2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid Powertrain (other) Problems

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

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

When driving on the highway and car runs low on electric charge the engine revs up and the car slows down when changing to engine mode. When this happens, the car slows down to a crawl, and you are not able to accelerate with a roaring sound. This has happened several times and I took it to have Honda dealer to look at it but couldn't duplicate the problem. There are multiple reports regarding the same problem. It is a safety issue if driving in traffic or going over a mountain pass.

NHTSA ID

11455040

Incident

Mar 3, 2022

When driving up a hill and car runs low on electric charge the engine revs up and the car slows down when changing to engine mode. When this happens, the car slows down to a crawl, and you are not able to accelerate. This has happened five times and I'm taking it to have Honda look at it. I have to leave it with them for serval days so they can try to duplicate the problem. I read online about numerus people who have experienced the same problem. It is a safety issue if driving in traffic or going over a mountain pass. I had it in the shop recently and they couldn't identify the problem, so I have to leave it there for an extended period of them to work on.

NHTSA ID

11452880

Incident

Feb 11, 2022

When driving on a steep hill, the car switched from all electric to hybrid mode as it ran out of battery only power. The transmission failed to engage and the engine revs increase as if stuck in neutral. The car slowed from 45 mph to 5 mph, then the car accelerated to 20 remaining 1/2 mile to my residence. The car was evaluated by Culver City Honda on May 26, 2021. The dealer advised that they were unable to replicate the anomaly or identify failure codes on the on board diagnostic computer.

NHTSA ID

11419054

Incident

May 15, 2021

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE THROUGH THE MOUNTAINS, THE CAR WAS ABLE TO KEEP UP WITH TRAFFIC AT THE BOTTOM OF THE MOUNTAIN. HOWEVER, AS I APPROACHED THE SUMMIT, NO MATTER HOW FAR DOWN I PUSHED THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL, THE CAR WOULD NOT INCREASE SPEED. WITH THE PEDAL COMPLETELY FLOORED (PAST THE HYBRID SYSTEM CLICK POINT) THE CAR WOULD STILL NOT PICKUP SPEED, NOR DID IT SOUND LIKE THE ENGINE WAS EVEN TRYING TO REV HIGHER. AS I KEPT APPROACHING THE SUMMIT WITH THE PEDAL FLOORED, THE CAR STARTED TO SLOWLY LOSE SPEED. AS A RESULT, I WAS NOT ABLE TO KEEP WITH TRAFFIC AND HAD TO MOVE TO THE FAR RIGHT LANE. DURING THIS EXPERIENCE, THE CAR WAS OPERATING IN HYBRID MODE WITH ABOUT 10% BATTERY CHARGE SAVED. MY PREVIOUS PHEV NEVER EXPERIENCED THIS TYPE OF BEHAVIOR EVEN THOUGH IT HAD LESS SYSTEM HORSEPOWER AND TORQUE. TO EXPERIENCE THIS WAS DISAPPOINTING. NOT KNOWING IF THE CAR WILL ACTUALLY ACCELERATE WHEN I NEED TO IS HIGHLY DISCONCERTING.

NHTSA ID

11385163

Incident

Dec 27, 2020

Mileage

17,500 mi

STATE OF DRIVING CONDITION: THE CAR WAS SET IN CRUISE AT 70 MPH IN HV MODE (NOT CHARGE MODE). EV RANGE WAS 30 MILE REMAINING, APPROXIMATELY 70% OF BATTERY REMAINING. THE HONDA CLARITY PHEV SPONTANEOUS EXCESSIVE REVVING THE ENGINE WHILE CRUISING AT A CONSTANT SPEED ON FLAT HIGHWAY ROAD THEN THE CAR DROPPED SPEED BY ITSELF WITHOUT ANY CAR IN FRONT. ONCE I NOTICE THE CAR DOES NOT HAVE POWER TO REGAIN TO SET CRUISING SPEED, I TURNED CRUISING OFF, SWITCHED THE CAR FROM HV TO EV THEN THE ENGINE STOP DOING HIGH REVVING. I DROVE IN EV FOR 2 MINUTES THEN SWITCH BACK TO HV THEN THE CAR REGAIN ITS POWER TO RESUME CRUISING SPEED. THIS IS A VERY DANGEROUS SITUATION WHEN DRIVERS DID NOT AWARE WHEN THE CAR DECIDED TO CUT ITS POWER IN HV MODE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME I ENCOUNTER THE SITUATION, BUT I'VE NOTICED MANY SIMILAR COMPLAINTS FROM OTHER DRIVER REGARD TO CLARITY PHEV SPONTANEOUS ENGINE REVVING ON MANY FORUM.

NHTSA ID

11202812

Incident

Apr 22, 2019

Mileage

15,703 mi

SO MY WIFE TOOK THE CLARITY ON HER REGULAR COMMUTE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE A BUNCH OF RECALLS WERE PERFORMED ON THE CAR ON FRIDAY. ALONG WITH A01 SERVICE, PRODUCT UPDATES 18-089, 90, 91 AND 97 WERE PERFORMED ON THE CAR. SHE RAN INTO A DANGEROUS SITUATION. I'LL LIST THE STEPS BELOW. HAS ANYONE ELSE ENCOUNTERED THIS? I PLAN TO REPORT TO NHTSA ALSO. - SHE WAS DRIVING NORMALLY ON HER WAY BACK HOME IN ECON MODE AT AROUND 70 MPH OR UNDER. PRIOR TO THE UPDATES THE BATTERY NEVER USED TO GO BELOW 9 OR 10% (LAST TWO BARS). BUT TODAY IT WENT TO NO BARS LEFT. - THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS NOT RESPONSIVE AND THE SPEED STARTED DROPPING TO ABOUT 40 MPH. LUCKILY NO ONE WAS CLOSE BEHIND HER. SHE SWITCHED ON HER HAZARDS. - SHE TURNED ON HYBRID MODE AND THE CAR ACCELERATED UP AGAIN BACK TO HIGHWAY SPEEDS. IT WORKED NORMALLY ON THE REST OF THE JOURNEY HOME. SO ON ANY DAY BEFORE LAST WEEK, THE CAR WOULD A) NOT LET THE BATTERY GO BELOW 2 BARS B) KEEP UP SPEED AND AUTOMATICALLY SWITCH TO HYBRID MODE ONCE EV MODE WAS UNAVAILABLE. WHAT HAPPENED TODAY WAS SCARY. EDIT -

NHTSA ID

11184206

Incident

Mar 4, 2019

Mileage

14,125 mi

TL* 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. THERE WERE NO WARNING INDICATORS ILLUMINATED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT DIAGNOSED OR REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 4,418. THE VIN WAS UNKNOWN.

NHTSA ID

11182859

Incident

Nov 14, 2018

Mileage

4,418 mi

HI. MY 2018 HONDA CLARITY PHEV SUFFERS A SEVERE DROP IN POWER WHEN SWITCHING FROM THE ELECTRIC MOTOR TO GAS ENGINE. THERE HAVE BEEN MANY TIMES WHEN I AM DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT 60 MPH AND ALL OF SUDDEN IT CAN BARELY GO 30 MPH AND THE ENGINE IS REVVING VERY LOUDLY. THIS ISSUE APPEARS TO BE WORSE IN COLD TEMPERATURES. I NOW HAVE TO MAKE SURE I AM NOT ON THE INTERSTATE FOR THE SWITCH AND SOMETIMES PULL OVER TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD FOR A FEW MINUTES UNTIL IT PASSES. PLEASE HAVE HONDA ISSUE A FIX FOR THIS PROBLEM.

NHTSA ID

11182731

Incident

Feb 4, 2019

Mileage

8,000 mi

IN HV MODE, UP SLOPE, AT 2 E BARS LEFT, ENGINE REVIVE AND LOUD. BUT NO ACCELERATE. FELT LIKE LOST POWER.

NHTSA ID

11182568

Incident

Jan 8, 2019

Mileage

500 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

MAJOR POWER LOSS WHILE IN HV CHARGE MODE AND ACCELERATING UP A STEEP HILL FROM A STOP.SWITCHED TO EV MODE TO AVOID POTENTIAL REAR END COLLISION.

NHTSA ID

11180351

Incident

Feb 7, 2019

Mileage

5,500 mi

WHEN VEHICLE IS IN ANY MODE THAT REQUIRE THE INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINE, IT PERSISTENTLY GETS STUCK IN A HIGH REV, HIGH RPM, STATE AT ANY SPEED. THIS CAUSES POWER FLUCTUATIONS AND EXTREME ENGINE NOISE. THIS CREATES CHALLENGING AND POTENTIALLY UNSAFE DRIVING CONDITIONS DUE TO THE SENSITIVE STATE OF THE ENGINE WHEN STUCK IN THIS MODE.

NHTSA ID

11174607

Incident

Jul 2, 2018

Mileage

100 mi

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

NHTSA ID

11173847

Incident

Jan 24, 2019

Mileage

895 mi

AFTER SEVERAL MILES AND DEPLETION OF ELECTRIC STORAGE AND WHILE CLIMBING A SIGNIFICANT GRADE THE TRANSMISSION FELT AS IF IT WAS SLIPPING NOT ABLE TO CLIMB THE GRADE. HAD TO MAKE AN EVASIVE MANEUVER CROSSING ON COMING TRAFFIC LANE (CLEAR) TO GET OFF THE HIGHWAY (101) . THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT PULL THE HILL AND SLOWED TO 25 MPH ON A TURN,IN A 55 MPH ZONE , TWO LANE , MOUNTAIN ROAD. TURNED OFF THE VEHICLE, AFTER STOPPING, NO CODES OR SERVICE LIGHTS ACTIVE. AFTER A FEW MINUTES I STARTED THE VEHICLE AND IT WAS RUNNING AT A HIGHER RPM THAN NORMAL ( CHARGING THE MAIN BATT ? ) CLIMBING THE REST OF THE HILL ON WHAT FELT LIKE ELECTRIC POWER AND NO MORE THAN 25 MPH, AND JUST TAKING IT SLOW AND FEATHERING THE THROTTLE CONTROLLING THE SLIP/ RPM, SEAM TO RUN FINE AFTER A FEW MINUTES AND ON LEVEL GRADE WOULD MAINTAIN ROAD SPEED (60 MPH) APPEARED TO RUN BETTER WITH A SLIGHT CHARGE BUILT UP, AND AFTER A LONG DOWNHILL REGENATIVE BRAKING IT APPEARED TO DO BETTER AND RAN FINE IN TOWN ( NO GRADES/ CITY DRIVING ) TO AFRAID TO TRAVEL HOME WITH SEVERAL GRADES FROM THE NORTHCOAST REDWOODS. I OPTED FOR A TOW , 01/12/2019 WAITING FOR SERVICES. THE TRANSMISSION ONLY SLIPS OR APPEARS TO SLIP AFTER DEPLETED BATTERY LEVELS AND CLIMBING A GRADE OR TAKING OFF FROM A STOP QUICKLY (IE. CROSSING HIGHWAY 101 EUREKA, CA OR A INTERSECTION ) PLENTY OF POWER AND NO SLIPPING ON A FULL CHARGE OR MINIMAL CHARGE , AND ON ENGINE POWER ONLY

NHTSA ID

11166782

Incident

Jan 12, 2019

Mileage

5,385 mi

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.

NHTSA ID

11162362

Incident

Dec 16, 2018

Mileage

4,300 mi

ON STEEP INCLINE THIS VEHICLE ROLLED VIOLENTLY BACKWARDS WHEN I RELEASED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE EVEN WHEN I APPLIED GAS TO BRING IT FORWARD HAVE GRAVE CONCERNS AS TO THIS VEHICLES SAFETY ON STEEP HILLS OR INCLINES ALSO THE AIR VENT ON THE FRONT WINDSHIELD IS VERY SHORT AT TIMES ITS DIFFICULT TO KEEP THE WINDSHIELD FROM FOGGING UP UNLESS I USE THE A/C EVEN IN COLD WEATHER VERY UNSAFE AS YOU CANNOT SEE THE ROAD IT GETS SO BAD

NHTSA ID

11141894

Incident

Oct 21, 2018

Mileage

900 mi

VEHICLE ENGINE RESPONDED TO ACCELERATOR PEDAL INPUT, BUT WOULD NOT TRAVEL AT GREATER THAN 25 MILES PER HOUR ON SLIGHT UPHILL. VEHICLE HAD BEEN STARTED AFTER BEING OFF FOR APPROXIMATELY TWO HOURS. HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY WAS DRAINED AND VEHICLE WAS OPERATING EXCLUSIVELY ON GAS ENGINE. VEHICLE HAD BEEN ION "ON" CONDITION FOR SEVERAL MINUTES PRIOR TO STARTING DRIVING. VEHICLE HAD TO BE PULLED INTO NEARBY BUSINESS, SINCE IT COULD NOT MAINTAIN SPEED WITH FLOW OF TRAFFIC ON 50 MOH ROAD. PROBLEM RESOLVED AFTER APPROXIMATELY TWO MINUTES OF SLOW DRIVING. ISSUE APPEARS TO BE RELATED TO TRANSMISSION OF POWER FROM ENGINE TO DRIVE SYSTEM. POSSIBLE THAT GAS ENGINE POWER IS DIVERTED TO CHARGING HIGH VOLTAGE BATTERY, RATHER THAN PROVIDING POWER TO WHEELS.

NHTSA ID

11079907

Incident

Mar 12, 2018

Mileage

3,500 mi