2018 Honda Clarity PLUG-IN Hybrid

3 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. I MANAGED TO PULL TO A SLOW LANE BUT THE LACK OF POWER CONTINUED FOR ANOTHER 5 MINUTES. IT HAD BEEN RUNNING ON BATTERY JUST PRIOR AND I HAD 2 BARS OF POWER LEFT. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 15 DEGREES. THE INTERNAL COBUSTION ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE BUT ONLY BEGAN TO GIVE ADEQUATE POWER TO THE WHEELS AFTER 5 MINUTES. A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE. HONDA CHECKED OUT THE CAR AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. I AM HEARING OF OTHER CASES BEING REPORTED LIKE MINE.

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN ANY MODE THAT REQUIRE THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE, IT PERSISTENTLY GETS STUCK IN A HIGH REV, HIGH RPM, STATE AT ANY SPEED. THIS CAUSES POWER FLUCTUATIONS AND EXTREME ENGINE NOISE. THIS CREATES CHALLENGING AND POTENTIALLY UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS DUE TO THE SENSITIVE STATE OF THE ENGINE WHEN STUCK IN THIS MODE.

AFTER SEVERAL MILES AND DEPLETION OF ELECTRIC STORAGE AND WHILE CLIMBING A SIGNIFICANT GRADE THE TRANSMISSION FELT AS IF IT WAS SLIPPING NOT ABLE TO CLIMB THE GRADE. HAD TO MAKE AN EVASIVE MANEUVER CROSSING ON COMING TRAFFIC LANE (CLEAR) TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY (101) . THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PULL THE HILL AND SLOWED TO 25 MPH ON A TURN,IN A 55 MPH ZONE , TWO LANE , MOUNTAIN ROAD. TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, AFTER STOPPING, NO CODES OR SERVICE LIGHTS ACTIVE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS RUNNING AT A HIGHER RPM THAN NORMAL ( CHARGING THE MAIN BATT ? ) CLIMBING THE REST OF THE HILL ON WHAT FELT LIKE ELECTRIC POWER AND NO MORE THAN 25 MPH, AND JUST TAKING IT SLOW AND FEATHERING THE THROTTLE CONTROLLING THE SLIP/ RPM, SEAM TO RUN FINE AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND ON LEVEL GRADE WOULD MAINTAIN ROAD SPEED (60 MPH) APPEARED TO RUN BETTER WITH A SLIGHT CHARGE BUILT UP, AND AFTER A LONG DOWNHILL REGENATIVE BRAKING IT APPEARED TO DO BETTER AND RAN FINE IN TOWN ( NO GRADES/ CITY DRIVING ) TO AFRAID TO TRAVEL HOME WITH SEVERAL GRADES FROM THE NORTHCOAST REDWOODS. I OPTED FOR A TOW , 01/12/2019 WAITING FOR SERVICES. THE TRANSMISSION ONLY SLIPS OR APPEARS TO SLIP AFTER DEPLETED BATTERY LEVELS AND CLIMBING A GRADE OR TAKING OFF FROM A STOP QUICKLY (IE. CROSSING HIGHWAY 101 EUREKA, CA OR A INTERSECTION ) PLENTY OF POWER AND NO SLIPPING ON A FULL CHARGE OR MINIMAL CHARGE , AND ON ENGINE POWER ONLY

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 THE WINDSHIELD FROM FOGGING UP UNLESS I USE THE A/C EVEN IN COLD WEATHER VERY UNSAFE AS YOU CANNOT SEE THE ROAD IT GETS SO BAD

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 ION "ON" CONDITION FOR SEVERAL MINUTES PRIOR TO STARTING DRIVING. VEHICLE HAD TO BE PULLED INTO NEARBY BUSINESS, SINCE IT COULD NOT MAINTAIN SPEED WITH FLOW OF TRAFFIC ON 50 MOH ROAD. PROBLEM RESOLVED AFTER APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES OF SLOW DRIVING. ISSUE APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO TRANSMISSION OF POWER FROM ENGINE TO DRIVE SYSTEM. POSSIBLE THAT GAS ENGINE POWER IS DIVERTED TO CHARGING HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY, RATHER THAN PROVIDING POWER TO WHEELS.