2019 Honda CLARITY PLUG-IN HYBRID: complaints, problems and recalls

THE CAR DRIVES FINE WHEN THERE IS SUFFICIENT BATTERY. WHEN BATTERY LEVEL DROPS TO LOW (2 BARS) THE CAR DOES NOT RESPOND TO ACCELERATOR. THE ENGINE BECOMES SLUGGISH AND REVS UP QUITE A BIT. I HAVE DRIVEN ~650 MILES SO FAR AND THIS HAS HAPPENED 4 TIMES ALREADY. LUCKILY IT HAPPENED ONLY ONCE IN THE HIGHWAY WHERE THIS WOULD HAVE BEEN DANGEROUS AND LIFE THREATENING.

Owner-reported narrative. 600 miles reported. Look up ODI 11204059 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 HONDA CLARITY PLUG-IN HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING 70 MPH UP A HILL, THE VEHICLE FAILED TO ACCELERATE AND LOST POWER. ADDITIONALLY, THE MILES PER GALLON FOR A FULLY CHARGED BATTERY WAS SUPPOSED TO BE 48 MILES; HOWEVER, THE ACTUAL RANGE WAS 38 MILES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO NORM REEVES HONDA SUPERSTORE WEST COVINA (LOCATED AT 1840 E GARVEY AVE S, WEST COVINA, CA 91791, [phone removed]) TO BE DIAGNOSED. THE MECHANIC TEST DROVE THE VEHICLE, BUT WAS UNABLE TO DUPLICATE THE FAILURE. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICL…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,200 miles reported. Look up ODI 11208982 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 HONDA CLARITY PLUG-IN HYBRID. WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE CONTACT WOULD SWITCH FROM HYBRID TO BATTERY OPERATION. WHEN DOING SO, THE VEHICLE HESITATED AND SHUT OFF. WHEN THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, IT RESUMED NORMAL OPERATION. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO METRO HONDA (9399 AUTOPLEX ST, MONTCLAIR, CA 91763, [phone removed]) TO BE DIAGNOSED, BUT NO FAILURE CODES WERE FOUND. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED AND THE FAILURE RECURRED MULTIPLE TIMES. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS A…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11256682 at NHTSA ↗

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 HONDA CLARITY PLUG-IN HYBRID. WHEN THE VEHICLE SWITCHED FROM RUNNING ON THE BATTERY TO FUEL, THE VEHICLE LOST POWER. IN ADDITION, THE ENGINE RAN ON VERY HIGH RPMS AND THE VEHICLE LOST POWER WITHOUT WARNING AND CAME TO A COMPLETE STOP WHILE DRIVING 65 MPH. THE CONTACT COASTED THE VEHICLE TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD AND POWERED OFF THE ENGINE. THE VEHICLE WAS RESTARTED, BUT THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE, BUT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAG…

Owner-reported narrative. 100 miles reported. Look up ODI 11268872 at NHTSA ↗

ON A RANDOM BASIS OUR NEW CLARITY SUDDENLY LOSES POWER AND SOUNDS LIKE WE HAVE SHIFTED INTO NEUTRAL EVEN THOUGH WE ARE JUST CONTINUING IN DRIVE MODE. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVERAL TIMES A MONTH SINCE WE BOUGHT THE CAR IN JUNE 2019. WE HAVE HAD THE CAR TESTED AT THE DEALERSHIP WHERE WE BOUGHT THE CAR AND THEY COULD NOT REPLICATE THE PROBLEM. IN AUGUST THIS YEAR WE WERE MAKING A 2 HOUR DRIVE AND ON A TOLL ROAD WITH AN INCLINE IN RIVERSIDE, CA THE REVVING SOUND WAS REALLY LOUD AND WHEN I PUSHED THE GAS PEDDLE, NOTHING HAPPENED. I PULLED OVER TO TH…

Owner-reported narrative. 2,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11281806 at NHTSA ↗

TRY TO START VEHICLE AND IT GOES CRAZY, ALL SYSTEMS FAIL AND WILL NOT START. THIS WAS AFTER SITTING FOR ABOUT HALF HOUR IN A PARKING LOT. NEED TO GET OUT LOCK ALL DOORS WALK AWAY FOR 2 TO 5 MINS. ONCE RENTER THE SYSTEMS RESTART BUT ALL SETTINGS FAIL AND NEED TO RESET. I POSTED A YOUTUBE VIDEO (HTTPS://YOUTU.BE/N0FSEPKA5D8)

Owner-reported narrative. 8,790 miles reported. Look up ODI 11288858 at NHTSA ↗

THREE TIMES NOW, OUR NEW 2019 HONDA CLARITY HAS PUT ME AND MY FAMILY IN DANGER. TWICE IN NOVEMBER 2019, ONCE IN JANUARY 2020, THE CAR SUDDENLY LOST POWER IN THE MIDST OF DRIVING UP HILLS, ONCE AT HIGHWAY SPEED. EACH TIME THE CAR HAS PRODUCED A TERRIBLE BURNING SMELL AND SOUNDS OF HIGH REVVING OF THE ENGINE. IN ALL OF THESE INSTANCES, THE BATTERY WAS LOW, BUT THE GAS LEVEL AND REPORTED RANGE OF THE CAR WAS HIGH. ONCE THE CAR WAS IN ECO MODE, TWICE IT WAS IN OTHER MODES. WE HAVE BEEN TO THE DEALER 3 TIMES, AND THEY HAVE BEEN IN TOUCH WITH N…

Owner-reported narrative. 3,040 miles reported. Look up ODI 11309863 at NHTSA ↗

MY CAR IS LOSING POWER AND GETTING LOUD NOISE WHILE DRIVING ON AN UPHILL ROAD. I HAVE SHOWN MY CAR TO 3 DIFFERENT DEALERS AND THEY COULDN'T FIX IT. I HAVE SEEN MANY ONLINE REVIEWS WITH THE SAME PROBLEM AND STILL, HONDA IS NOT HELPING ITS CUSTOMER. *TR

Owner-reported narrative. 12,500 miles reported. Look up ODI 11330558 at NHTSA ↗

Reported: 2020-06-04 (June 4, 2020)

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019 Clarity Fuel Cell, Clarity Electric, and Clarity Plug-in Hybrid vehicles with rear seat belt assemblies with a dual-mode locking mechanism. The seat belt webbing sensor locking mechanism may not lock as intended.

Consequence: In the event of a crash, the seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury.

Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seat belt assembly production dates, and replace the assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 24, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is Z7L.

Reported: 2023-12-18 (December 18, 2023)

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.

Consequence: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.

Remedy: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.