Model year

2020 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid

Sedan, plug-in hybrid, 4x2, built in Japan. Owner complaints on file from Aug 30, 2020 to Aug 22, 2026.

Recall campaigns covering this model year0No recall campaign lists this model year
Owner complaints7Close to the median 2020 sedan
Severity index14.32020 sedans average 8.1
First 24 months1Complaints in its first two years
Complaints over time

Complaints about the 2020 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid peaked in 2024, with 2 filed

Owner complaints about this model year, by the year they were filed with NHTSA.

012320202021202220232024202520263
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. The lighter column runs through October.
Components

43% of complaints about the 2020 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid name driver assistance

Owner complaints by component. Hover or focus a bar for the crash, fire, injury or death count.

Driver assistance
3
Electrical system
2
Engine and cooling
2
Speed control
2
Powertrain
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file. A complaint can name more than one component; it is counted under the first.
Recalls

No recall campaign lists the 2020 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid

Check a specific vehicle by VIN on NHTSA's site: a campaign may cover only part of a model year's production.

Source: NHTSA ODI recalls file.
Owner complaints

What owners reported about the 2020 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid

The full text of every complaint filed with NHTSA about this model year, newest first. Complaints are filed by owners and are not verified by NHTSA; NHTSA removes personal details before publishing.

7 complaints on file, page 1 of 1.

  1. Filed Aug 22, 2026Failure Jun 1, 2025San Francisco, CAElectrical system, Automatic emergency braking, Assist

    The 2020 Honda Clarity's multipurpose windshield camera fails intermittently, often at startup. The vehicle displays Brake System and Honda Sensing-related warnings, disabling Collision Mitigation Braking, adaptive cruise control, lane keeping assist, and road-departure mitigation. The vehicle may otherwise operate, but multiple driver-assistance safety systems are unavailable. A dealer attributed the issue to the windshield camera module and possible calibration. The warnings began approximately June 2025 and remain intermittent. The camera is available for inspection. No crash, fire, injury, or police report.

    NHTSA complaint 11758781
  2. Filed May 12, 2026Failure Feb 2, 2026Rocklin, CAAdaptive cruise control, Warning, Assist

    The forward-facing multipurpose camera unit (ADAS camera) failed internally while driving, causing the simultaneous deactivation of multiple critical safety systems including Collision Mitigation Braking (CMBS), Road Departure Mitigation, and Lane Keeping Assist (LKAS). The failure is indicated by persistent dashboard warning messages stating 'System Fault' or 'Honda Sensing Problem'.A professional diagnostic scan confirmed DTC code U3000-49 (Multipurpose Camera Unit Internal Failure). The sudden and unpredictable loss of these automated safety features reduces the vehicle's ability to assist in avoiding collisions and increases the risk of a crash, particularly in emergency situations. This appears to be a widespread manufacturing defect in the camera hardware that poses an unreasonable safety risk to drivers and passengers.

    NHTSA complaint 11737243
  3. Filed Mar 22, 2026Failure Mar 20, 2026Frederick, MDAdaptive cruise control, Warnings, Assist

    The ADAS camera system failed causing multiple warnings and failures including lane departure system, forward collision system, adaptive cruise control and lane keeping assistance.

    NHTSA complaint 11726194
  4. Filed Dec 31, 2024Failure Dec 22, 2024Temple City, CAElectrical system, Unknown or other, Vehicle speed controlCrash

    During a U-turn, when I turned the steering wheel my vehicle suddenly accelerated unexpected. I suspect there may have been a malfunction in the vehicle's electronic control system that caused this sudden unintended acceleration. I did alert Honda North America to study the problem. On [XXX], while driving on a narrow street at a speed of less than 5 miles per hour, my vehicle suddenly accelerated as I was making a U-turn. In my nervous response, I pressed the accelerator pedal, which exacerbated the situation and caused my vehicle to hit the driveway bushes at [XXX]   Fortunately, the property damage was minor, affecting only the bushes, and there were no injuries. I believe it is important to report this Sudden Unintended Acceleration problem for your file. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

    NHTSA complaint 11633288
  5. Filed Apr 12, 2024Failure Apr 11, 2024Chino Hills, CAVisibility/wiper

    A/C stopped working, so defrost is no longer working efficiently. Honda says they only cover the condenser under the extended warranty and not the evaporator and want to charge me over 2200 to repair. If they are extending A/C warranty for condenser it should cover the entire A/C system since everyone online that had an issue with the condenser eventually ends up with an evaporator issue as well and then the defrost or A/C do not work properly.

    NHTSA complaint 11582682
  6. Filed Dec 23, 2022Failure Dec 22, 2022Los Alamitos, CAEngine, Power train

    Engine RPM's rise (near red line at times) with little to no propulsion. The slang I've found used in online forums, showing that this is a common problem, is "angry bees."

    NHTSA complaint 11498681
  7. Filed Aug 30, 2020Failure Aug 30, 20203,060 milesSacramento, CAEngine, Unknown or other, Vehicle speed control

    WHEN THE BATTERY IS LOW THE HONDA CLARITY'S RPM JUMP REALLY HIGH AND VEHICLE REVS REALLY HARD AND STARTS TO LOSE POWER. MY VEHICLE HAD TWO BATTERY BARS AND WHEN I TRIED TO CLIMB IT MOUNTAIN IT LOST SPEED. I WAS ALMOST HIT TWICE BECAUSE MY CAR KEPT LOSING SPEED AND IT WAS REVVING LIKE IT WAS STRUGGLING TO KEEP MOVING. VERY SCARY SITUATION TO BE IN WITH OTHER CARS AND LITTLE CHILDREN IN MY CAR. I HAVE A VIDEO OF THE CAR REVVING.

    NHTSA complaint 11352172
Source: NHTSA ODI complaints file.
Investigations

1 NHTSA investigation on file

  • DP22005 Defect petition, Electrical system
    Pedestrian alert sounds
    Opened Jan 27, 2023, closed Aug 7, 2023 · led to a recall
Source: NHTSA ODI investigations file.
Service bulletins

7 manufacturer communications cover this model year

Technical service bulletins and other notices the manufacturer sent to dealers. A bulletin is not a recall.

  • A21100B Jan 29, 2022 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    ServiceNews Article - There are several possible causes for the SRS DTC U3000-49 (Internal Failure of the SRS Unit) to be stored. If you can duplicate the DTC, the troubleshooting will take you through the step-by-step process in isolating the faulty compon…
  • A21100B Jan 4, 2022 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    ServiceNews Article - There are several possible causes for the SRS DTC U3000-49 (Internal Failure of the SRS Unit) to be stored. If you can duplicate the DTC, the troubleshooting will take you through the step-by-step process in isolating the faulty compon…
  • A21100B Oct 22, 2021 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    ServiceNews Article - There are several possible causes for the SRS DTC U3000-49 (Internal Failure of the SRS Unit) to be stored. If you can duplicate the DTC, the troubleshooting will take you through the step-by-step process in isolating the faulty compon…
  • ONLO9V07062021 Jul 6, 2021 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    Owner Notification Letter - On some 2018-21 Clarity Plug-In Hybrid models, the A/C condenser may leak refrigerant. American Honda is extending the warranty on the A/C condenser to 10 years from the original date of purchase with unlimited miles. This warran…
  • ABOM05282021 May 28, 2021 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    Dealer Message - Today, May 28, 2021, American Honda is announcing a warranty extension for certain 2018-2020 Accord and Accord Hybrid, 2018-2020 Civic, 2017-2021 Civic Hatch, 2017-2021 Civic Type R, 2018-2021 Clarity PHEV, and 2019-2021 Insight vehicles. T…
  • A21-017 May 28, 2021 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    Service Bulletin - American Honda is extending the warranty on the A/C condenser to 10 years from the original date of purchase with unlimited miles. This warranty extension only covers vehicles that have a defective A/C condenser from the factory. The A/C …
  • A21-008 Feb 11, 2021 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
    Service Bulletin - The Hybrid System Failure message comes on the MID, and DTC P1D8D (Generator Motor Inverter Short) is stored.
Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications files.