2017 Honda Clarity: common problems and reliability
One of the better Clarity years.
The best Honda Clarity year. All Clarity years
5 owner complaints, most about equipment. 3 recalls.
Should I buy a 2017 Clarity?The 2017 Honda Clarity has 5 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are equipment and steering.
Safety record for the 2017 model year
Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2017 Honda Clarity vehicles (US, public record).
The Year Score compares this year with other Clarity years only. How we score it
Is 2017 a good year for the Clarity?
Across the 5 Clarity model years we track, complaint volume runs from 5 (2017) to 160 (2018). With 5 complaints, the 2017 Clarity sits below the model's median of 10.
These are raw NHTSA complaint totals, not adjusted for how many cars sold or how long each model year has been on the road. Older and higher-selling years accumulate more complaints.
Where owners report problems
Recalls affecting the 2017 Clarity
equipment:electrical
Campaign 19V315000Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Clarity Fuel Cell vehicles. Internal components may corrode and cause the water pump to fail.
electrical system:software
Campaign 18V921000Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Clarity Fuel Cell vehicles previously repaired under recall 18V-068. The previous software remedy may have been incomplete. As a result, the fuel cell control unit (FC-ECU) may misinterpret a small cell voltage drop, causing the vehicle to have a partial or complete loss of power.
electrical system:software
Campaign 18V068000Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017 Clarity Fuel Cell vehicles. The fuel cell control unit (FC-ECU) may misinterpret a small cell voltage drop, causing the vehicle to have reduced, or a complete loss of, power.
What owners say across generations
Mixed sentiment with a strong positive bias among long-term owners who appreciate the vehicle's core value proposition.
Owner insights cover all generations of the Clarity. See the full Clarity owner picture and every model year.
Other Clarity model years
Compare every Clarity year side by side to see how 2017 ranks against the rest.
Compare the Clarity against its rivals
Looking at a specific car?
We're building a full check by VIN: the exact trim and engine, its known problems and recalls, what to inspect, a fair price, and how it compares with its rivals. Get an email when it's ready.
One email when it launches. Unsubscribe any time. Privacy