2017 Honda Clarity: common problems and reliability

The 2017 Honda Clarity has 5 owner-filed NHTSA complaints and 3 recalls on record. The most-reported areas are equipment and steering. Owners most often flag air conditioning system failures — recurrent and costly failures of both the evaporator and condenser components, described as a "ticking timebomb" in used vehicles. repairs reported in the $2,500 usd range. frequency: very frequent.

Safety record for the 2017 model year

5
Owner complaints
3
Recalls
0
Crash reports
0
Fire reports

Source: NHTSA complaints and recalls filed for 2017 Honda Clarity vehicles (US, public record).

Where owners report problems

equipment
2
steering
2
electrical system
2
fuel/propulsion system
1
electronic stability control (esc)
1

Recalls affecting the 2017 Clarity

equipment:electrical

Campaign 19V315000

Honda (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 18V921000

Honda (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 contr…

electrical system:software

Campaign 18V068000

Honda (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 lo…

What owners say across generations

Mixed sentiment with a strong positive bias among long-term owners who appreciate the vehicle's core value proposition. The Plug-In Hybrid (PHEV) variant is consistently praised for its exceptional all-electric range (frequently cited as best-in-class at the t

  • Air Conditioning System Failures — Recurrent and costly failures of both the evaporator and condenser components, described as a "ticking timebomb" in used vehicles. Repairs reported in the $2,500 USD range. Frequency: very frequent.
  • Traction Battery Failure — Complete failure of the main hybrid battery pack preventing the vehicle from starting or running, requiring replacement. One report of failure at approximately 65,000 miles. Frequency: recurrent.
  • Infotainment Software Bugs — Issues with Android Auto voice navigation cutting out when music is playing; auto day/night mode for the display not functioning; system requiring resets. Frequency: recurrent.
  • Windshield Washer System — Inadequate fluid distribution, particularly on the driver's side wiper blade, leaving the top third of the windshield dry. Dealer service often states it is "to spec." Frequency: isolated.
  • Charging System Problems — Intermittent failures to charge, especially on Level 2 chargers, sometimes putting the vehicle into a "limp mode." Difficulty in diagnosing and repairing. Frequency: isolated.

Owner insights cover all generations of the Clarity.

Full Honda Clarity owner reportCompare against another car