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2019 Honda Clarity Electric Problems

Owner-reported complaints filed with NHTSA, grouped by component

Data refreshed

Owner complaintsComplaints are reports submitted to NHTSA by owners and drivers. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a complaint does not establish that a defect exists. Volume is influenced by how many of a vehicle were sold, how long it has been on the road, and how much attention an issue has received.
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Latest Aug 31, 2023
Components namedHow many of our component categories appear on at least one report for this model year. One report can name several.
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Crash or fire reportedComplaints whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. These are the reporter's own answers on the NHTSA form, not verified findings.
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What this page shows

Everything below is an owner-reported complaint submitted to NHTSA about the 2019 Honda Clarity Electric, grouped by the component NHTSA recorded on the report. These are not confirmed defects, and they are not recalls. NHTSA does not verify most reports before publishing them, and a category with more reports in it is not evidence that a part is defective.

Complaints are reports submitted by owners and drivers to NHTSA. They are not verified and do not establish that a defect exists.

Reports by component

Ranked by how many owner reports name each component category

  • Electrical240.0%
  • Brakes120.0%
  • Engine120.0%
  • Fuel system120.0%

Percentages are of component mentions. A single complaint can name more than one component, so these do not sum to the total complaint count.

Each component in detail

What the reports in each category say, in the owners' own words

Electrical

Reports naming the electrical system — wiring, battery, charging, control modules, infotainment and electrical accessories.

2
reports

From owner reports, verbatim

We have a Clarity EV. It has been great for 4 years. But recently, all of the sudden, we started getting system failure messages on the dash. Different systems, including brakes. And the brake pedal went to the floor. I have read about similar failures online at “clarity forum”. Some who posted believe it is a 12-volt battery problem. And Triple A came out and tested it and said the battery is due for replacement Here’s the thing: my mechanic cleared the codes and the car ran perfectly for 24 hours. Before the failures happened again. I took it to Honda, and they insist that the brake system is the problem. And that it’s dangerous to drive the way it is. They say a “brake fuel sensor code” recommended replacing a (brake) “cylinder set” for $2495 I decided to have them install a new battery first. And wanted them to “clear the codes”. i am not sure they cleared them, cuz the brakes still go to the floorboard. So: It’s either a battery issue (or something else) causing the error codes. And we are then being told an expensive brake repair has to be done. Or The brake system failed at 37,000 miles. Which should be a recall item Or. it is both Because of other postings with problems similar to mine, i think the car should be recalled because of the brakes

NHTSA ID 11541968 · filed Aug 31, 2023

The contact owns a 2019 Honda Clarity Electric. The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start up as needed. The contact mentioned the vehicle had to be jump-started. The contact stated that the failure occurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.

NHTSA ID 11446519 · filed Jan 6, 2022

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Brakes

Reports naming service brakes, the antilock braking system, brake hoses, master cylinders or the parking brake.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

We have a Clarity EV. It has been great for 4 years. But recently, all of the sudden, we started getting system failure messages on the dash. Different systems, including brakes. And the brake pedal went to the floor. I have read about similar failures online at “clarity forum”. Some who posted believe it is a 12-volt battery problem. And Triple A came out and tested it and said the battery is due for replacement Here’s the thing: my mechanic cleared the codes and the car ran perfectly for 24 hours. Before the failures happened again. I took it to Honda, and they insist that the brake system is the problem. And that it’s dangerous to drive the way it is. They say a “brake fuel sensor code” recommended replacing a (brake) “cylinder set” for $2495 I decided to have them install a new battery first. And wanted them to “clear the codes”. i am not sure they cleared them, cuz the brakes still go to the floorboard. So: It’s either a battery issue (or something else) causing the error codes. And we are then being told an expensive brake repair has to be done. Or The brake system failed at 37,000 miles. Which should be a recall item Or. it is both Because of other postings with problems similar to mine, i think the car should be recalled because of the brakes

NHTSA ID 11541968 · filed Aug 31, 2023

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Engine

Reports naming the engine itself — including stalling, misfires, oil consumption, cooling and internal engine components.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

PHEV BURNING SMELL ECON (EV) DRIVING. IT HAPPENED 2 TIMES AFTER THE BATTERY DROPS TO TWO BARS, WHICH MEANS MODE WAS CHANGED TO HYBRID FROM ECON. THERE WERE BIG VROOM SOUNDS FROM ENGINE ROOM WHEN EV MODE CONVERTED HYBRID MODE AT THE SPEED OF 60-70 MPH. EVEN AT THE SPEED OF 5-10 MPH, THE ENGINE SOUND WAS REALLY BIG (IT SOUNDED LIKE REALLY HIGH RPM AT THE LOW SPEED). AROUND 2-3 MIN DRIVING AS HYBRID MODE FROM ECON, I FELT VERY STRONG BURNING SMELL FROM THE ENGINE AREA. I GOOGLED AND FOUND I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. THERE WOULD BE PROBLEMS WITH EV, ICE, HYBRID SYSTEM. ALSO IT COULD BE FIRE HAZARD WHEN BEING CHARGED.

NHTSA ID 11269630 · filed Oct 14, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Fuel system

Reports naming fuel storage or delivery — tanks, pumps, lines, injectors and fuel leaks.

1
report

From owner reports, verbatim

PHEV BURNING SMELL ECON (EV) DRIVING. IT HAPPENED 2 TIMES AFTER THE BATTERY DROPS TO TWO BARS, WHICH MEANS MODE WAS CHANGED TO HYBRID FROM ECON. THERE WERE BIG VROOM SOUNDS FROM ENGINE ROOM WHEN EV MODE CONVERTED HYBRID MODE AT THE SPEED OF 60-70 MPH. EVEN AT THE SPEED OF 5-10 MPH, THE ENGINE SOUND WAS REALLY BIG (IT SOUNDED LIKE REALLY HIGH RPM AT THE LOW SPEED). AROUND 2-3 MIN DRIVING AS HYBRID MODE FROM ECON, I FELT VERY STRONG BURNING SMELL FROM THE ENGINE AREA. I GOOGLED AND FOUND I'M NOT THE ONLY PERSON WHO EXPERIENCED THIS PROBLEM. THERE WOULD BE PROBLEMS WITH EV, ICE, HYBRID SYSTEM. ALSO IT COULD BE FIRE HAZARD WHEN BEING CHARGED.

NHTSA ID 11269630 · filed Oct 14, 2019

Too few reports in this category for a page of its own — they appear in the full complaint list.

Higher-selling and older vehicles accumulate more reports. Counts are not failure rates and are not directly comparable between vehicles that sold in very different numbers.

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .