Verdict
2018 Honda Clarity: Complaints, Recalls & Known Issues
What the public record actually says about the 2018 Honda Clarity — every figure below is a NHTSA or EPA number, not an opinion.
The read
More reported complaints than most sedan.
Owners filed 156 NHTSA complaints — more complaints than 83% of 2018 sedans. Power Train leads the reports (14%). No safety recalls on record.
Based on NHTSA complaint volume against 2018 sedans, not adjusted for how many were sold. It describes the model year, not the individual car you are looking at.
Complaints filed
156
Reports to NHTSA, 2018
Safety recalls
0
NHTSA campaigns on record
NHTSA crash test
Not rated
Overall NCAP rating
Combined MPG
68
EPA estimate
Complaint volume vs. segment peers
More complaints than 83% of 2018 sedans
The bar is this car's percentile among 2018 sedans by complaint volume — a full bar means the fewest complaints in its class. Not adjusted for sales.
Known issues
Power Train issues lead owner complaints (14% of 156 reports), followed by unknown or other (12%).
+ 12 more component categories with fewer reports.
Share of all 156 NHTSA complaints for this model year, grouped by the component owners named. Bars are scaled to the largest category. Examples: ODI 11708588, ODI 11513787, ODI 11495376, ODI 11625238, ODI 11544504.
Recalls
0 recalls — none issued for this model year as of Jul 2026. Recall records can change as NHTSA publishes new campaigns.
A campaign can apply to this model year without being incomplete on a specific vehicle. Check the VIN with NHTSA or a dealer to confirm whether a particular car needs repair.
Investigations
0 NHTSA investigations on record
No investigations are on record as of Jul 2026. An empty record is not a clean bill of health.
Crash-test ratings
No NHTSA crash test is on record for this year. Some vehicles and model years were not tested or do not have a published NCAP result.
Fuel economy by trim
| Trim | Engine | Drivetrain | Transmission | City | Hwy | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clarity EV | — | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (A1) | 126 | 103 | 114 |
| Clarity FCV | — | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (A1) | 69 | 67 | 68 |
| Clarity Plug-in Hybrid | 1.5L 4-cyl | Front-Wheel Drive | Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 44 | 40 | 42 |
EPA laboratory estimates by trim and engine. Actual mileage varies with driving, weather, load, and maintenance. EPA source.
Before you buy
Useful next checks
Federal records tell you about patterns. These checks can tell you more about the specific car in front of you.
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Compare model years
"Fewest reports" and "most complained" describe raw NHTSA complaint totals, not vehicle reliability. The last few model years are left unlabelled because they have had less road time.
2018 Honda Clarity: frequently asked
What does the complaint record show for the 2018 Honda Clarity?
Owners filed 156 NHTSA complaints about the 2018 Honda Clarity — more complaints than 83% of comparable 2018 sedans, so it sits toward the weaker end of its class. That's a signal, not a guarantee about any single car.
What are the most common problems on the 2018 Honda Clarity?
The most-reported problem areas are Power Train (14% of complaints) and unknown or other (12%).
How many recalls does the 2018 Honda Clarity have?
No safety recalls are on record for the 2018 Honda Clarity as of Jul 2026.
What gas mileage does the 2018 Honda Clarity get?
The EPA rates the 2018 Honda Clarity between 42 and 114 mpg combined, depending on trim and drivetrain.