← New search

2018 Honda Clarity PLUG-IN Hybrid

Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations

Limited comparison data

There is not enough comparable history to draw a useful model-year comparison.

About this comparison →

When problems were reported

Mileage at the reported incident

64 reports with mileage · 70 unknown

NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.

What to inspect

Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.

  • Engine. Review the 25 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Fuel/propulsion System. Review the 23 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
  • Electrical System. Review the 19 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →

NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.

9 crash reports1 fire reports3 injury reports

Visibility/wiper complaints

10 reports
Clear category filter
Mileage unknown · Apr 4, 2026
Visibility/wiper

Driver’s side sun visor increasingly hard to operate and finally broke internally due to high forces to adjust. Cannot use to shield driver’s eye from sun glare as intended thus reducing visibility. Passenger side also increasingly hard to operate but has not broken yet due to low use. Known problem for Hondas as indicated by T…

Read full complaint

Driver’s side sun visor increasingly hard to operate and finally broke internally due to high forces to adjust. Cannot use to shield driver’s eye from sun glare as intended thus reducing visibility. Passenger side also increasingly hard to operate but has not broken yet due to low use. Known problem for Hondas as indicated by TSB’s for other models and large number of videos on how to replace.

NHTSA ODI #11729216

Mileage unknown · Oct 23, 2024
Visibility/wiper

Honda has known issues with the AC system in the 2018-21 Honda Clarity (see [XXX] ). About 4 months after I had the faulty condenser replaced, the AC system (including the window defroster/defogger) stopped working again. This time Honda says that the Evaporator Compressor is faulty and needs replaced. Speaking with other Cl…

Read full complaint

Honda has known issues with the AC system in the 2018-21 Honda Clarity (see [XXX] ). About 4 months after I had the faulty condenser replaced, the AC system (including the window defroster/defogger) stopped working again. This time Honda says that the Evaporator Compressor is faulty and needs replaced. Speaking with other Clarity owners, this seems to be a common failure shortly after the faulty condenser is replaced. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ODI #11621583

Mileage unknown · Oct 10, 2024
Visibility/wiper

The evaporator has failed at just 29000 miles on the car. The condenser was replaced under warranty 2 years ago after it cracked, but the evaporator has now broken and is not covered. This means the AC is not working, which can impact defogging/defrosting, as well as cause unsafe conditions for the driver.

NHTSA ODI #11619183

Mileage unknown · Sep 26, 2024
Unknown Or OtherVisibility/wiper

The A/C evaporator is leaking and it is not working anymore, according to the local Honda Service Center (Pacific Honda San Diego). That's a safety issue because when the A/C doesn't work, the car can't defrost the windshield properly. The local dealership let me know that many cars of the same model are suffering the same iss…

Read full complaint

The A/C evaporator is leaking and it is not working anymore, according to the local Honda Service Center (Pacific Honda San Diego). That's a safety issue because when the A/C doesn't work, the car can't defrost the windshield properly. The local dealership let me know that many cars of the same model are suffering the same issue,

NHTSA ODI #11616730

Mileage unknown · Sep 12, 2024
Visibility/wiper

AC stopped working as both condenser and evaporator are leaking. But they only recall condenser currently. They should recall on both. When the A/C doesn't work, the car can't defrost the windshield properly, which is a USDOT defined safety issue.

NHTSA ODI #11614260

Mileage unknown · Aug 22, 2024
Visibility/wiper

My air conditioner stopped working in June 2024 following during a long trip in 100+ degree weather since it was blowing only air temperature air. I took it to Honda of Escondido and they determined it was the evaporator. The cost of the repair was ,$2823 on with 64,971 miles on my car. I've been told that it's a safety hazar…

Read full complaint

My air conditioner stopped working in June 2024 following during a long trip in 100+ degree weather since it was blowing only air temperature air. I took it to Honda of Escondido and they determined it was the evaporator. The cost of the repair was ,$2823 on with 64,971 miles on my car. I've been told that it's a safety hazard to drive in a car without AC because of the fact the window defroster won't work, thus making it difficult to drive safely. In addition, during our road trip, we had to keep stopping to get ice water to cool ourselves off. It was not safe to be driving in the car long distance in high temperatures.

NHTSA ODI #11610205

Mileage unknown · Apr 17, 2024
Visibility/wiper

Car defroster fails to clear foggy windshield while driving. AC runs warm despite having serviced a previous issue pertaining to the AC condenser.

NHTSA ODI #11583705

Mileage unknown · Dec 5, 2022
Visibility/wiper

The windshield wiper seems to skid past where it's supposed to stop and bump the side molding. It makes an annoying sound and I am concerned it may harm the wiper or windshield. I have not taken it in for repair. I was told by other owners of the car model this is a common issue and the fix is to clean the window up with a cl…

Read full complaint

The windshield wiper seems to skid past where it's supposed to stop and bump the side molding. It makes an annoying sound and I am concerned it may harm the wiper or windshield. I have not taken it in for repair. I was told by other owners of the car model this is a common issue and the fix is to clean the window up with a clay bar, or take it in for a motor replacement. The former seems to have resolved the issue, but I assume windows shouldn't always be at that level of perfection for functional wipers.

NHTSA ODI #11495998

10 miles · Feb 28, 2019
Visibility/wiper

AIR VENT IS ABOVE WIPER PARKING SPOT. SNOW MELTS AND FREEZES AGAIN WHEN TOUCH WIPERS. ICE ACCUMULATES ON WIPER EVEN CABIN TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 70F. WHICH MAKES WIPERS USELESS AND DRIVING DANGEROUS IN SNOWING CONDITION.

NHTSA ODI #11183189

900 miles · Oct 22, 2018
Power TrainVisibility/wiper

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 U…

Read full complaint

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

NHTSA ODI #11141894

Official recalls

1

23V858000 · Fuel System, Gasoline:delivery:fuel Pump

Dec 18, 2023

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.

Consequence & remedy

Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: 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.

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.