Problems owners report
Complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-IN Hybrid, by the system named in each complaint. One complaint can name several.
- Engine25
- Fuel/propulsion system23
- Electrical system20
- Unknown or other20
- Power train19
- Forward collision avoidance15
- Fuel system, gasoline15
- Vehicle speed control12
- Visibility/wiper11
- Exterior lighting10
NHTSA ODI complaints (public domain) · updated 23 Oct 2026 · 3 injuries and 0 deaths reported
Compared with other years
NHTSA ODI complaints by model year
Recalls
23V858000 · Fuel system, gasoline18 Dec 2023 · 2,490,460 vehicles
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.
Whether a recall was fixed on a particular car is known only to the manufacturer: check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
NHTSA recalls · summaries in NHTSA's own words
Service bulletins
What Honda told its dealers about the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-IN Hybrid: known faults, fixes and updates.
| Bulletin | Summary |
|---|---|
| 10245549 | Service Bulletin - There is a software problem in the PCM, which may cause the MIL to come on with DTC P26A3 (electric water valve malfunction), DTC P100C (electric VTC motor speed signal circuit malfunction) and/or P0010 (variable valve timing control [VTC] malfunction). There are up to three updates that must be performed on applicable vehicles. |
| 10220360 | Owner's Notification Letter - Our records indicate that a PRODUCT UPDATE has not been completed on this vehicle (Vehicle Identification Number [VIN NUMBER]). On Clarity Plug-in Hybrid vehicles, there is a software error in the miles per gallon calculation, which affects the HV range display and causes it to read unusually high. |
| 10199344 | Owner Notification Letter - On some 2018-21 Clarity Plug-In Hybrid models, the A/C condenser may leak refrigerant. American Honda is extending the warranty on the A/C condenser to 10 years from the original date of purchase with unlimited miles. This warranty extension provides coverage for the original owner and any subsequent owners. No action is required on your part unless you experience a problem. |
| 10194978 | Dealer Message - Today, May 28, 2021, American Honda is announcing a warranty extension for certain 2018-2020 Accord and Accord Hybrid, 2018-2020 Civic, 2017-2021 Civic Hatch, 2017-2021 Civic Type R, 2018-2021 Clarity PHEV, and 2019-2021 Insight vehicles. This warranty extension covers the A/C condenser to address concerns of leaking refrigerant. American Honda is extending the warranty on the A/C condenser to 10 years from the original date of purchase. |
| 10194957 | Service Bulletin - American Honda is extending the warranty on the A/C condenser to 10 years from the original date of purchase with unlimited miles. This warranty extension only covers vehicles that have a defective A/C condenser from the factory. The A/C condenser was not manufactured to specification. As a result, corrosion may develop in the form of tiny holes in the condenser tube walls that allow the refrigerant to leak out. This does not apply to any vehicle that has a leaking condenser due to foreign object damage. It also does not apply to any vehicle that has ever been declared a tot |
| 10187007 | Service Bulletin - The Hybrid System Failure message comes on the MID, and DTC P1D8D (Generator Motor Inverter Short) is stored. |
| 10166784 | Service Bulletin - There is a software problem in the PCM, which may cause the MIL to come on with DTC P26A3 (electric water valve malfunction), DTC P100C (electric VTC motor speed signal circuit malfunction) and/or P0010 (variable valve timing control [VTC] malfunction). |
| 10162001 | Dealer Message - On October 4, 2018, American Honda announced several Product Update Campaigns for certain 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) models. Replacement CPU Assembly Auto AC Kits and Warranty CD's were available at the time of bulletin launch. |
| 10156633 | Owner Notification Letter - On Clarity Plug-in Hybrid vehicles, there may be a software problem in the powertrain control module (PCM), causing a malfunction indicator light to come on and store one or more diagnostic trouble codes (DTCs). |
| 10156632 | Owner Notification Letter - On Clarity Plug-in Hybrid vehicles, there is a software problem in the climate control unit when running the heater, which may turn the malfunction indicator light on. |
| 10156631 | Owner Notification Letter - On Clarity Plug-in Hybrid vehicles, there is a software error in the miles per gallon calculation, which affects the HV range display and causes it to read unusually high. |
| 10156630 | Owner Notification Letter - On Clarity Plug-in Hybrid vehicles, the warranty information CD that was placed in the vehicle during vehicle assembly did not list the correct warranty coverage for the state of Oregon. |
| 10154940 | Service Bulletin - The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid and Clarity Electric may not start charging when plugged in or may stop charging before the high-voltage lithium-ion battery is full. |
| 10147178 | Service bulletin - The Clarity Plug-In Hybrid and Clarity Electric may not start charging when plugged in or may stop charging before the high-voltage lithium-ion battery is full. |
| 10143337 | Service bulletin - The MIL comes on with DTC P100C (electric VTC motor speed signal circuit malfunction) and/or P0010 (variable valve timing control [VTC] malfunction). |
| 10143164 | Service bulletin - The MIL comes on with DTC P100C (electric VTC motor speed signal circuit malfunction) and/or P0010 (variable valve timing control [VTC] malfunction). |
| 10142623 | Tech line summary article - We're getting reports of the HV range shown in the driver information interface reading unusually high (more than 1,000 miles remaining). How high it gets depends on driving style, and it typically happens after many EV trips not using the engine. |
| 10115757 | Service news article - To prevent damage during shipping, leather-wrapped steering wheels come with a protective plastic covering. The easiest way to remove it during PDI is to grab the covering with both hands near the top of the steering wheel and pull it toward you, like you see here. The covering comes right off. |
NHTSA manufacturer communications (public domain)
NHTSA investigations
DP22005 · Electrical system:propulsion systemopened 27 Jan 2023 · closed 7 Aug 2023
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation