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Research · Midsize Cars · 2 NHTSA variants

2017 Honda ClarityRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 3 safety recalls and 4 owner complaints for the 2017 Honda Clarity. Most complaints involve equipment (2) and steering (2). The EPA rates it 68–114 mpg combined.

Check a VINAdd to my garage
Combined MPG
68–114mpg
EPA · 2 versions
NHTSA overall
—
Not rated by NCAP
Safety recalls
3campaigns
Latest Apr 2019
Owner complaints
4
Top: equipment
Fuel cost / yr
$700est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

3 NHTSA campaigns · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Equipment: electrical

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Clarity Fuel Cell vehicles. Internal components may corrode and cause the water pump to fail.

EquipmentReported Apr 18, 2019NHTSA 19V315000

Electrical system: software

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2018 Clarity Fuel Cell vehicles previously repaired under recall 18V-068. The previous software remedy may have been incomplete. As a result, the fuel cell control unit (FC-ECU) may misinterpret a small cell voltage drop, causing the vehicle to have a partial or complete loss of power.

Electrical systemReported Dec 20, 2018NHTSA 18V921000

Electrical system: software

Free remedy

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017 Clarity Fuel Cell vehicles. The fuel cell control unit (FC-ECU) may misinterpret a small cell voltage drop, causing the vehicle to have reduced, or a complete loss of, power.

Electrical systemReported Jan 25, 2018NHTSA 18V068000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

4 complaints filed with NHTSA · Dec 2017 – Nov 2019
  1. Equipment2
  2. Steering2
  3. Electrical system2
  4. Fuel/propulsion system1
  5. Electronic stability control (esc)1
  6. Service brakes1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Clarity model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
20174
201826
20193
20203
20213
Crashes reported
0
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
0
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Equipment

2 reports
“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 (877-418-8323, LOCATED AT 6300 DUBLIN BLVD, DUBLIN, CA 94568), BUT THE TECHNICIAN WAS UNABLE TO DIAGNOSE A HYDROGEN VEHICLE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND INSTRUCTED THE DUBLIN DEALER TO SHIP THE VEHICLE TO AN UNKNOWN DEALER IN LOS ANGELES, CA WHERE THE HYDROGEN FUEL TANK WAS REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED AND RETURNED TO THE CONTACT. ADDITIONALLY, THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 19V315000 (EQUIPMENT). THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO THE SAME DUBLIN HONDA DEALER WHERE THE WATER PUMP WAS REPLACED. LATER, WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 65 MPH, THE CHECK POWER SYSTEM INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN BACK TO THE SAME DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THE FUEL STACK NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS APPROXIMATELY 10,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Nov 12, 2019Equipment, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11279670

Steering

2 reports
“THE CAR WAS PARKED FOR ABOUT 10 MINS. RETURN TO CAR AND START IT. THE 'POWER MANAGEMENT' WARNING DISPLAYED. FOLLOWING WITH BRAKE SYSTEM, TPMS, ELECTRIC POWER STEERING, AND RDM INOPERATE MESSAGE SHOW UP. CAR COULD NOT START UP.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Feb 22, 2018Steering, Electrical system, Electronic stability control (esc)ODI 11074217

Electrical system

2 reports
“AFTER CAR WAS CHARGED OVERNIGHT, WHILE DRIVING ON FREEWAY YELLOW WARNING LIGHT AND MESSAGE INDICATED CAR SHOULD BE TAKEN IN FOR SERVICE, AND A WARNING LIGHT THAT BATTERY WAS LOW AND WOULD TRANSITION TO LOW POWER MODE. THIS INFORMATION WAS IN CONFLICT WITH THE CHARGE INDICATOR WHICH ADVISED THAT THE VEHICLE HAD A DRIVABLE RANGE OF APPROXIMATELY 75 MILES. WHILE MANEUVERING OFF THE FREEWAY ALL POWER SYSTEMS ON THE VEHICLE FAILED. THIS WAS ON A DOWNWARD-SLOPING OFFRAMP WHERE THE FAILURE OF THE POWER ASSIST BRAKES AND STEERING MADE IT DIFFICULT TO CONTROL THE VEHICLE. VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO DEALER 21 DAYS AGO WITH 111 MILES ON THE ODOMETER. AS OF TODAY (12/5/2017), DEALER HAS NOT BEEN ABLE TO REPAIR THE VEHICLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 5, 2017Steering, Electrical system, Service brakesODI 11052444
Send a problem to a mechanic on findmechanic.ai
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

2 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Midsize Cars
Engines
Electric motor · fcv
Transmissions
Automatic (A1)
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Electricity · Hydrogen
EV range
366 mi (EPA)

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 30, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Clarity EV
Auto (A1) · Front-Wheel Drive
126103114$700—
Clarity FCV
Auto (A1) · Front-Wheel Drive
696768——
  • Clarity EV
    Auto (A1)
    126 city · 103 hwy · $700/yr
    114
    mpg comb.
  • Clarity FCV
    Auto (A1)
    69 city · 67 hwy
    68
    mpg comb.
Estimate your fuel costCost of ownership
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 30, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

2 tested variants
NHTSA has not published 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2017 Honda Clarity as of Oct 30, 2026.
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 30, 2026Vehicle 11802Vehicle 11825
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2017 Clarity questions

How many recalls does the 2017 Honda Clarity have?

3 safety recalls as of Oct 30, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2017 Honda Clarity problems?

Owners filed 4 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are equipment (2), steering (2), electrical system (2). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2017 Honda Clarity get?

The EPA rates the 2017 Honda Clarity at 68–114 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (2 versions rated).

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 30, 2026