2018 Honda Clarity Electric Transmission and drivetrain Problems
- Complaints
- 3about this part
- Share
- 13%of 24 total for the year
- Median mileage
- —not reported
- Trend
- Not enough dataFewer than 15 complaints, too few for a reliable trend.
NHTSA recorded 3 complaints about the transmission and drivetrain of the 2018 Honda Clarity Electric, 13% of the 24 complaints for this model year.
Fewer than 15 complaints name this part, so treat the figures as a rough indication only.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“The engine revs very high and the car dramatically slows down. This has happened three times (including today) in the two years I have owned the car. Once was extremely dangerous as it happened on an Interstate highway when traffic was at highway speeds. We were able to avoid getting in an accident though. Why is there no recall for this common problem with this car?”
NHTSA complaint #11513787, filed 2023-03“While driving home at night I exited the 60 Freeway and turned right to go up a hill. The car would not move forward and I had to pull over. I noticed the battery indicator had 1 bar on it and the engine revved but the car would not go. After waiting the battery got recharged and we were able to complete our trip. I believe we were at risk due to the car slowing so suddenly it could have resulted in being rear ended. The car has not been taken yet to a dealer for this issue or been inspected by anyone. There were no warning lights or sounds from the car. …”
NHTSA complaint #11495376, filed 2022-11“The vehicle exhibits a dangerous electrical defect involving uncontrolled power-cycling. After shutting down the car, it automatically restarts itself in a continuous loop. During these episodes, the dashboard flickers, the drivetrain shudders, and the vehicle becomes unresponsive to manual 'Stop' button or brake inputs. Most critically, the car autostarts while parked in an enclosed garage. As a Plug-in Hybrid (PHEV), once the EV battery depletes, the internal combustion engine (ICE) engages automatically. …”
NHTSA complaint #11708588, filed 2026-01Transmission and drivetrain: other model years
| Year | Complaints | Share of year |
|---|---|---|
| 2018 | 3 | 13% |
Other parts of the 2018 Honda Clarity Electric
7 complaintsBrakes
5 complaintsElectrical system
5 complaintsVisibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors)
5 complaintsEngine
4 complaintsForward collision avoidance
3 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsLane departure
2 complaintsAir bags
1 complaintsSeats
1 complaintsSteering
1 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2018 Honda Clarity Electric
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Nov 1, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology