Your vehicleHome›Honda›Clarity› 2019

Honda · Midsize Sedan

2019 Honda Clarity

Electric Plug-in hybrid Hydrogen fuel cell

Midsize Cars
3 EPA-rated configurations
Data refreshed 2026-10-26

Safety Signal

85 / 100 from the NHTSA recall record

RecallsNHTSA campaigns 2

Complaints2 crash · 3 injured · 1 died reported 45

Crash ratingnot rated by NHTSA —

EV rangebest configuration, EPA 89 mi

Fuel economybest combined, EPA 68 mpg

2021 2020 2019 2018 2017

The 2019 Honda Clarity is sold in the U.S. as an electric, plug-in hybrid and hydrogen fuel cell midsize sedan with 3 EPA-rated configurations. Its longest-range version, the Clarity EV, is EPA-rated at 89 miles with 114 MPGe combined efficiency. NHTSA lists 2 recall campaigns for this model year, which gives it a Safety Signal grade of B. Owners have filed 45 complaints, most often about the fuel/propulsion system.

Honda Clarity — photograph via Wikimedia Commons — Honda Clarity · Photo: Tokumeigakarinoaoshima · CC BY-SA 4.0 · Wikimedia Commons

Specs & fuel economy

Source: EPA fueleconomy.gov

Configuration	Powertrain	Drive	Engine / motor	City	Hwy	Comb	Range	kWh/100mi	Charge (240V)	Annual fuel*
Clarity EV	Electric	FWD	120 kW AC PMSM	126	103	114 MPGe	89 mi	29.5	4 h	$650
Clarity Plug-in Hybrid	Plug-in hybrid	FWD	1.5L 4-cyl + 135kW AC PMSM	44	40	42 (76 MPGe blended)	48 mi electric	31	2.2 h	$1,600
Clarity FCV	Hydrogen fuel cell	FWD	130 kW AC PMSM	68	67	68	—	—	—	—

*EPA estimate at 15,000 miles/year at EPA reference fuel and electricity prices. fueleconomy.gov record ids: 41185, 41183, 47531.

Emissions & certification

Source: EPA emission certificates

Configuration	Smog rating	Emission standard	Where it can be sold new	SmartWay
Clarity EV, Clarity FCV	10 / 10	Federal Tier 3 Bin 0 / California ZEV	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay Elite
Clarity Plug-in Hybrid	8 / 10	California LEV-III SULEV20 / Federal Tier 3 Bin 20	All 50 states (federal, all altitudes); California and states following California standards	SmartWay Elite

Certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S.

The smog rating scores tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, 1 (worst) to 10 (best), and is comparable only within a model year. The standard is the federal bin or California tier the configuration was certified to. Both come from the EPA certificate behind the window sticker.

Specifications filed with NHTSA

Source: NHTSA vPIC

Dimensions Exterior

Body style	Sedan/Saloon
Doors	4
GVWR class	Class 1C: 4,001 - 5,000 lb (1,814 - 2,268 kg)

Engine Basics

Cylinders	4
Displacement	1.5 L
Engine configuration	In-Line

Engine Output

Horsepower

103 hp

Fuel Economy

Fuel	Electric

Transmission

Drivetrain	4x2
Transmission	Continuously Variable Transmission (CVT)

Filed by the manufacturer with NHTSA under the federal vehicle-identification rule and decoded from the VIN pattern — not a manufacturer press kit, so it describes the configurations we could identify rather than every trim (seen: Electric Touring, PLUG-IN HYBRID PHEV, PLUG-IN HYBRID TOURING). Figures for the trim you are looking at may differ.

Dimensions & weight

Source: Transport Canada

Length	192.9 in
Width (body, without mirrors)	74.8 in
Height	58.3 in
Wheelbase	108.3 in
Track, front	62.2 in
Track, rear	62.6 in
Curb weight	4,063 lb
Weight distribution, front/rear	57/43

Measured by Transport Canada for its Canadian Vehicle Specifications database, which covers the North American versions of each model — here one configuration: All versions. Where a range is shown, those versions differ. Width is the body without mirrors, which is why it can read narrower than a brochure figure. Before we used it we checked it against the US manufacturer press kits we hold (27 Sep 2026): wheelbase agreed within 1% on every vehicle we could compare, length on 98%, and the curb weight fell inside the manufacturer's range on 96%. Source dataset. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada. Licence.

Affiliate disclosure: some links on this page are affiliate links. If you request a quote or buy through them we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Nothing on this page changes because of it.

Recalls (2)

Source: NHTSA recall database

▲high

Fuel System, Gasoline

KGC, KGD

2,490,460 vehicles 79% reported repaired Plug-in hybrid only

Problem Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail. Risk Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash. Fix Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansion of NHTSA recall numbers 21V-215 and 20V-314.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 23V858000 reported Dec 18, 2023 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

▲high

Seat Belts

Z7L

128 vehicles 88% reported repaired

Problem Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019 Clarity Fuel Cell, Clarity Electric, and Clarity Plug-in Hybrid vehicles with rear seat belt assemblies with a dual-mode locking mechanism. The seat belt webbing sensor locking mechanism may not lock as intended. Risk In the event of a crash, the seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury. Fix Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the rear seat belt assembly production dates, and replace the assemblies, as necessary, free of charge. The recall began July 24, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is Z7L.

Filed with NHTSAOwner letter PDF Remedy instructions PDF

NHTSA campaign 20V326000 reported Jun 4, 2020 Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) the full filing, and every vehicle covered →

These are vehicle campaigns — the ones the automaker filed against this model. NHTSA also records equipment recalls, filed by a parts maker against a component (a tyre, a child seat, an aftermarket part), and those are not listed here or counted above. nhtsa.gov/recalls shows both for a VIN.

NHTSA defect investigations

Electrical System:Propulsion System — Pedestrian alert sounds closed

NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021. On January 27, 2023, NHTSA opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject mat

Opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · action DP22005 · the investigation’s page →

Whether any of this applies to one specific Clarity

A campaign covers a build range, not a model year, so two identical-looking cars from 2019 can differ. Both of these check a VIN against the manufacturer’s own list, free, in about ten seconds. Honda publishes its own lookup because federal rule 49 CFR 573.15 requires it to, and to keep it current to within seven days.

NHTSA VIN check →Honda’s own VIN lookup →

Hear about a recall before the letter does

The manufacturer’s letter is the last step of a recall: it has up to 60 days after filing to mail owners, at the address on the registration. We email you the day NHTSA posts a recall on the 2019 Honda Clarity, with what to do next. Nothing else, ever — no newsletter, no marketing, one-click unsubscribe in every message.

Owner complaints

Source: NHTSA complaint database

45complaints filed

2 involved a crash · 0 a fire · 3 injuries · 1 deaths reported

56 per 10,000 built · Honda reported 8,102 Clarity built (its Early Warning production report to NHTSA)

Filed per year: 2019: 7 · 2020: 7 · 2022: 5 · 2023: 6 · 2024: 10 · 2025: 5 · 2026: 5

Most-cited components

Fuel/Propulsion System 13

Engine 11

Electrical System 10

Vehicle Speed Control 9

Unspecified 7

Power Train 4

In owners' own words

Filed with NHTSA by the people who own these cars, one per problem area. Quoted as written, with anything identifying removed.

The backup camera turns on every time when the vehicle's ignition is on, or all of sudden the backup camera turns on while driving which causes a dangerous illusion. The illusion makes the driver would have hit something because you're not reversing, instead you're driving forward.

Electrical System Jul 6, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11530764

When driving in gas mode, the engine is revving high as in high rpm . I am not sure if the gear is shifting or has problems. The car revs high and the more I push the accelerator the louder the engine sound

Engine Jan 23, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11503147

The contact owns a 2019 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid. The contact stated that while driving at undisclosed speeds, during sunny weather, the vehicle unintendedly braked without warning. The warning light "Brake" was illuminated. The contact stated that the failure reoccurred.

Vehicle Speed Control at 22,000 miles May 20, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11589741

The contact owns a 2019 Honda Clarity Plug-In-Hybrid. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted.

Fuel/Propulsion System May 3, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11586798

A/C condensor AND evaporator inspected and found leaking at no fault or damage to the car. Original owner, 5 years, 50k miles which us an abnormality for failure in these parts. Many reported the issue on forum

Visibility/Wiper Apr 24, 2024 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11585088

We have a Clarity EV. It has been great for 4 years. But recently, all of the sudden, we started getting system failure messages on the dash. Different systems, including brakes. And the brake pedal went to the floor. I have read about similar failures online at “clarity forum”. Some who posted believe it is a 12-volt battery problem.

Service Brakes Aug 31, 2023 NHTSA owner report · ODI 11541968

Complaint counts are raw owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects, and scale with how many were sold. Use them to spot patterns, not to rank.

Reported by Honda itself: 8 death-or-injury claims on this model year in its quarterly Early Warning reports to NHTSA (49 CFR 579.21): 9 injured, as claimed, not verified — about 99 per 100,000 built. Every Clarity model year, by year and system → Dated and by system, they are exhibit F of the defect dossier.

When owners reported it

Reported at 9k

miles, typically

Half the 17 owner reports with an odometer reading on file fall between 2,000 and 21,000 miles. That is when problems get reported, which is not the same as when they start — and not a failure rate, because nobody knows how many of these cars never had a problem at all.

Too few readings for a curve — the 17 on file: 9 under 10k, 2 10k–20k, 3 20k–30k, 1 30k–40k, 1 40k–50k, 1 100k–150k.

Odometer readings as filed by owners with NHTSA. Readings under 100 or over 400,000 miles are dropped as data entry rather than history, and a component needs at least 12 readings before a median is shown for it.

Crash ratings

Source: NHTSA NCAP

NHTSA has not published 5-Star crash ratings for this model year.

Service bulletins & campaigns

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications

Extended coverage on file 2 filings by the manufacturer with NHTSA naming this model year

Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Honda bulletin ONLO9V07062021Owner Notification Letter - On some 2018-21 Clarity Plug-In Hybrid models, the A/C condenser may leak refrigerant.
Term not in NHTSA’s summary · Honda bulletin A21-017American Honda is extending the warranty on the A/C condenser to 10 years from the original date of purchase with unlimited miles.

The term and the vehicles it covers are the manufacturer’s, as NHTSA’s summary of each filing states them; a dealer checks one particular car by its VIN. Every Honda warranty extension (66) → · Every warranty extension on file, all makes →

Communicationsfiled with NHTSA 12

Most recentmanufacturer date 2022-09-16

Kindsas classified by NHTSA 12 service bulletins

Most often about: Engine, Fuel/Propulsion System, Visibility/Wiper, Electrical System, Steering.

A22090A Service bulletin
2022-09-16 · Electrical System
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, P/N 4019-2317.
A21-084 Service bulletin
2021-12-16 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Service Bulletin - The MIL comes on with DTC P1F86 FC Cell Voltage Too Low (Caution).
A21-084 Service bulletin
2021-10-26 · Engine And Engine Cooling
Service Bulletin - The MIL comes on with DTC P1F86 FC Cell Voltage Too Low (Caution).
ONLO9V07062021 Service bulletin
2021-07-06 · Visibility
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 warranty extension provides coverage for the original owner and any subsequent owners. No action is required on your part unless you experience a pro
ABOM05282021 Service bulletin
2021-05-28 · Visibility
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. This warranty extension covers the A/C condenser to address concerns of leaking refrigerant. American Honda is extending the warranty on the A/C
A21-017 Service bulletin
2021-05-28 · Visibility
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 condenser was not manufactured to specification. As a result, corrosion may develop in the form of tiny holes in the condenser tube walls that
A21-008 Service bulletin
2021-02-11 · Electrical System
Service Bulletin - The Hybrid System Failure message comes on the MID, and DTC P1D8D (Generator Motor Inverter Short) is stored.
A20-092 Service bulletin
2020-12-09 · Fuel System, Gasoline
Service Bulletin - The customer cannot refuel the vehicle completely at certain hydrogen stations.

A service bulletin is the manufacturer telling its dealers how to diagnose or repair a known condition. It is not a recall, not a finding that the vehicle is defective, and the work is not automatically free — though a bulletin is often what a dealer works from when you describe a symptom, so quoting the document number can save a diagnosis. The count is every communication filed; the list shows the most recent, one entry per campaign, because a single campaign is usually filed as several documents on the same day. The summaries are NHTSA's; the full documents come from the manufacturer.

Diagnostic trouble codes on file

Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications and complaints

Codes documented against this model year in the federal record. A code appearing here does not mean this vehicle will set it — it means the code is part of this nameplate-year's documented history.

Code	What it means	Most often filed under	Where it appears
P1F86	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Engine	2 bulletins
P1FBF	Manufacturer-defined — the meaning is set by the automaker, not the standard.	Fuel/Propulsion System · Fuel pump →	2 bulletins

Generic codes (the second character is 0 or 2) mean the same thing on every vehicle sold in the United States. Manufacturer-specific codes (1 or 3) mean whatever the automaker assigned, and no honest source can define them for you — which is why the ones here carry the evidence instead of a definition. A code is a link when enough separate federal documents name it across the catalogue to be worth a page of its own; the rest are listed here, where the vehicle is the context that makes them mean something.

Clarity by model year

all years, side by side →

Year Safety Recalls Complaints

2021 A 0 4 68 mpg 2020 A 0 10 68 mpg 2019 this page B 2 45 89 mi 2018 C 3 163 89 mi 2017 C 3 5 89 mi

Common questions about the 2019 Clarity

Source: EPA, NHTSA and manufacturer press kits

Does the 2019 Honda Clarity have any recalls?

NHTSA has posted 2 recall campaigns for the 2019 Honda Clarity. The most serious on file is 23V858000, covering Fuel System, Gasoline. Check your own VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls; a recall applies to specific build ranges, not every car.

How safe is the 2019 Honda Clarity?

NHTSA has not published a crash-test rating for the 2019 Honda Clarity yet. On the recall record WhichTrim grades it B (85/100), which measures open and severe recalls rather than crash protection.

What is the fuel economy of the 2019 Honda Clarity?

Across the 3 EPA-rated configurations of the 2019 Honda Clarity, the best EPA combined figure is 68 mpg (MPGe on the electrified versions) and the longest EPA range is 89 miles on a charge. Figures are the EPA's own, per configuration, and every one is listed above.

What are the dimensions of the 2019 Honda Clarity?

Transport Canada measured it at 192.9 in long, 74.8 in wide (body, without mirrors), 58.3 in tall, on a 108.3 in wheelbase. Curb weight: 4,063 lb. Those are its measurements of the North American versions; every figure is in the table above.

What do owners complain about on the 2019 Honda Clarity?

Owners have filed 45 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019 Honda Clarity, most often about fuel/propulsion system, engine, electrical system. Of those, 2 involved a crash, 3 reported injuries. Complaints are unverified owner reports, so treat the pattern as a signal and the individual report as an anecdote.

How clean is the 2019 Honda Clarity?

The EPA smog rating for the 2019 Honda Clarity runs 8 to 10 out of 10 across its configurations. That score covers tailpipe pollutants other than greenhouse gases, and it only compares vehicles within the same model year. It is certified for all fifty states, so it can be registered new anywhere in the U.S. Its configurations were certified to different standards — California LEV-III SULEV20, California ZEV, Federal Tier 3 Bin 0, Federal Tier 3 Bin 20 — which the table above lists per configuration.

Are there service bulletins for the 2019 Honda Clarity?

The manufacturer has filed 12 service bulletins and related communications with NHTSA for the 2019 Honda Clarity, most often covering engine, fuel/propulsion system, visibility/wiper. The most recent is dated 2022-09-16. A bulletin is not a recall: it is the repair procedure a manufacturer sends its dealers for a condition it knows about, and the work is not automatically paid for. It is still worth knowing — if the symptom matches, quoting the bulletin number at the service desk can save a diagnosis. The document numbers and summaries are listed above.

What we hold, and what an empty row means

Paid vehicle-history reports will not tell you the difference between “nothing happened to this car” and “we never received that record” — both of the big two say as much in their own help pages. Most of what is on this page comes from complete federal registers, so we can tell you which is which, row by row.

Data	Held	Source	What it covers — or what empty means
Fuel economy & configurations	3 configurations	EPA certification records	Every configuration the EPA certified for sale, with its own test figures.
Emission certificates	3 configurations	EPA emission certificates	Smog rating, standard and the sales area that decides where the car can be sold new.
Recalls	2	NHTSA recall campaigns	A complete federal register: every campaign covering this model year, with severity and advisory flags.
Owner complaints	45	NHTSA complaint database	Also complete, but unverified: these are reports owners filed, not findings. Counts scale with how many were sold.
Crash ratings	none	NHTSA NCAP	NHTSA has not tested this model year. Cars are selected for testing, so untested is not unsafe.
Service bulletins	12	NHTSA manufacturer communications	Everything the manufacturer told its dealers about a defect or malfunction, short of a recall.
Investigations	1	NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation	Open and closed defect investigations, with the agency's own narrative.
Driver-assist crash reports	none	NHTSA Standing General Order 2021-01	No report has been filed. Only entities named in the order report, and only crashes they hear of — so this is also what an unequipped car, or a manufacturer without telematics, looks like.
Specifications filed with NHTSA	10 fields	NHTSA vPIC, decoded from VIN patterns	What the manufacturer filed under the federal VIN rule — a configuration, not the full trim ladder.
Measured dimensions	7 fields	Transport Canada, Canadian Vehicle Specifications	Length, width, height, wheelbase, track and curb weight, measured on the North American versions.
Trims, pricing & equipment	none	Manufacturer press kit	We have not transcribed a press kit for this model year yet. This is our gap, not the manufacturer's — the one row here where an empty cell means we are behind.

Rebuilt nightly; this page was generated 2026-10-26. Every figure above is traceable to the source named beside it, and the JSON for this page carries the same values with their identifiers.

Sources & method

Safety Signal starts every model-year at 100 and subtracts points per open NHTSA recall campaign by severity: critical 15 (fire risk, park-outside or do-not-drive advisories), high 8 (brakes, steering, airbags, loss of drive power, structure, battery), moderate 6, minor 3 (software, labels, lighting fixed by an update). The most serious recall counts in full and each further one counts 85% of the one before, because a vehicle sold in millions is recalled more often than a rare one without being more dangerous — and because a flat subtraction bottomed the scale out, scoring a vehicle with 22 recalls within a point of one with six. A ≥ 90, B ≥ 80, C ≥ 70, D ≥ 60, otherwise F. Read it as what it counts: recall campaigns on the federal record, weighted by severity. The damping reduces the sales bias by roughly 40% but does not remove it: like our complaint counts, this is not normalized by how many were sold, so a best-seller still scores somewhat worse than an obscure model with the same real risk. NHTSA crash ratings, do-not-drive and park-outside advisories, and the crash, fire, injury and death counts in owner complaints are reported separately on every page and never blended into the letter — a vehicle can hold five stars and a poor letter at once, and where that happens we say so rather than leave you to notice. Because the scale subtracts from a clean sheet, a model year too new to have been recalled, complained about or bulletined scores full marks on an empty record; we label those grades provisional rather than present them as earned.

EPA figures come from fueleconomy.gov vehicle records. Recalls, complaints, investigations and crash ratings come from NHTSA's public flat files, refreshed nightly.

JSON for this page · API