YearToAvoid

2019 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Avoid

Complaint Index

75/100

#2 most-complained of 5 Clarity Plug-in Hybrid years

The 2019 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid has a Complaint Index of 75, ranking 2nd worst of 5 model years, with 42 complaints, 2 crashes, 1 death, and 2 recalls. It ranks worse than most other years except 2018.

Complaints
42
Recalls
2
Crashes / fires
2 / 0
Injuries / deaths
3 / 1
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
42
44 city / 40 hwy

Top 2019 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine16 (38%)
  2. Fuel System12 (29%)
  3. Electrical System9 (21%)
  4. Other7 (17%)
  5. Brakes4 (10%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain4 (10%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers3 (7%)
  8. Airbags2 (5%)
  9. Collision Avoidance & Cameras2 (5%)
  10. Lane Departure2 (5%)

What owners report

  • Engine unexpectedly revs at high RPM and accelerates without extra pedal pressure, sometimes causing unintended forward movement at low speed.
  • Vehicle loses power or fails to accelerate while driving uphill or on the highway, with real-world electric range falling short of the rated 48 miles.
  • Vehicle hesitates and shuts off when switching between hybrid and battery-only operation, then resumes normal operation after restart.
  • Engine makes a loud banging noise when running on gasoline instead of the electric battery, which dealers could not diagnose or fix.
  • All electronic systems fail and the car will not start after sitting, requiring occupants to exit, lock the doors, and wait before it restarts.
  • Rear seat belt webbing tears or detaches from the assembly during normal use.
2019 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid complaints: complaints filed per month4Apr 2019Dec 2019Sep 2020Jan 2023Mar 2024Sep 2024Sep 2025
63 complaints filed with NHTSA from Apr 2019 to Jul 2026; peak May 2026 (4).

2019 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid recalls

2 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. NHTSA 23V858000Dec 18, 2023Fuel System2,490,460 vehicles

    Fuel system, gasoline:delivery:fuel pump

    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.

    Risk: 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.

  2. NHTSA 20V326000Jun 4, 2020Seat Belts128 vehicles

    Seat belts:rear/other

    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.

    Risk: 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.

2019 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid fuel economy and fuel cost

City
44 MPG
Highway
40 MPG
Combined
42 MPG
Annual fuel cost (EPA)
$1,550
15,000 mi/yr
Fuel
Regular Gas and Electricity
Current regular gas
$4.32/gal
national avg.

EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.

2019 compared with other Clarity Plug-in Hybrid years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020172018201920202021
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2017No verdict010—
2018Avoid100134142
2019Avoid7542242
2020Caution507042
2021No verdict251042

All Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2019 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid reliable?
Among the 5 Clarity Plug-in Hybrid model years with data, 2019 has a Complaint Index of 75 and ranks 2nd worst, behind 2018. It carries an 'Avoid' verdict relative to other Clarity years.
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid?
NHTSA data shows Engine complaints lead at 38% of all complaints (16 of 42), followed by Fuel System at 29% and Electrical System at 21%.
Does the 2019 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid have any recalls?
NHTSA lists 2 recalls: one for a fuel pump module replacement (campaign 23V858000) and one for a rear seat belt assembly defect (campaign 20V326000). Neither is classified as a do-not-drive recall.
At what mileage do problems typically show up on the 2019 Clarity Plug-in Hybrid?
Median mileage at failure across all complaints is 8,740 miles, with Engine complaints failing earlier at a median of 2,200 miles.
How does the 2019 Clarity Plug-in Hybrid compare to other Clarity years?
2019 has a Complaint Index of 75, worse than 2020 (50), 2021 (25), and 2017 (0), but better than 2018 (100), which has the highest complaint volume at 134.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.