2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid Electrical Problems

I will first start with our problems/concerns. We had experienced a complete lost power in freeway speed (65 mph) when the battery is depleted, that is when the battery bar goes to zero bar instead of 2 bars usually. I attached a photo from the video I took for your reference. This experience was the engine ramp up and not getting any power while driving on freeway, escpecially obvious during uphill slope. It is a safety hazard where we had to manuver in order avoid traffic since we could not maintain freeway speed. This originally happened around 2022, but we checked with Norm Reeves Honda Cerritos and they told us nothing is wrong and because there was no fault code, nothing they can do. When the Recall service canoaign 24-031 came, we were relieved because we think the problem is going to be fixed. We brought our Honda Clarity to the dealer on 2/3/2025 for the recall and everything was fine (meaning we can drive on HV after our battery is depleted). But around December 2025, my wife experienced the same situation where she couldn’t keep up with the freeway speed after exhausted the electric range of 34 miles. We took it to dealer again on 1/16/2026 and described the situation, dealer came back and said nothing has been found and there were no fault code. After that, the only way that we are trying to do is to avoid the battery to get down to zero miles, but since our battery is only getting 34 miles full charge instead of the 47 miles when it was new (dealer also said this is normal depreciation, I am not sure about that). Again, thank you for helping since losing engine power and speed on freeway is pretty scary and I hope this is enough information for my case. Here are answers to your questions. VIN: [XXX] Mileage: 85300 Dealership: Norm Reeves Honda Cerritos Details: Vehicle losing power on freeway speed after battery is depleted. As described above. First time it happened: Around 2022 First time dealer address my concern rather than told me th INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION A

NHTSA ID

11738192

Incident

Dec 10, 2025

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

NHTSA ID

11713849

Incident

Jan 27, 2026

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.

NHTSA ID

11705113

Incident

May 30, 2025

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.

NHTSA ID

11664121

Incident

May 29, 2025

Several times now while driving on the interstate at the average speed of 70 to 75 which is the speed limit in my Area the battery level while fully charged it's supposed to only drop down to 20% I have noticed several times now while on the interstate I've been barely able to drive 40 mph as it is dropping the power level down to almost zero there is no bars being illuminated they're supposed to be two bars for 20% and even one bar for 10% and twice now in a matter of 2 weeks I've noticed that it goes down to zero bars and the engine is revving very very high and I have very little power available this is quite dangerous on the interstate and I wish this could be resolved or I'll be getting rid of this car

NHTSA ID

11625238

Incident

Nov 13, 2024

All lock actuators freeze and prevent doors from opening . Doors do not open unless manually unlocked from inside . Child has been locked in car due to door lock malfunction .

NHTSA ID

11594893

Incident

Mar 1, 2022

All the sensor is showing as a problem on the dashboard the vehicle was not in any accident and no damages to the front radar or front camera sensor. Multiple error problems continue to show on the dashboard.

NHTSA ID

11568550

Incident

Jan 15, 2024

AFTER CERTAIN DRIVE MILE CAR DASH BOARD HAS LOUD CLICKING SOUND, WHICH DOESN'T GO AWAY FOR A WHILE EVEN CAR IS TURNED OFF. WHILE DRIVING OR STOPED. DEALERSHIP OR AMERICAN HONDA HAS NO SATISFACTORY ANSWER FOR THE CONCERN. WORRY ME IF VEHICLE GONNA STOP ON FREEWAY.

NHTSA ID

11415762

Incident

Jul 1, 2019

TL* 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 WARNING INDICATORS WERE ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 3,700. THE VIN WAS INVALID.

NHTSA ID

11266735

Incident

Oct 5, 2019

Mileage

3,700 mi

CAR REVS UP WHEN DRIVING DOWN THE HIGHWAY BUT DROPS SPEED TO 10MPH. IT HAS DONE THIS 2 TIMES ONCE IN TOWN AND ONCE ON US 23 WHILE DRIVING 70MPH. THEIR ARE SEVERAL COMPLAINTS ABOUT THE CAR DOING THE SAME THING TO OTHER CLARITY OWNERS AND THIS IS A HIGHLY DANGEROUS SITUATION THAT HONDA SHOULD TAKE CARE OF! REINEKE HONDA IN FINDLAY OHIO HAD MY CAR FOR ABOUT 3 WEEKS AND WHILE TEST DRIVING IT THE CAR DID THE SAME THING FOR THE SERVICE MANAGER MIKE STEVENS. THEY TOOK A CONTROL BOX OFF A BRAND NEW CLARITY PER HONDA'S SUGGESTION AND I AM DRIVING THE CAR AND HAD NO NEW PROBLEMS SO FAR. THEY WERE NOT SURE THIS WOULD FIX THE ISSUE BUT SO FAR IT HASN'T HAPPENED AGAIN. THIS IS A DANGEROUS FAILURE IN THE CAR AND I AM LUCKY I WASN'T DRIVING IN COLUMBUS, OHIO THE 2ND TIME THE CAR DID IT OR I WOULD HAVE BEEN REAR ENDED! HONDA NEEDS TO MAKE SURE THIS PROBLEM IS FIXED!!!

NHTSA ID

11182295

Incident

Jan 9, 2019

Mileage

12,000 mi

3 DAYS AFTER PURCHASE I WAS DRIVING ON AN INTERSTATE WHEN THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST ALL POWER. I MANAGED TO PULL TO A SLOW LANE BUT THE LACK OF POWER CONTINUED FOR ANOTHER 5 MINUTES. IT HAD BEEN RUNNING ON BATTERY JUST PRIOR AND I HAD 2 BARS OF POWER LEFT. THE OUTSIDE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 15 DEGREES. THE INTERNAL COBUSTION ENGINE BEGAN TO RACE BUT ONLY BEGAN TO GIVE ADEQUATE POWER TO THE WHEELS AFTER 5 MINUTES. A TERRIFYING EXPERIENCE. HONDA CHECKED OUT THE CAR AND SAID NOTHING WAS WRONG. I AM HEARING OF OTHER CASES BEING REPORTED LIKE MINE.

NHTSA ID

11181572

Incident

Jan 15, 2019

Mileage

100 mi

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 BLIND-SPOT MONITOR ON THE SIDE VEIW. BECAUSE THE SYSTEM IS BUGGY, AND LAGGY, SOMETIMES THE CAMERA WILL FREEZE AN IMAGE ON THE SCREEN. SOMETIMES THE CAMERAS WILL NOT SHOW ON THE DASH AT ALL (AGAIN, BECAUSE THE ANDROID BASED SYSTEM IS VERY SLOW) LAST NIGHT MY WIFE ALMOST KILLED HERSELF WHEN THE GPS SAID "EXIT RIGHT" AND HER IMAGE ON THE SCREEN WAS FROZEN WITHOUT ANY CARS BUT AN 18 WHEELER WAS HONKING AND SWERVING AWAY FROM US MAKING A DRAMATIC HOP INTO THE RIGHT LANE. I FEEL A CIVIL DUTY TO REPORT THIS ONE-OF-MANY INSTANCES THAT THE INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM ALMOST KILLED ME MY FAMILY AND MANY OTHERS (PEDESTRIANS AND OTHER DRIVERS)

NHTSA ID

11139244

Incident

Oct 6, 2018

Mileage

1,100 mi

TWICE I EXPERIENCED EXTREME HIGH REVS (LIKE THE CAR WAS IN NEUTRAL AND YOU HAVE THE PEDAL TO THE METAL)WITH ABSOLUTE LOSS OF POWER AND SPEED DOWN TO 30 MPH FIRST TIME ON FREEWAY & 10 MPH SECOND TIME ON HIGHWAY. HAPPENED TWICE WHEN BATTERY WAS LOW (EACH TIME BATTERY DISPLAY ACTUALLY WENT DOWN TO 1 BAR WHICH I'VE BEEN TOLD BY DEALER THAT IT IS IMPOSSIBLE TO GO BELOW 2 BARS WHEN HV KICKS IN) AND ON SLIGHT INCLINE. SUPER SCARY DANGEROUS, FAMILY SCREAMING OF FEAR INSIDE VEHICLE)! ALSO HAVE RANGE DISPLAY ERROR, ENGINE TURNING ON WHEN BATTERY IS FULL ALMOST EVERY DAY AND NO CHARGING WHEN HV CHARGE ENGAGED. ORIGINAL DEALER TEST DROVE CAR 300 MILES, DID UPDATE AND TOLD ME NOTHING WRONG WITH CAR. I WAS AFRAID TO DRIVE THE CAR, IT SAT AT DEALER FOR A MONTH. AFTER FIGHTING WITH HONDA AND GOING NOWHERE WITH THEM OR DEALERSHIP I TOOK IT BACK AND ALL ISSUES WHERE STILL THERE. TOOK CAR 3 TIMES TO DEALER #2 WHO SAID THEY CANNOT HELP, TO DEAL WITH HONDA. I EVEN EMAILED VIDEOS AND PHOTOS BUT THEY DID NOT SEEM TO CARE OR MAKE EFFORT TO RESEARCH IT. TOOK TEST DRIVE WITH TECH, HE HAD EXCUSES FOR EVERYTHING. HAD OPENED TICKET WITH HONDA, ORIGINALLY A SPECIAL TECH GUY WAS SUPPOSED TO COME CHECK THE CAR, 2 MONTHS LATER STILL NOTHING, AFTER DOZENS OF CALLS TO HONDA THEY TOLD ME THAT NOTHING IS WRONG WITH THE CAR AND THEY CANCELLED THE SPECIALIST AS THEY CANNOT JUSTIFY THE COST OF IT. I EVEN HAD TO PAY FOR THE LOANER AND AGAIN HONDA SAID THEY CANNOT JUSTIFY COVERING IT. THEY SAY TO CONTACT DEALER, DID NOT DO ANYTHING AND ENDED UP TELLING ME TO GET A LAWYER. I AM NOW STUCK WITH A CAR THAT HAS MAJOR ISSUES MOST OF THE TIME, I HAVE TO STOP ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD TO SHUT CAR OFF 2 TO 3 TIMES IN THE MORNING WHEN THE BATTERY IS FULL AND GO THROUGH LOTS OF GAS BECAUSE TH E BATTERY DOES NOT RECHARGE AND THE ENGINE IS REVVING EXTREMELY HIGH. I AM ALSO WORRIED ABOUT THE LONG TERM DAMAGE TO THE ENGINE.

NHTSA ID

11132244

Incident

Sep 27, 2018

Mileage

200 mi

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. MULTIPLE FAILED ATTEMPTS TO RESTART CHARGING WILL RESULT IN A "TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURE" WARNING FROM THE INSTRUMENT PANEL CAUSING THE VEHICLE TO NOT START AND DRIVE. OWNERS COULD BE STUCK IN A PARKING STALL FOR UP TO 4 HOURS TO ALLOW THE SYSTEM TO SELF-HEAL/RECOVER FROM THE TOTAL SYSTEM FAILURE BEFORE BEING ABLE TO START AND DRIVE THE CAR. ISSUE HAS BEEN DIAGNOSED BY HONDA DEALERSHIP, BUT NO INFORMATION FROM HONDA OR THE DEALERSHIP ON A FUTURE SOFTWARE UPDATE TO RESOLVE THE PROBLEM. I THINK HONDA SHOULD PERFORM ITS DUE DILIGENCE TO ISSUE A RECALL FOR THE CLARITY PHEV AND POTENTIALLY FOR ITS ALL-ELECTRIC VERSION TO RESOLVE THIS MAJOR FLAW.

NHTSA ID

11129500

Incident

Aug 15, 2018

Mileage

3,500 mi

PLUG-IN CHARGING SYSTEM PROBLEM. RANGE LIMITED. THIS PROBLEM IS FREQUENT (4 OUT OF 5 TIMES) WHEN CHARGING THE VEHICLE AT LEVEL 2 CHARGING STATIONS. OUT OF 10 CARS CHARGING, MINE IS THE ONLY ONE HAVING THIS ISSUE, INCLUDING ANOTHER 2018 HONDA CLARITY.

NHTSA ID

11119885

Incident

Aug 14, 2018

Mileage

574 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

TL* 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, (480) 778-2440) WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED WITH A COMPUTER ERROR. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND A CASE WAS OPENED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 1,300.

NHTSA ID

11102019

Incident

May 31, 2018

Mileage

1,300 mi