2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid Brakes Problems

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.

NHTSA ID

11662844

Incident

May 1, 2021

I’ve purchased my 2018 Honda Clarity in July of 2023. I haven’t any issues with it, but recently I turned my car on in the morning, and it’s flashing the lights pointing to braking malfunction. ABS braking issue, Dashboard errors illuminating randomly, indicating brake system errors, sometimes locking the parking brake. I haven’t the slightest idea why? The vehicle has 66,000 miles which is minimal considering the life span of Hondas. I will be taking it back to Honda to take a look at this, but I’ve noticed some online complaints regarding the Clarity’s braking system. Specifically, the model I bought 2018. Hopefully, Honda will resolve this with a recall. Thank you, [XXX] INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID

11544504

Incident

Sep 14, 2023

I started my car, and it would not transition out of park. The car displayed several warnings including “brake system problem”, “electric braking problem”, and “road departure mitigation system problem”. The windows also would not consistently move up and down. I had to abandon my car so I could get my children home.

NHTSA ID

11540280

Incident

Aug 23, 2023

The software in the car dashboard randomly pops errors like - road departure mitigation, brake system, brake hold system problems, etc. This has happened many times this year. I have taken it to the dealership to get fixed a couple of times (most recently on July 16 2022). They say they have reset the software but the problem still reoccurs and is very frustrating since in some cases the vehicle if it has parking brake set remains immobilized. Also, the safety systems in the car like Lane Keep Assist, Road Collision Mitigation and Automatic Cruise Control get disabled when these errors popup. I filed a case with Honda customer service (Case #13070724) on Jun 9, 2022 and have been following up with them weekly to get this fixed

NHTSA ID

11476445

Incident

Jun 8, 2022

BRAKES WHEN IT WANTS TO MIDDLE OF TRAFFIC. OR BRAKING ASSIST WILL NOT KICK IN AND ENGINE JERKS.

NHTSA ID

11363394

Incident

Oct 8, 2020

WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON CENTRAL AVE (FROM NORTH TO SOUTH) IN PHOENIX, ENGINE ERROR SIGN AND BRAKE ERROR SIGN WERE FLASHING. MEANWHILE, I COULD NOT SLOW DOWN THE CAR AS I COULD NOT PUSH THE BRAKE PEDDLE DOWN. SO, I JUST HAD TO LET THE CAR CRUISE ON ITS OWN TO SLOW DOWN WITHOUT BRAKE AND FINALLY MANAGED TO TURN INTO PALM LN FOR A STOP. LUCKILY, I WAS NOT ON THE HIGHWAY AND COULD NOT IMAGE WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF I DROVE THE CAR WITHOUT THE CONTROL OF THE BRAKE.

NHTSA ID

11195534

Incident

Apr 9, 2019

Mileage

4,900 mi

AFTER VEHICLE HAS RECHARGED, DURING PADDLE SHIFTER DECELERATION, THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL ONLY ACTIVATE WHEN USING THE DECELERATION PADDLE SHIFTER TO SLOW THE VEHICLE FOR THE FIRST TWO OR SO TIMES IT IS USED. AFTER THAT THE BRAKE LIGHTS WILL NOT WORK AGAIN WHILE USING THE DECELERATION PADDLE SHIFTER UNTIL THE VEHICLE IS RECHARGED AGAIN. THE BRAKE LIGHT DO FUNCTION PROPERLY WHILE USING THE FOOT BRAKE PEDAL.

NHTSA ID

11144003

Incident

Aug 27, 2018

Mileage

1,837 mi

ON OCCASION WHILE BRAKING, THE CAR ATTEMPTS TO MOVE FORWARD EVEN THOUGH THE BRAKE IS APPLIED. THE INSTRUMENT PANEL HAS A SECTION DIVIDED BETWEEN POWER BEING USED AND CHARGE BEING STORED AS THE CAR IS DESIGNED TO CHARGE THE ELECTRIC BATTERY WHENEVER THE BRAKE IS APPLIED. WHEN THIS SITUATION OCCURS, THE BRAKE PEDAL IS FIRMLY APPLIED AND THE NEEDLE ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL IS IN THE "CHARGING" AREA. THE CAR ATTEMPTS TO JERK FORWARD AND THERE IS SHAKING/VIBRATION AS THE APPLIED BRAKE KEEPING THE CAR IN PLACE FACES OFF WITH THE CHARGING SYSTEM THAT IS TRYING TO HAVE THE CAR MOVE FORWARD FOR WHATEVER REASON. THE RESOLUTION WHEN THIS OCCURS IS TO RELEASE THE FOOT FROM THE BRAKE PEDAL AND IMMEDIATELY APPLY IT AGAIN WHICH REQUIRES THE CAR TO JERK FORWARD MOMENTARILY. THIS OCCURRED IN A DRIVE-THRU WHERE THE CAR IN FRONT WAS FAIRLY CLOSE AHEAD.

NHTSA ID

11110565

Incident

Jul 1, 2018

Mileage

450 mi

ALTHOUGH CAR LESS THAN ONE WEEK OLD AND UNDER 470 MILES, ALL THE WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL WHILE VEHICLE WAS STATIONARY AFTER STARTING THE CAR: ENGINE SYSTEM PROBLEM, BRAKE SYSTEM PROBLEM, ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM, ROAD DEPARTURE MITIGATION SYSTEM PROBLEM. TURNING CAR OFF AND RESTARTING ENGINE DID NOT CLEAR THE PROBLEM, AND LIGHTS REMAINED ON WHILE DRIVING. VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DEALERSHIP WHERE IT WAS PURCHASED (HONDA OF PASADENA).

NHTSA ID

11109834

Incident

Jul 5, 2018

Mileage

470 mi

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 MOTION. TURNING THE VEHICLER OFF AND RESTARTING THE VEHICLEWOULD NOT CLEAR THE WARNINGS. THE DISPLAY WOULD CYCLE DISPLAYING *ADAPTIVE CRUISE CONTROL PROBLEM*,*LANE DEPARTURE MITIGATION SYSTEM PROBLEM*, AND *EMMISSIONS CONTROL SYSTEM PROBLEM*. ADDTIONALLY THE BRAKE SYSTEM AND LANE DEPARTURE MITIGATION SYSTEM MALFUNCTION LIGHTS AND CHECK ENGINE LIGHT WERE ILLUMINATED THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A DEALER WHO RESET THE CODES USING PROPRIETARY HONDA VEHICLE ANALYSIS SOFTWARE. THE WARNING AND CODES DID NOT RE-APPEAR. THE CAUSE FOR THE WARNINGS WAS NOT DETERMINED. THESE APPARENTLY SPURIOUS WARNINGS PRESENT A SAFETY CONCERN. THEY PROVIDE A DISTRACTION TO THE DRIVER WHILE CYCLING ON THE INFORMAITON DISPLAY AND COULD CAUSE A DRIVER TO IGNORE VALID WARNINGS IN THE BELIEF THEY TOO ARE SPURIOUS. THE ISSUE IS SUCH THAT IT WARRANTS MONITORING BY THE MANUFACTURER AND NTSB TO DETERMINE THE ROOT CAUSE OF THE PROBLEM AND FREQUENCY OF OCCURRENCE.

NHTSA ID

11100139

Incident

Jun 4, 2018

Mileage

2,525 mi