What breaks most · 2017 to 2019 model years
Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid problems by year
Owners have filed 54 safety complaints with NHTSA about the Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid across model years 2017 to 2019. Three years stand out: 2018 for engine complaints, 2017 for powertrain and transmission complaints and 2019 for engine complaints.
- Years to check closely: 2018, 2017, 2019
- Complaints on file
- 542017 to 2019, all trims
- Worst year
- 201852 complaints
- Crashes reported
- 20 fires · 1 injuries · 0 deaths
- Typical failure mileage
- 3kMedian where owners gave mileage
- Recall campaigns
- 3Across the years shown
Complaints by model year
Raw filings with NHTSA, not adjusted for how many were sold.
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Recalls | Most-reported component |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 0 | 0 | Powertrain and transmission (1) | |
| 52 | 2 | 1 | Engine (17) | |
| 1 | 0 | 2 | Engine (1) |
What fails on the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid
| Component | Share of complaints | Filings | Crashes | Parts for this job |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EngineEngine gaskets and seals | 33% |
17 | 0 | Shop engine parts for the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid |
| Powertrain and transmissionTransmission parts | 25% |
13 | 0 | Shop all powertrain and transmission parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| Fuel systemFuel pumps and injectors | 17% |
9 | 0 | Shop fuel system parts for the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid |
| Electrical systemAlternators, starters and ignition | 15% |
8 | 0 | Shop electrical system parts for the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid |
| Speed control and throttleThrottle and pedal sensors | 13% |
7 | 2 | Shop speed control and throttle parts for the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid |
| Unknown or other | 12% |
6 | 0 | — |
| Exterior lightingHeadlights, tail lights and bulbs | 12% |
6 | 0 | Shop all exterior lighting parts, not filtered to this vehicle |
| BrakesBrake pads, rotors and calipers | 10% |
5 | 0 | Shop brakes parts for the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid |
One complaint can name more than one component, so shares add to more than 100%. "Unknown or other" is NHTSA's uncategorized bucket and is shown but never ranked.
In owners' words
Complaint narratives as filed with NHTSA, trimmed for length.
-
Loss of power and engine comes on with high revs while car is moving. In hv mode engine revs are continues even though i have 20 miles of ev range. I had power loss twice now in slow speed around 30 miles/hr andt 65 miles/hr
How to read this page
Every figure comes from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's public complaint database, which holds every safety-related defect complaint filed by owners since 1995. We refresh it monthly and count each complaint once per component it names. Data through September 30, 2026.
NHTSA only accepts safety-related complaints. Rattles, paint, infotainment bugs and other annoyances are under-reported here, so this page is a map of what fails in ways owners consider dangerous, not a full reliability score.
Counts are raw. Use the year-over-year shape and the component mix, not the absolute numbers. Where a component maps to parts we stock, the row links to that category filtered to the year you are viewing. Air bag and seat belt complaints link to the recall checker instead, because those repairs are almost always covered.
Common questions
Which Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid years have the most problems?
By NHTSA complaint volume, 2018, 2017, 2019 carry the most filings on the Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid. The 2018 alone has 52 complaints, led by engine.
What is the most common Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid problem?
On the 2018 model year, the most-reported component is engine with 17 complaints. The table above lists the top components for every year.
At what mileage do Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid problems start?
The median mileage at failure across all Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid complaints that include mileage is about 3,000 miles. Older model years skew higher; the per-year figure is in the "at a glance" card.
Are these complaints verified?
No. NHTSA publishes complaints as submitted and does not investigate individual filings. Patterns across hundreds of complaints are meaningful; a single one is not.