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 c…
Read full complaint
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)
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 Hon…
Read full complaint
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
Mileage unknown · Apr 27, 2024
Electrical System
AC evaporator leaks under normal usage and low mileage.
NHTSA ODI #11585619
Mileage unknown · Apr 19, 2023
Electrical SystemLane DepartureUnknown Or Other
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
60,000 miles · Feb 24, 2021
Electrical SystemEngine
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, AUGUST…
Read full complaint
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
Official recalls
0
No recalls in this snapshot.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1
DP22005 · Pedestrian Alert Sounds
Opened Jan 27, 2023 · Closed Aug 7, 2023
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Electrical System:propulsion System
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified NHTSA he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by NHTSA regarding the subject matter of the petition.
2018 Honda Clarity Electric Problems, Complaints & Recalls | Skip That Year