What Honda Clarity Fuel Cell owners have reported to NHTSA, the service bulletins the manufacturer sent dealers, and any federal defect investigations, by model year. See Honda Clarity Fuel Cell safety recalls or check your VIN.
Complaints owners filed with NHTSA, by the model year of the vehicle. A high count can also mean a popular year, so compare it with how many were sold.
| Year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injured | Deaths | TSBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 |
| 2019 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 8 |
| 2018 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 |
| 2017 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 27 |
The vehicle systems named most often in Honda Clarity Fuel Cell complaints (one complaint can name several).
In the owners’ own words, as filed with NHTSA. Unverified reports; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.
2018 HONDA CLARITY. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO VEHICLE NOT ACCELERATING OVER 30 MPH. *LD *JS THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE SAT IN PARK FOR 30 MINUTES, AFTER WHICH IT WOULD NOT ACCELERATE PAST 30MPH AND THE RPMS ESCALATED TO RPMS. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO 3 DIFFERENT REPAIR SHOPS NONE WERE ABLE TO MAKE THE REPAIRS. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MPG DROPPED FROM 44 TO 24.7.*JS
2018 HONDA CLARITY FUEL CELL EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN REDUCTION IN POWER DUE TO A FAILURE OF THE FUEL CELL POWER GENERATION. THE CAR DISPLAYED AN ERROR MESSAGE "POWER SYSTEM PROBLEM. STOP DRIVING WHEN SAFE" WHILE DRIVING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS ON THE FREEWAY. THE CAR THEN HAD LOW POWER AND WAS RUNNING OFF THE BATTERY. AFTER PULLING OVER AND TURNING OFF THE CAR AND RESTARTING, IT HAD THE SAME ERROR WITH LOW BATTERY ONLY. THEN WE TURNED OFF, WAITED ABOUT TEN MINUTES, RESTARTED THE CAR, AND THE FUEL CELL SYSTEM SEEMED FINE. THE BATTERY BEGAN TO CHARGE. WE HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPRODUCE THE PROBLEM SINCE THEN. THIS CAR HAS PREVIOUSLY ALREADY HAD ALL RECALLS COMPLETED, INCLUDING THE SOFTWARE UPDATE TO AD…
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HONDA CLARITY FUEL CELL. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE FUEL SYSTEM INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO DUBLIN HONDA (877-418-8323, LOCATED AT 6300 DUBLIN BLVD, DUBLIN, CA 94568), BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A HYDROGEN VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INSTRUCTED THE DUBLIN DEALER TO SHIP THE VEHICLE TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER IN LOS ANGELES, CA WHERE THE HYDROGEN FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND RETURNED TO THE CONTACT. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V315000 (EQUIPMENT). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME DUBLIN HONDA DEALER WHERE THE WATER PUMP …
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2017 HONDA CLARITY FUEL CELL. THE CONTACT RECEIVED A RECALL NOTIFICATION FOR NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V315000 (EQUIPMENT) AND STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE. KEN HARVEY'S DUBLIN HONDA (6300 DUBLIN BLVD, DUBLIN, CA 94568) CONFIRMED PARTS WERE NOT AVAILABLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT NOTIFIED OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. PARTS DISTRIBUTION DISCONNECT.
THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT 10 MINS. RETURN TO CAR AND START IT. THE 'POWER MANAGEMENT' WARNING DISPLAYED. FOLLOWING WITH BRAKE SYSTEM, TPMS, ELECTRIC POWER STEERING, AND RDM INOPERATE MESSAGE SHOW UP. CAR COULD NOT START UP.
Repair instructions and other communications the manufacturer sent dealers about known issues. A TSB is not a recall, and the repair is usually free only while the car is under warranty; ask your dealer for the bulletin number.
Owner's Notification Letter - Product Update - Our records indicate that a Product Update has not been completed on this vehicle (Vehicle Identification Number XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX). The software that monitors the temperature in the fuel cell tank may not be up to date. This may cause the vehicle to incorrectly display a hydrogen system warning on the instrument panel and store a system malfunction.
Dealer Message - In the event you experience a sub tank wire harness rodent damage on the 2017âÂÂ2020 Clarity FCV, after repairing / replacing the wire harness, wrap the areas shown below with RODENT DETERRENT TAPE, P/N 4019-2317.
ServiceNews Article - There are several possible causes for the SRS DTC U3000-49 (Internal Failure of the SRS Unit) to be stored. If you can duplicate the DTC, the troubleshooting will take you through the step-by-step process in isolating the faulty component. In most situations, the SRS Unit should be last on the list of components to replace. Here is a quick tip for troubleshooting a faulty seat weight sensor.
ServiceNews Article - There are several possible causes for the SRS DTC U3000-49 (Internal Failure of the SRS Unit) to be stored. If you can duplicate the DTC, the troubleshooting will take you through the step-by-step process in isolating the faulty component. In most situations, the SRS Unit should be last on the list of components to replace. Here is a quick tip for troubleshooting a faulty seat weight sensor.
Service Bulletin - The MIL comes on with DTC P1F86 FC Cell Voltage Too Low (Caution).
Service Bulletin - The MIL comes on with DTC P1F86 FC Cell Voltage Too Low (Caution).
ServiceNews Article - There are several possible causes for the SRS DTC U3000-49 (Internal Failure of the SRS Unit) to be stored. If you can duplicate the DTC, the troubleshooting will take you through the step-by-step process in isolating the faulty component. In most situations, the SRS Unit should be last on the list of components to replace. Here is a quick tip for troubleshooting a faulty seat weight sensor.
Service Bulletin - The customer cannot refuel the vehicle completely at certain hydrogen stations.
Service Bulletin - The MIL comes on with DTC P1FBF (air pump controller failure [internal failure warning]) during startup.
Service Bulletin - The MIL comes on with DTC P1FBF (air pump controller failure [internal failure warning]) during startup.
Service Bulletin - The fuel cell (FC) system uses an electric water pump to circulate insulating fluid and remove excess heat from the fuel cell stack. During manufacturing, the water pump's magnetic surface was not treated for corrosion resistance. Over time, the corrosion may prevent the water pump's motor from starting, which will prevent the vehicle from starting. If this happens while driving, the vehicle can only be driven for a short distance at greatly reduced power.
Service Bulletin - Water improperly discharged inside the fuel cell (FC) stack mixes with hydrogen and oxygen, generating hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide/water combination concentrates in one area, accelerating the deterioration of the electrolyte membrane in the fuel cell. This deterioration can reduce fuel cell output.
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation public data (complaints, manufacturer communications, investigations), model years 2010 and later. Had a safety problem? Report it to NHTSA.
In complaints filed with NHTSA for model years 2017–2021, owners most often name: equipment, fuel/propulsion system, electrical system. 5 complaints are on record.
No. A complaint is an unverified report from an owner. A technical service bulletin (TSB) is the manufacturer telling dealers how to fix a known issue; it is not a safety recall and is usually covered only under warranty. A recall is a formal safety action, and its repair is free.
File a vehicle safety complaint at NHTSA.gov. NHTSA reads every report, and patterns of complaints are what open defect investigations and, eventually, recalls.
