Honda Clarity Complaints

228 consumer complaints on file.

#11726194March 22, 2026
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: WARNINGS, LANE DEPARTURE: ASSIST
The ADAS camera system failed causing multiple warnings and failures including lane departure system, forward collision system, adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assistance.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11723571March 11, 2026
SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
The contact owns a 2019 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the brake pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to stop as intended. The contact stated that the BRAKE Hold system, hill start assist, collision mitigation system, VSA, and the electric parking brake warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was driven to a safe location and turned off. The vehicle was restarted. Additionally, the warning lights were no longer illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while it was cold, and the temperature was below zero degrees. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with an electric servo brake control unit/pedal seal simulator failure. The contact was informed that the electric servo brake control unit/pedal seal simulator needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact was informed that parts were not in-stock and that the parts needed to be ordered. The contact researched the failure using an online chat group and was advised to take the vehicle back to the dealer. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, and the contact informed the dealer that the failure could be because of a failing battery. The dealer replaced the battery. A month later, the failure reoccurred. The contact stated that while sitting in the vehicle with the engine idling and the foot on the brake pedal, the vehicle rolled backwards. The vehicle almost crashed into the vehicle that was parked behind it. The contact immediately turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was restarted. The vehicle was driven to the residence without the failure recurring. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired by an independent mechanic or dealer. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure but provided no assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 44,000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11713849January 28, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, LANE DEPARTURE: BLIND SPOT DETECTION
Rear camera and Side camera and infotainment system all do not work. Screen does work because we get the welcome message when starting the car. We brought the car to the dealership and they told us that the screen needs to be replaced (Which appears to be working) at a cost of $5400 which they stated may not fix this issue. In addition we tried to get the fuel recall repaired but they told us they could not do it because there is too much fuel in the tank. - The tank holds a total of 8 gallons
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11708588January 3, 2026
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, ENGINE, POWER TRAIN
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)
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11705113December 15, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
The Day Time Running light on the left side of the car just stopped working. The DRL is not damage. I checked for impact marks.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11690222September 28, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL
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.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11689955September 26, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The Honda Clarity's evaporator core has proven to be a defective component requiring premature replacement, representing a significant design or manufacturing flaw. This evaporator failure appears to be a systemic issue affecting multiple Honda Clarity vehicles, as evidenced by [specific sources - owner forums, service bulletins, etc.]. The defect typically manifests as [specific symptoms you've experienced - loss of cooling, refrigerant leaks, etc.], often occurring well before the expected service life of the component. This premature failure not only creates an unreasonable financial burden on owners but also poses safety concerns when air conditioning systems fail during extreme weather conditions, potentially leading to driver distraction, reduced visibility from fogging, or heat-related health risks.
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11688006September 17, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Took my car in due to the AC not working. We were told that AC Condenser and AC evaporator was broken. The AC condenser was replaced due to a recall and was placed under warranty a few years ago. Honda, indicated that AC Condenser was still under Warrenty, but the AC Evaporator is not. When it was explained to us at Honda Dealership in Dublin, CA. That the two parts go hand in hand, and that they would not be able to replace the AC Condenser until the AC Evaporator was replaced. As Honda requires a “pass” reading. The repair man at Honda also indicated that with AC Evaporator being broken imposes health risks such as breathing issues, dizziness, exposure to mildew and bacteria, as we were breathing in the gas from refrigerant that was leaking and burning then going in to the cabin of our vehicle when the AC was running. We have contacted Honda of USA and filed a case they indicated that due to our cars mileage, age and out of warranty that they have decided to decline assistance. This will be an ongoing issue as the two parts should be under warranty to get both of them fixed accordingly and to reduce health exposures.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11687181September 14, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The AC hasn't been out for a while and the defrost option doesn't work because of that. I believe that is a safety issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11683661August 28, 2025
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2019 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was contacted and confirmed that parts for the recall repair were not yet available. The contact called several other dealers, including Lake Elsinore Honda (18450 Collier Ave, Lake Elsinore, CA 92530), Diamond Valley Honda (300 Carriage Cir, Hemet, CA 92545), and DCH Honda of Temecula (26755 Ynez Rd, Temecula, CA 92591); and all confirmed that parts were not yet available. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11674482July 18, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES, VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE: AUTOMATIC EMERGENCY BRAKING
I was entering the highway on ramp with a car in front of me going slow, when saw it was clear switched lanes and attempted to speed up to highway speed and the car's automatic braking system activated, flashed "BRAKE" on the dash with nothing in front of me, lane was clear, and then it applied the brakes hard. Came to an almost complete stop with my foot on the gas, had to remove foot to be able to accelerate again, luckily there was no near car behind me or it would have rear ended my car.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11667468June 17, 2025
UNKNOWN OR OTHER
The evaporator for my air conditioning unit failed. I have 43,000 miles miles on the vehicle and kept up the maintenance on the car directly with the dealership. When the A/C doesn't work, the car can't defrost the windshield properly, which is a USDOT defined safety issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11666847June 13, 2025
VISIBILITY/WIPER, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
2019 Honda Clarity. Both the condenser and evaporator failed at 5 years and 55k miles and cause the AC system to not work, which in turn will not defrost the front windshield in the winter (visibility concern). The dealer has confirmed the issue when I took it into the service department on June 13th, 2025. Honda will replace the condenser for free with Service Bulletin 21-017 which extended the warranty to 10 years. The evaporator is not covered under any warranty and would cost $2,610 to replace. This is a known issue that Honda should cover under a warranty or recall due to it being a safety issue in addition to a comfort issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11664121May 31, 2025
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM, EXTERIOR LIGHTING
There is an issue with the front, right turn signal light flickering uncontrollably. This flickering is occurring during the vehicle’s operation, posing a significant safety risk as the amber light is incorrectly signaling to other vehicles on the road. The flickering also occurs while the vehicle is parked and off—draining the battery. It has been occurring intermittently with my vehicle for over two years. This issue is widely reported online, with dozens of posts on websites and forums.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11663257May 27, 2025
VISIBILITY/WIPER
Component/System that Failed: The air conditioning system in my 2021 Honda Clarity Touring Plug-in Hybrid has failed — specifically, the AC evaporator, which no longer allows the car to blow out cool air. The part is still in the vehicle and is available for inspection upon request. How Safety Was Put at Risk: What began as an inconvenience has turned into a real concern for the safety of my family and me. Without functioning air conditioning, my visibility becomes dangerously impaired when trying to defog the windshield, especially in humid or cool conditions. More alarmingly, we live in an area where summer temperatures can soar, and driving without AC quickly turns our vehicle into an unsafe environment — especially for children, elderly passengers, or anyone prone to heat-related issues. It’s frustrating and disappointing to face this kind of failure in a relatively new vehicle. A basic function like air conditioning should not carry a $2,800 repair bill just to keep your family safe and comfortable — yet here we are. Reproduction/Confirmation of the Issue: The issue has been confirmed by an authorized Honda dealership, which diagnosed the failed evaporator and quoted nearly $2,800 for repair, the majority of which is due to labor involved in reaching the part. Inspection History: The vehicle has been inspected by the dealership, and I also contacted American Honda to request assistance. They offered to cover only part of the repair, but to me, this feels insufficient given the scope of the issue and how many other owners have experienced the same thing. It feels less like a maintenance issue and more like a manufacturing flaw. Warning Signs or Symptoms: There were no warning lights or system alerts prior to failure. The AC simply began losing effectiveness and then completely stopped blowing cool air. There were no obvious indicators that the evaporator was failing until the system had already become unusable.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11662844May 23, 2025
SERVICE BRAKES
The regenerative braking system left paddle (on the steering wheel) intermittently does not work. I press the paddle to slow the vehicle but nothing happens. If I press it multiple times, sometimes it will slow the vehicle, other times nothing happens. I use that method of braking frequently, so when it doesn't work, it jeopardizes the safety of myself and others on the road. This problem has been occurring for a few years; I don't recall the exact date that it began occurring. If needed, I can make the vehicle available for inspection. I've been unable to have it reproduced by a dealer because it usually resolves itself before I can get it in to a dealer to be serviced. The vehicle has not been inspected by the manufacturer, police, insurance representatives or others.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11644938February 25, 2025
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM, ENGINE, UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Since fuel pump recall fix by dealership, “Emission System Problem” started appearing in my car due to the way fuel pump recall was fixed. They already attempted to fix the issue 5 times but unable to provide permanent fix. Honda corporate office also not willing to help. This is a safety issue as when I drive the car, I smell gas and my car is constantly with dealership without permanent fix.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11633288December 31, 2024
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL, UNKNOWN OR OTHER, ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
During a U-turn, when I turned the steering wheel my vehicle suddenly accelerated unexpected. I suspect there may have been a malfunction in the vehicle's electronic control system that caused this sudden unintended acceleration. I did alert Honda North America to study the problem. On [XXX], while driving on a narrow street at a speed of less than 5 miles per hour, my vehicle suddenly accelerated as I was making a U-turn. In my nervous response, I pressed the accelerator pedal, which exacerbated the situation and caused my vehicle to hit the driveway bushes at [XXX] Fortunately, the property damage was minor, affecting only the bushes, and there were no injuries. I believe it is important to report this Sudden Unintended Acceleration problem for your file. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
Crash:
Yes
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11633158December 30, 2024
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
I received a letter in October 2024 about an inoperable fuel pump and a recall for the vehicle. However, after 3 months, the dealership does not have the fuel pump replacement pump and does not know when they will receive the part. As a result, I am still driving the car with the fuel pump issue.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#11631580December 19, 2024
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline); however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The dealer was made aware of the issue and confirmed that due to a limited supply of parts, the manufacturer was prioritizing the repair of vehicles experiencing symptoms related to the recall first. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue and confirmed the prioritizing of the repair of vehicles experiencing symptoms related to the recall. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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