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 2.5x the segment average of 80. 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. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.
196
Total Complaints
0
Recalls Issued
—/5
Safety Stars
2.5x
vs Segment Avg
Known Problems
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
ENGINE
25 complaints- • 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
- • 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
- • ALTHOUGH CAR LESS THAN ONE WEEK OLD AND UNDER 470 MILES, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AFTER STARTING THE CAR: ENGINE SYSTEM PROBLEM, BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEM, ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM, ROAD DEPARTURE MITIGATION SYSTEM PROBLEM. TURNING
“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”
— NHTSA complaint filing
DRIVER ASSIST/CAMERAS
20 complaints- • 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
- • My family has noticed several incidents involving the sensitivity of the FCWS. In most incidents we are accelerating or coasting towards a car that is making a turn and there is plenty of time and space for the driver to conduct their turn. The system will cause the car to shudder and brake and limi
- • The software in the car dashboard randomly pops errors like - road departure mitigation, brake system, brake hold system problems, etc. This has happened many times this year. I have taken it to the dealership to get fixed a couple of times (most recently on July 16 2022). They say they have reset t
“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”
— NHTSA complaint filing
TRANSMISSION
19 complaints- • 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
- • ON STEEP INCLINE THIS VEHICLE ROLLED VIOLENTLY BACKWARDS WHEN I RELEASED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE EVEN WHEN I APPLIED GAS TO BRING IT FORWARD HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS AS TO THIS VEHICLES SAFETY ON STEEP HILLS OR INCLINES ALSO THE AIR VENT ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD IS VERY SHORT AT TIMES ITS DIFFICULT TO KEEP TH
- • I HAVE ONLY HAD THE CAR 2 MONTHS, BUT TWICE SO FAR, WHILE TRAVELING DOWNHILL AT 45 MPH, THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV TO ITS REDLINE AND THERE WAS NO POWER TO ACCELERATE IN HV MODE. THIS WAS QUITE DANGEROUS IN ONE INSTANCE AS I WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE ONTO A HIGHWAY.
“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”
— NHTSA complaint filing
OTHER
18 complaints- • THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER USES PAST DRIVING HISTORY AND FUEL STATE (AMONG POSSIBLY OTHER DATA) TO CALCULATE AN EXTIMATED HV RANGE SO THAT THE DRIVER CAN KNOW APPROXIMATELY HOW FAR THE VEHICLE CAN SAFELY TRAVEL BEFORE NEEDING TO REFUEL AND/OR RECHARGE. THIS FUNCTION IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY ON MY VEHICL
- • I HAVE DRIVEN THE CLARITY FOR 4 MONTHS. THIS HAS HAPPENED THREE TIMES IN HEAVY TRAFFIC WITH HONDA SENSING TURNED OFF AND NO CRUISE CONTROL. IF I AM FOLLOWING THE CAR AHEAD CLOSELY AND THE VEHICLE AHEAD SLOWS DOWN , BUT NOT ENOUGH FOR AN ACCIDENT, THE CLARITY STOPS UNNECESSARILY QUICKLY, SCARING M
- • AT THE TIME OF THE OCCURRENCE THE VEHICLE HAD BEEN OWNED FOR APPROXIMATELY 90 DAYS AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 2500 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. WHEN INITIALLY STARTED IN A STATIONARY POISTION THE INFORMATION DISPLAY PROVIDED MULTIPLE APPARENTLY SPURIOUS ALARMS AND WARNINGS. THESE WARNINGS CONTINUED WHEN THE
“THE VEHICLE'S COMPUTER USES PAST DRIVING HISTORY AND FUEL STATE (AMONG POSSIBLY OTHER DATA) TO CALCULATE AN EXTIMATED HV RANGE SO THAT THE DRIVER CAN KNOW APPROXIMATELY HOW FAR THE VEHICLE CAN SAFELY TRAVEL BEFORE NEEDING TO REFUEL AND/OR RECHARGE. THIS FUNCTION IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY ON MY VEHICL”
— NHTSA complaint filing
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
- ☐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
- 0
- Fire reports
- 1
- Crash reports
- 14
- Injury reports
- 6
- Segment avg
- 80
Check a Specific VIN
See recalls for YOUR 2018 Honda CLARITY PLUG-IN HYBRID