RoadVitals

2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid Visibility Problems

Owner-reported complaints naming the visibility system, filed with NHTSA

Data refreshed

Visibility reportsComplaints 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.
10
Latest Apr 4, 2026
Share of all reportsThis category as a share of every owner report on file for this model year. One report can name more than one component, so the categories overlap.
8%
of 132 total
Crash or fire reportedReports in this category whose submitter recorded that a crash or a fire occurred. The reporter's own answer on the NHTSA form, not a verified finding.
0
Injuries or deaths reportedTotals the submitters entered on their own reports in this category. Not verified by NHTSA and not a casualty statistic.
0

What this page shows

Reports naming windshields, glass, wipers, defrosters and mirrors. Every record below is an owner-reported complaint about the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid submitted to NHTSA — not a confirmed defect, not a recall and not a manufacturer bulletin. 10 reports on file name it.

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

Owner reports naming visibility

Shown in the owner’s own words, exactly as filed

Visibility
Filed Apr 4, 2026

Driver’s side sun visor increasingly hard to operate and finally broke internally due to high forces to adjust. Cannot use to shield driver’s eye from sun glare as intended thus reducing visibility. Passenger side also increasingly hard to operate but has not broken yet due to low use. Known problem for Hondas as indicated by TSB’s for other models and large number of videos on how to replace.

NHTSA ID
11729216
Incident
Apr 4, 2024
Visibility
Filed Oct 23, 2024

Honda has known issues with the AC system in the 2018-21 Honda Clarity (see [XXX] ). About 4 months after I had the faulty condenser replaced, the AC system (including the window defroster/defogger) stopped working again. This time Honda says that the Evaporator Compressor is faulty and needs replaced. Speaking with other Clarity owners, this seems to be a common failure shortly after the faulty condenser is replaced. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

NHTSA ID
11621583
Incident
Sep 29, 2024
Visibility
Filed Oct 10, 2024

The evaporator has failed at just 29000 miles on the car. The condenser was replaced under warranty 2 years ago after it cracked, but the evaporator has now broken and is not covered. This means the AC is not working, which can impact defogging/defrosting, as well as cause unsafe conditions for the driver.

NHTSA ID
11619183
Incident
May 1, 2024
Visibility
Filed Sep 26, 2024

The A/C evaporator is leaking and it is not working anymore, according to the local Honda Service Center (Pacific Honda San Diego). That's a safety issue because when the A/C doesn't work, the car can't defrost the windshield properly. The local dealership let me know that many cars of the same model are suffering the same issue,

NHTSA ID
11616730
Incident
Sep 26, 2024
Visibility
Filed Sep 12, 2024

AC stopped working as both condenser and evaporator are leaking. But they only recall condenser currently. They should recall on both. When the A/C doesn't work, the car can't defrost the windshield properly, which is a USDOT defined safety issue.

NHTSA ID
11614260
Incident
May 12, 2024
Visibility
Filed Aug 22, 2024

My air conditioner stopped working in June 2024 following during a long trip in 100+ degree weather since it was blowing only air temperature air. I took it to Honda of Escondido and they determined it was the evaporator. The cost of the repair was ,$2823 on with 64,971 miles on my car. I've been told that it's a safety hazard to drive in a car without AC because of the fact the window defroster won't work, thus making it difficult to drive safely. In addition, during our road trip, we had to keep stopping to get ice water to cool ourselves off. It was not safe to be driving in the car long distance in high temperatures.

NHTSA ID
11610205
Incident
Jul 1, 2024
Visibility
Filed Apr 17, 2024

Car defroster fails to clear foggy windshield while driving. AC runs warm despite having serviced a previous issue pertaining to the AC condenser.

NHTSA ID
11583705
Incident
Apr 13, 2024
Visibility
Filed Dec 5, 2022

The windshield wiper seems to skid past where it's supposed to stop and bump the side molding. It makes an annoying sound and I am concerned it may harm the wiper or windshield. I have not taken it in for repair. I was told by other owners of the car model this is a common issue and the fix is to clean the window up with a clay bar, or take it in for a motor replacement. The former seems to have resolved the issue, but I assume windows shouldn't always be at that level of perfection for functional wipers.

NHTSA ID
11495998
Incident
Dec 4, 2022
Visibility
Filed Feb 28, 2019

AIR VENT IS ABOVE WIPER PARKING SPOT. SNOW MELTS AND FREEZES AGAIN WHEN TOUCH WIPERS. ICE ACCUMULATES ON WIPER EVEN CABIN TEMPERATURE IS ABOVE 70F. WHICH MAKES WIPERS USELESS AND DRIVING DANGEROUS IN SNOWING CONDITION.

NHTSA ID
11183189
Incident
Feb 27, 2019
Mileage
10 mi
Powertrain (other)Visibility
Filed Oct 22, 2018

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

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.

Other components reported on this vehicle

Categories with enough reports to have a page of their own

Elsewhere on this vehicle

Data sources

Data on this page last refreshed .