AI Damage2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell reliability: common problems
Owners of the 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell filed 3 complaints with NHTSA, most often about equipment and electrical system. The maker issued 11 service bulletins for this year. Details by component below, with sources.
Key figures
- Owner complaints
- 3
- Technical service bulletins (TSB)
- 11
What fails most often
- 1 Equipment 67% of all complaints
- 2 Electrical system 33% of all complaints
- 3 Steering 33% of all complaints
- 4 Electronic stability control 33% of all complaints
- 5 Fuel/propulsion system 33% of all complaints
- Equipment: 2 complaints (67% of all).
- Electrical system: 1 complaints (33% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 6.
- Steering: 1 complaints (33% of all); manufacturer bulletins for this component: 1.
- Electronic stability control: 1 complaints (33% of all).
- Fuel/propulsion system: 1 complaints (33% of all).
Components owners complain about
| Component | Owner complaints | involving a crash | Technical service bulletins (TSB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Equipment | 2 | 0 | 0 |
| Electrical system | 1 | 0 | 6 |
| Steering | 1 | 0 | 1 |
| Electronic stability control | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| Fuel system | 0 | 0 | 7 |
What owners report
Short excerpts of NHTSA complaints in the original wording. These are owner statements not verified by NHTSA; personal data removed.
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 honda clarity fuel cell. While driving approximately 65 mph, the fuel system indicator illuminated. The vehicle was taken to dublin honda [phone], located at [address], dublin, [ZIP]), but the technician was unable to diagnose a hydrogen vehicle.
Tl* the contact owns a 2017 honda clarity fuel cell. The contact received a recall notification for nhtsa campaign number: 19v315000 (equipment) and stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time to repair the vehicle.
Following with brake system, tpms, electric power steering, and rdm inoperate message show up. Car could not start up.
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 Fuel Cell has 1 complaints (5 years in the data). This year has 3, above average.
What to check before buying
- Electrical system. Scan all modules, test the battery and alternator, inspect connectors near the impact zone.
- Steering. Steering play, power assist, rack and tie rods after a wheel impact.
- Electronic stability control. ABS/ESC sensors, steering angle, codes after suspension repair.
- Fuel/propulsion system. Fuel smell, leaks, rough running, fuel-system codes.
Manufacturer service bulletins
Bulletin titles as filed with NHTSA.
- Owner's Notification Letter - Product Update - Our records indicate that a Product Update has not been…
Owner's Notification Letter - Product Update - Our records indicate that a Product Update has not been completed on this vehicle (Vehicle Identification Number XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX). The software that monitors the…
- Dealer Message - In the event you experience a sub tank wire harness rodent damage on the 2017â2020…
Dealer Message - In the event you experience a sub tank wire harness rodent damage on the 2017â2020 Clarity FCV, after repairing / replacing the wire harness, wrap the areas shown below with RODENT DETERRENT TAPE…
- Service Bulletin - The customer cannot refuel the vehicle completely at certain hydrogen stations
- Service Bulletin - The MIL comes on with DTC P1FBF (air pump controller failure [internal failure…
Service Bulletin - The MIL comes on with DTC P1FBF (air pump controller failure [internal failure warning]) during startup.
- Service Bulletin - The fuel cell (FC) system uses an electric water pump to circulate insulating fluid and…
Service Bulletin - The fuel cell (FC) system uses an electric water pump to circulate insulating fluid and remove excess heat from the fuel cell stack. During manufacturing, the water pump's magnetic surface was not…
- Service Bulletin - Water improperly discharged inside the fuel cell (FC) stack mixes with hydrogen and…
Service Bulletin - Water improperly discharged inside the fuel cell (FC) stack mixes with hydrogen and oxygen, generating hydrogen peroxide. The hydrogen peroxide/water combination concentrates in one area…
- Tech line summary article - In a Code A maintenance service, you must replace the FC ion exchanger filter…
Tech line summary article - In a Code A maintenance service, you must replace the FC ion exchanger filter element. Right now, that filter element is in short supply, but we expect to have it back in stock soon.
- Tech line summary article - A temperature sensor failure in the main hydrogen tank or sub hydrogen tank…
Tech line summary article - A temperature sensor failure in the main hydrogen tank or sub hydrogen tank may cause DTC P1F76 (main hydrogen tank temperature sensor malfunction) or P1F77 (sub hydrogen tank temperature…
- Service news article - To prevent damage during shipping, leather-wrapped steering wheels come with a…
Service news article - To prevent damage during shipping, leather-wrapped steering wheels come with a protective plastic covering. The easiest way to remove it during PDI is to grab the covering with both hands near…
- Service news article - The Clarity Fuel Cell vehicle has two very different cooling systems
One system cools the fuel cell system; the other one cools the inverter system.
Other years of this model
Questions and answers
What are the most common problems with the 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell?
Owner complaints to NHTSA most often mention: equipment, electrical system, steering. Total complaints: 3. The most frequent symptoms in complaint texts: steering or power steering problems (33%).
How many service bulletins (TSB) were issued for the 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell?
NHTSA lists 11 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 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell 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 2017 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.