How common are engine problems in the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid?

NHTSA lists 33 engine-related complaints for the 2018 Clarity Plug-in Hybrid, which is 25% of all 134 complaints filed for that model year.

Is there a recall for the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid engine?

No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this engine problem area.

At what mileage do engine problems typically show up?

The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this issue is 3,250 miles.

What kind of engine failures do owners describe?

Owners report sudden loss of acceleration, engine revving to high RPM without power, and in some cases unintended acceleration leading to crashes.

Have these engine issues caused any crashes or injuries?

NHTSA data lists 5 crashes and 2 injuries linked to complaints in this engine problem area for the 2018 Clarity Plug-in Hybrid.

2018 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid Engine Problems

The 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid has 33 engine-related complaints, 25% of its 134 total complaints for the year. Owners report sudden loss of acceleration, unexpected high-rev/no-power events, and sudden acceleration or braking failures at a median 3,250 miles. No related recalls are listed.

Engine complaints: 33; 25% of 134
Crashes reported: 5
Fires reported: 0
Injuries reported: 2
Median mileage: 3,250 mi
Related recalls: 0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

Owners describe sudden loss of acceleration where pressing the accelerator produces no increase in speed, sometimes while merging onto a highway or climbing a grade.
Some report the engine revving to high RPM or redline with no corresponding power delivery, especially while driving downhill or at highway speed.
Several describe unintended acceleration events at low speed in parking areas, resulting in crashes with no braking effect and airbags failing to deploy.
One owner reported a strong gasoline smell traced to fuel diluting the engine oil, raising concern about long-term internal engine damage.
Another owner described the transmission slipping and the engine revving hard without engaging gear when switching from electric to gas mode.

When 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid engine complaints were filed

First complaint May 1, 2018, latest May 15, 2026.

33 complaints filed with NHTSA from May 2018 to May 2026; peak Feb 2019 (5).

Engine recalls for the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Clarity Plug-in Hybrid model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

20170 (0%)
201833 (25%)
201916 (38%)
20203 (43%)
20210 (0%)

Frequently asked questions

How common are engine problems in the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid?: NHTSA lists 33 engine-related complaints for the 2018 Clarity Plug-in Hybrid, which is 25% of all 134 complaints filed for that model year.
Is there a recall for the 2018 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid engine?: No related recalls are listed in NHTSA data for this engine problem area.
At what mileage do engine problems typically show up?: The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA for this issue is 3,250 miles.
What kind of engine failures do owners describe?: Owners report sudden loss of acceleration, engine revving to high RPM without power, and in some cases unintended acceleration leading to crashes.
Have these engine issues caused any crashes or injuries?: NHTSA data lists 5 crashes and 2 injuries linked to complaints in this engine problem area for the 2018 Clarity Plug-in Hybrid.