YearToAvoid

2020 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

50/100

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

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2020 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid has 7 owner complaints and 0 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 50 out of 100 — #3 highest of 5 Clarity Plug-in Hybrid model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is engine (3 complaints, 43% of the total). Complaints report 1 crash.

Complaints
7
Recalls
0
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
42
44 city / 40 hwy

Top 2020 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid problems

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

  1. Engine3 (43%)
  2. Collision Avoidance & Cameras3 (43%)
  3. Lane Departure3 (43%)
  4. Electrical System2 (29%)
  5. Other2 (29%)
  6. Transmission & Powertrain1 (14%)
  7. Visibility & Wipers1 (14%)
2020 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid complaints: complaints filed per month3Aug 2020Dec 2022Apr 2024Dec 2024Mar 2026May 2026Aug 2026
15 complaints filed with NHTSA from Aug 2020 to Aug 2026; peak Dec 2024 (3).

2020 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid recalls

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

2020 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.

2020 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
2018Avoid100134142
2019Avoid7542242
2020Caution507042
2021No verdict251042

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

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2020 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2020 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid ranks #3 of 5 among Clarity Plug-in Hybrid model years (Complaint Index 50/100, verdict: Caution). It has 7 complaints and 0 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2020 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid?
The most reported problem areas are engine (3 complaints), collision avoidance & cameras (3 complaints), and lane departure (3 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 3,060 miles.
Does the 2020 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid have any recalls?
No safety recall campaigns list the 2020 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid in NHTSA’s recall database at the time of the last data update.
What is the fuel economy of the 2020 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid?
EPA rates the 2020 Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid at 42 MPG combined (44 city / 40 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,550. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

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.