Clarity Plug-In Hybrid (2018)
Reliability Score
Complaints by Engine Code
LEB3(H4)
1.5L 4-cyl / 103 hpView details
Complaint Breakdown
Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid Unidentified Engine
View details
Complaint Breakdown
Battery & Propulsion Reliability
Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV)
Battery & propulsion complaint analysis for the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid
That's about 3.6x the typical rate for PHEVs in this dataset (median 2.8 per year). Above peer average — but high-volume models naturally produce more raw complaints, so check the issue mix below before drawing conclusions.
What kind of battery complaint?
Among the 10 battery-related complaints, here's the type mix. These percentages describe what the complaints are about — not how reliable the vehicle is overall.
Loss of power, drive unit, inverter, traction motor, DC-DC converter.
Propulsion battery defects, capacity loss, BMS faults, replacement claims.
Regen brake feel, one-pedal driving, B-mode complaints.
Hybrid system warnings, eCVT, motor-generator, hybrid transaxle.
Charge port, cable, mobile connector, or session failures.
Sample complaint excerpts
Electric Propulsion
- [2018] FEW TIMES IT HAS HAPPENED ESPECIALLY IN EXTREME COLD WEATHER, THERE WILL BE LOSS OF POWER/ACCELERATION EVEN THOUGH YOU ARE TRYING TO ACCELERATE THE VEHICLE. WHILE ACCELERATING IT WILL TAKE THE COMMAND ENGINE RPM WILL BE HIGHER BUT VEHICLE IS NOT TAKING UP THE SPEED. EITHER IT WILL STAY TO GO AT LOW SPEED OR SLOWLY IT WILL STARTING TO HALT SITUATION. THIS HAS HAPPENED FEW TIMES(ABOUT 5-6 TIMES). AN
- [2018] WE LEASED A 2018 HONDA CLARITY IN DECEMBER OF 2017. SINCE THEN, THE CAR HAS LOST POWER SEVERAL TIMES (OVER 25 TIMES). ATTACHED ARE 2 SEPARATE VIDEO CLIPS SHOWING THE CAR LOSING POWER. THE CAR FEELS LIKE THE ENGINE DISENGAGES AND THE REVOLUTIONS GO UP, BUT THE CAR SLOWS DOWN. I HAVE BEEN ON THE FREEWAY GOING UP A HILL, WHEN THE ENGINE LOST POWER. WE WENT FROM 65 MPH DOWN TO 20 MPH. I HAD TO FULLY S
- [2018] 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 SOME
High-Voltage Battery
- [2018] ON APPROX 6 OCCASIONS, WHEN EV POWER IS USED UP, THE CAR SWITCHES TO ICE MODE WITH ISSUES. WHEN TRAVELING UP HILL, IT FEELS LIKE THE TRANSMISSION IS NOT ENGAGING. THE VEHICLE LOSSES POWER, AND DOES NOT ACCELERATE. THE ICE REVS EXTREMELY HIGH WITHOUT SPEED GAIN. HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED A DOWNHILL SITUATION WITH NEARLY FULL EV IN EV MODE. VEHICLE FEELS LIKE IT DISENGAGES DRIVETRAIN. WHEN PRESSING T
- [2018] 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 NEARB
Regenerative Braking
- [2018] The regenerative braking system left paddle (on the steering wheel) intermittently does not work. I press the paddle to slow the vehicle but nothing happens. If I press it multiple times, sometimes it will slow the vehicle, other times nothing happens. I use that method of braking frequently, so when it doesn't work, it jeopardizes the safety of myself and others on the road. This problem has been
Hybrid Drivetrain
- [2018] 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 E
Charging System
- [2018] 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.
Source: classified from NHTSA complaint and recall data. "Battery-related" includes high-voltage propulsion battery, charging system, hybrid drivetrain, electric propulsion, regenerative braking, 12V auxiliary battery, and thermal-event complaints. Other complaints (suspension, steering, brakes, infotainment) appear in the engine and vehicle-level sections. Rates are absolute counts, not normalized per-VIN — high-volume models naturally produce more raw complaints than low-volume ones. Self-reported death and injury counts are capped per complaint to limit form abuse.
Owner Complaints by System
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.
What to check on a used 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid
On a used 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid, the systems with the most NHTSA owner complaints are the fuel system (38), the engine (25) and the electrical system (22). Each one has an inspection step below, with counts as of 2026-10-12. A complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
- Let the engine idle for five minutes, walk around the car and smell for fuel.Safety. NHTSA has 38 owner complaints on the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid about the fuel system.
- Start the engine cold and listen for the first 30 seconds, then again at idle once it is warm.Costly repair. NHTSA has 25 owner complaints on the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid about the engine.
- Switch on every electrical item in turn: lights, windows, locks, wipers, climate fan, screen and power outlets.Costly repair. NHTSA has 22 owner complaints on the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid about the electrical system.
- Switch the ignition on and watch the airbag light. On the drive, check the backup camera and any collision or lane warning.Safety. NHTSA has 19 owner complaints on the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid about the airbags and driver-assist systems.
- Accelerate gently through every gear, then once at full throttle. Shift into Reverse and back to Drive.Costly repair. NHTSA has 19 owner complaints on the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid about the transmission and drivetrain.
Recalls (1)
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.
Alternatives in Compact Sedan
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the most common 2018-2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid complaints?
Owners have filed 136 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018-2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid. The systems they name most often are the fuel system, the engine and the electrical system.
Is the 2018-2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid a good used car?
That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 136 complaints with NHTSA about the 2018-2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.
How many NHTSA complaints does the 2018-2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid have?
NHTSA has 136 owner complaints on file for the 2018-2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.
What recalls affect the 2018-2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid?
NHTSA lists 1 recall covering some 2018-2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.
What should I check before buying a used Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid?
Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the fuel system, the engine and the electrical system, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.
Does the Clarity Plug-In Hybrid have NHTSA crash test ratings?
NHTSA has not published crash test ratings for the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid. Not all vehicles are tested each year. For the latest NHTSA safety information, visit nhtsa.gov/ratings.
Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 136 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-10-12.