2018 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid Engine Problems

NHTSA component category: ENGINE · data through 07/12/2026

25Engine complaints

19.2%Of all 130 complaints

#1Most-reported category

Source: U.S. NHTSA complaint data. Complaints are unverified reports from vehicle owners — a complaint is not a confirmed defect.

How engine ranks on this vehicle

ENGINE25 · 19.2%

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM23 · 17.7%

POWER TRAIN19 · 14.6%

Unspecified / other18 · 13.8%

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM16 · 12.3%

Share of the 130 complaints citing each category; one complaint can cite several. Full breakdown on the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid overview page.

What owners report

“WHILE I WAS CHECKING THE ENGINE OIL LEVEL, I SMELLED A STRONG GASOLINE ODOR. SINCE THIS PARTICULAR ENGINE HAS A KNOWN OIL DILUTION PROBLEM I…”NHTSA complaint 11405237 — filed 03/28/2021

“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…”NHTSA complaint 11394934 — filed 02/06/2021

“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…”NHTSA complaint 11385163 — filed 12/27/2020

Excerpts are shortened and scrubbed of personal details; they are individual, unverified reports.

Engine complaints by year filed

Frequently asked questions

Does the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid have engine problems?

Engine is the most-reported problem area on the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid: 25 of 130 complaints on file (19.2%). Complaints are unverified owner reports, not confirmed defects.

How many complaints does the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid have in total?

130 complaints were on file with NHTSA as of 07/12/2026. Across all categories, 9 involved a crash, 1 involved a fire, 3 reported injuries, and none reported deaths.

What does NHTSA's engine category include?

NHTSA assigns each complaint to standard component categories; this page reports the ENGINE category exactly as NHTSA defines and records it.

About this data — Complaint figures on this page are consumer reports submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), a U.S. government agency. NHTSA does not verify individual complaints; a complaint is not proof that a defect exists, and counts reflect what owners chose to report, not confirmed failure rates. Recall information comes from official NHTSA safety recall campaigns; recall repairs are free at authorized dealers. Always check your specific vehicle by VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. CarModelProblems.com is an independent site and is not affiliated with NHTSA or any vehicle manufacturer. Data through 07/12/2026.