2020 Honda Clarity electric problems
The Honda Clarity is a nameplate used by Honda on alternative fuel vehicles. It was initially used only on hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicles such as the 2008 Honda FCX Clarity, but in 2017 the nameplate was expanded to include the battery-electric Honda Clarity Electric and the plug-in hybrid electric Honda Clarity Plug-in Hybrid, in addition to the next generation Honda Clarity Fuel Cell. Clarity production ended in August 2021 with US leases for the fuel cell variant continuing through to 2022.
Honda FCX Clarity (2008–2014)
History
The Honda FCX Clarity is based on the 2006 Honda FCX Concept and only available as a hydrogen fuel-cell electric vehicle. The FCX Clarity had electric car qualities such as zero emissions while offering five minute refueling times and long range in a full function large sedan. It was the first hydrogen fuel cell vehicle available to retail customers.
Production began in June 2008 with leasing in the U.S. commenced in July 2008. It was introduced in Japan in November 2008. The FCX Clarity was available for lease in the U.S., Japan and Europe. In the U.S., it was only available to customers who live in Southern California where several hydrogen fuel stations are available. FCX Clarity were leased for US$600 a month in 2010, including collision coverage, maintenance, roadside assistance and hydrogen fuel. There were around 10 others on lease in Japan and another 10 in Europe in 2009. One of the reasons for such a low number of cars in the U.S. was a lack of hydrogen filling stations. In 2014 Honda announced to phase out the FCX Clarity. From 2008 to 2015, Honda leased a total of 48 FCX units in the US.
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Common 2020 Honda Clarity electric problems
The Honda Clarity Electric 2020 has been reported to have several common problems by its owners. These issues range from low ground clearance, battery failures, charging inconvenience, and other miscellaneous problems.
One of the most common problems is the car's low ground clearance, which has caused issues with parking lot stops and uneven surfaces. This issue is particularly problematic for those who have encountered debris or obstacles on the road, as it can lead to damage to the car's underside, including the muffler, pipes, catalytic converter, exhaust manifold, heat shields, and leaks.
Another issue that has been reported is battery failures. In some cases, the regular battery has failed, causing the dashboard system to become erratic and eventually fail completely. This issue can be particularly problematic for those who rely on their electric cars for daily commuting, as it can leave them stranded and in need of a tow to a service location.
The inconvenience of charging is another common complaint among Honda Clarity Electric 2020 owners. While the car is considered to be very economical and reliable, the need to regularly charge the vehicle can be a significant inconvenience for some. This issue is not unique to the Honda Clarity, but is a common problem among all electric vehicles.
Other miscellaneous problems reported by Honda Clarity Electric 2020 owners include the car having a mind of its own, with the gas engine running for short periods of time even with a full battery.
In summary, the Honda Clarity Electric 2020 has several common problems that have been reported by its owners. These issues include low ground clearance, battery failures, charging inconvenience, and other miscellaneous problems. While the car is considered to be very economical and reliable, these issues can be significant inconveniences for some owners.
How long will a Honda Clarity battery last?
How often should you replace your 2020 Honda Clarity Plug-In battery? Every 3 to 5 years, but you should have your battery tested regularly for extreme drops in voltage to make sure it's operating at a dependable level.
Why did Honda stop making the Clarity plug-in?
According to Honda's official statement on why the Clarity FCV was being pulled from its line-up, it cited a low market demand for fuel cell vehicles, the dearth of hydrogen fuel stations, a lackluster market reception, and a lack of government subsidies for fuel cell vehicles.
Is Honda Clarity reliable?
In other words, the Clarity shares all its major drive components with other Honda vehicles. Those hybrid vehicles have been proven to be reliable so the Clarity should be as well. The big question mark is the traction battery, which is unique to the Clarity.
Why won't my Honda Clarity charge?
Make sure the charging connector and inlet are clean. u If you find any contamination or foreign object in the connector or inlet, contact an authorized Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid dealer. Make sure the charging cable is dry. u Check that there is no water in the immediate area, and that your hands are dry.
2020 Honda Clarity electric car problems categorized by type of issue
After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Honda Clarity electric problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:
- Forward collision avoidance problems
- Unknown or other problems
- Vehicle speed control problems
The graph below shows statistics for all 2020 Honda Clarity electric vehicle components and the number of complaints received.
2020 Honda Clarity electric complaints
The NHTSA has received 3 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2020 Honda Clarity electric.
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-09-12
- VIN: JHMZC5F37LC
- Components: FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE
- Summary: While driving on freeway traffic in front of Clarity began to slow down. In reaction to this brakes were mildly applied, nothing aggressive, and the car was driven towards an open off-ramp to avoid the issue in front. At this moment the car, on its own slammed on the brakes. This created a very unsafe condition and caused following drivers to swerve off the surface of the freeway to avoid a collision with rear end of Clarity. So in short a fairly routing accident avoidance maneuver was turned into a serious and dangerous situation. We are actually concerned this will happen again and lead to an accident. We know the difference between a reasonable application of the brake assist system and what happened here.
UNKNOWN OR OTHER PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2023-05-30
- VIN: JHMZC5F30LC
- Components: UNKNOWN OR OTHER
- Summary: AC condenser has leak, covered by an extended warranty up to 10 years from purchase of car due issue with factory installed condenser. However, at 3 years old and 37356 miles the evaporator also has a leak. Honda will not fix condenser under warranty unless we pay $2,000 to fix the evaporator.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL PROBLEM
- Date Of Incident: 2020-07-14
- VIN: JHMZC5F34LC
- Components: VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- Summary: THIS NEW CAR, AT RELATIVELY LOW SPEEDS, LOSES POWER AS IF IT HAS STALLED OUT FOR A SHORT TIME. WHEN OCCURRING AS ONE IS MAKING A LEFT TURN, IT CAN BE QUITE DANGEROUS DUE TO ONCOMING TRAFFIC. I MIGHT DESCRIBE IT AS A HESITATION OF ACCELERATION BECAUSE, AS THE GAS PEDAL IS DEPRESSED, THERE IS NO RESPONSE FROM THE ENGINE. IT APPEARS TO OCCUR MORE FREQUENTLY AS THE CAR IS TURNING.
Additional sources
More sources of information about 2020 Honda Clarity electric problems:
Honda Clarity Complaints, Issues And Problems | Honda Clarity Forum
Honda Clarity Complaints, Issues And Problems ... Reving on full electric · Lourdes · Dec 20, 2023. 2 ... Air not flowing properly - 2020 Clarity Plug-In Hybrid ...
Is Clarity a dangerous vehicle to own? | Inside EVS Forum
According to NHTSA website, there are multiple complaints against 2018 and 2019 Honda Clarity safety issues, reports of H. Clarity suddenly ...
The Worst EV company ever | Honda Clarity Forum
Jan 25, 2023 ... Let me know if this problem is common among Honda clarity cars. If ... Current EVs: 2022 Polestar 2, 2020 Hyundai Ioniq EV Past EVs: 2022 Rivian ...
Honda Clarity Battery: FAQs, Replacement Guide & Common ...
Dec 4, 2020 ... I'm sure this isn't easy on you. Did you have any issues prior to the dead battery or no?
Scary problem. | Honda Clarity Forum
Jan 23, 2019 ... I know slow charging NiCd, NiMh, and Li-iON batteries is a lower temp way of getting a full charge - wonder if it applies to the EV battery ...
Other years of Honda Clarity electric
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