
At a Glance
- Complaints
- 196
- Recalls
- 1
- Fire reports
- 1
- Crash reports
- 14
- Injury reports
- 6
- Segment avg
- 64
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2018 Honda CLARITY PLUG-IN HYBRID