AI Damage2019 Honda Clarity Electric reliability: common problems
Owners of the 2019 Honda Clarity Electric filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about electrical system and engine and cooling. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
What fails most often
- 1 Electrical system 67% of all complaints
- 2 Engine and cooling 33% of all complaints
- 3 Fuel system 33% of all complaints
- 4 Service brakes 33% of all complaints
- Electrical system: 2 complaints (67% of all).
- Engine and cooling: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Fuel system: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Service brakes: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Symptoms owners describe
How many of the 3 NHTSA complaints mention each symptom (automatic count from complaint text; one complaint can mention several).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Electrical system | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Engine and cooling | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 1 | 0 | 0 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
And the brake pedal went to the floor. I have read about similar failures online at âclarity forumâ. Some who posted believe it is a 12-volt battery problem. And Triple A came out and tested it and said the battery is due for replacement Hereâs the thing: my mechanic cleared the codes and the car ran perfectly…
The contact stated that the vehicle failed to start up as needed. The contact mentioned the vehicle had to be jump-started. The contact stated that the failure occurred multiple times. The vehicle was taken to the dealer where the failure was undetermined. The vehicle was not repaired.
Phev burning smell econ (ev) driving. It happened 2 times after the battery drops to two bars, which means mode was changed to hybrid from econ. There were big vroom sounds from engine room when ev mode converted hybrid mode at the speed of 60-70 mph.
When owners complained
NHTSA complaints by filing year. The peak shows at what age the problems show up most.
Comparison
By complaint count this model year ranks 15,523 of 32,257 model years in the NHTSA data (top 48% most complained about).
On average one model year of the Clarity Electric has 8 complaints (4 years in the data). This year has 3, below average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Engine and cooling. Radiator and fan after a frontal hit, coolant level and condition, overheating.
- Fuel system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
- Service brakes. Pedal feel, ABS operation, leaks, discs and hoses.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2019 Honda Clarity Electric?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: electrical system, engine and cooling, fuel system. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: brake failure (33%), won't start (33%), smoke, burning smell, fire (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2019 Honda Clarity Electric?
NHTSA lists 0 manufacturer service bulletins for this year. A bulletin tells dealers how to diagnose or fix a known issue; it is not a recall.
Should I buy a 2019 Honda Clarity Electric from a US auction?
Owner complaints describe defects, not crash damage. Before bidding, check the components listed above and review the lot photos: VinWind builds a report of visible and hidden damage by VIN.
Other 2019 models
Read also
Sources: public NHTSA data (USA): service bulletins and owner complaints; YouTube: links to videos credited to their authors. Complaints are owner statements not verified by NHTSA, and describe defects rather than crash damage. Data updated 2026-11-06.