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2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 137 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid, most often about the fuel system (28% of complaints, typically around 9,500 miles). It is the most complained-about Clarity Plug-In Hybrid model year since 2000 and has 1 recall.
Most common 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid problems
Fuel system
38 complaints · 28%Half of these problems showed up before 9,500 miles.
While I was checking the engine oil level, I smelled a strong gasoline odor. Since this particular engine has a known oil dilution problem I had oil analysis done and the results came back indicating that there is a significant level of fuel in the oil which can damage the internal components of the engine and…
Vehicle range calculation is incorrect for highway/long distance travel. The range estimate shows off even when fuel level is very low. For example, when starting a trip it might show 1000 miles range. On the highway, this will count down very quickly, 1 mile driven might count down 4 miles of estimated range. The…
Engine
25 complaints · 18%Half of these problems showed up before 3,500 miles.
The clarity phev is incompatible with public charging stations (e.g. Chargepoint) that feature dual charging ports and an energy management controller (emc). The vehicle's onboard charger will shut off when it senses the charging station's emc is activated when both ports are engaged for simultaneous charging.…
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid. While driving 5 MPH, the battery was depleted and the engine mode engaged; however, the vehicle lost power and failed to accelerate. The vehicle was recharged and worked as designed. The engine system, adaptive cruise control, road departure, and power steering…
Other or unspecified
20 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 2,500 miles.
At the time of the occurrence the vehicle had been owned for approximately 90 days and had approximately 2500 miles on the odometer. When initially started in a stationary poistion the information display provided multiple apparently spurious alarms and warnings. These warnings continued when the vehicle was in…
Since receiving the leased vehicle I've had it back to the dealer 3 or 4 times for checks on the transmission. The car sporadically disengages gears when applying acceleration, local and highway driving. I've registered the complaint with the service department from the beginning of the lease and was told each time…
Electrical
20 complaints · 15%Half of these problems showed up before 1,000 miles. Parts named most often: software.
On the dash is the entertainment system tablet-like touchscreen. All professional Honda reviewers know this issue and even Honda themselves have fixed the new entertainment tablet shortfalls but this car is still being sold today with this harmful system. The infotainment system controls both the rear-veiw camera and…
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid. While driving 20 MPH, all the warning indicators illuminated on the instrument panel. The contact stated that the failure recurred. The vehicle was taken to right Honda (7875 e frank lloyd wright blvd, scottsdale, az 85260, ([phone]) where it was diagnosed with a…
Transmission
19 complaints · 14%Half of these problems showed up before 4,500 miles.
I have only had the car 2 months, but twice so far, while traveling downhill at 45 MPH, the engine began to rev to its redline and there was no power to accelerate in hv mode. This was quite dangerous in one instance as I was unable to accelerate onto a highway.
The contact owns a 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid. The contact stated that once the hybrid vehicle finished electric power, it would switch to gas. While in gas mode, the transmission slipped and the vehicle would not accelerate up a hill. In addition, the engine revved extremely hard and would not go into gear.…
Driver assistance
17 complaints · 12%Parts named most often: warnings, automatic emergency braking, warning, adaptive cruise control.
The contact owned a 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid. The contact was driving at 35 MPH, when he rear-ended another vehicle. The air bags did not deploy and the forward collision warning failed to alert the contact of the vehicle ahead. No medical attention was received. A police report was filed. The vehicle was…
Speed control
12 complaints · 9%Half of these problems showed up before 3,000 miles. Parts named most often: accelerator pedal.
At the time of the occurrence the vehicle had been owned for approximately 90 days and had approximately 2500 miles on the odometer. When initially started in a stationary poistion the information display provided multiple apparently spurious alarms and warnings. These warnings continued when the vehicle was in…
Vehicle was in a parking garage, when making a right turn at the top of a ramp traveling at about 5 MPH, the vehicle went into max acceleration. There was no braking effect when the brakes were applied. After a little over a hundred feet the vehicle crashed into 2 parked cars which were totaled also. The car had crash…
Visibility and wipers
11 complaints · 8%
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid recalls
Fuel system: fuel pump
Risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
Fix: 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.
Full defect summary
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.
Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.
NHTSA defect investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
Summary
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 matt
Questions about the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid
- What are the most common problems with the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: fuel system (38 complaints, typically around 9,500 miles); engine (25 complaints, typically around 3,500 miles); other or unspecified (20 complaints, typically around 2,500 miles).
- How many recalls does the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid have?
- 1 recall listed by NHTSA, the latest from December 18, 2023 (fuel system). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2018 a bad year for the Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid?
- It is the most complained-about Clarity Plug-In Hybrid model year since 2000, with 137 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.
Other Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid years
- 2018
- 2019