Honda Clarity Fuel Cell Recalls

NHTSA has issued 4 safety recalls for the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell, covering model years 2017 through 2019. The 2017 model year has the most, with 3 separate campaigns against it. The largest single recall covered 1,082 vehicles. The most recent was reported to NHTSA on June 4, 2020.

Total recalls: 4
Model years affected: 3
Most recalled part: No repeat
Latest recall: 2020

Honda Clarity Fuel Cell recalls by model year

How many campaigns were issued against each model year. One recall often covers several years at once, so these add up to more than the 4 total.

20191 recall20182 recalls20173 recalls

All Honda Clarity Fuel Cell recalls

Each entry is an official NHTSA campaign, shown with the defect, consequence, and remedy exactly as the manufacturer reported them, newest first.

20V326000Seat beltReported June 4, 2020

SEAT BELTS:REAR/OTHER

Model years affected: 2019

The 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.

What can happen

In the event of a crash, the seat belt may not properly restrain the occupant, increasing the risk of injury.

The 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.

Vehicles affected: 128
Maker's recall no.: Z7L
Owners notified: July 24, 2020

Read campaign 20V326000 on NHTSA.gov ↗

19V315000Reported April 18, 2019

EQUIPMENT:ELECTRICAL

Model years affected: 2017–2018

The problem

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.

What can happen

A failure of the water pump can cause the vehicle to stall, increasing the risk of crash.

The fix

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the water pump, free of charge. The recall began June 10, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is L4N.

Vehicles affected: 1,082
Maker's recall no.: N5H
Owners notified: June 10, 2019

Read campaign 19V315000 on NHTSA.gov ↗

18V921000Reported December 20, 2018

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM

Model years affected: 2017–2018

The problem

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.

What can happen

A loss of power can increase the risk of a crash.

The fix

Honda has notified owners, and dealers will update the FC-ECU software, free of charge. The recall began February 14, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is A3O.

Vehicles affected: 1,082
Maker's recall no.: A3O
Owners notified: February 14, 2019

Read campaign 18V921000 on NHTSA.gov ↗

18V068000Reported January 25, 2018

HYBRID PROPULSION SYSTEM

Model years affected: 2017

The problem

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.

What can happen

A loss of power can increase the risk of a crash.

The fix

Honda will notify owners, and dealers will install a software update, free of charge. The recall began February 28, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is R0L.

Vehicles affected: 471
Maker's recall no.: R0L
Owners notified: February 28, 2018

Read campaign 18V068000 on NHTSA.gov ↗

What to do if your Honda Clarity Fuel Cell is on this list

A recall listed here applies to a range of vehicles, not to every car of that model year. Manufacturers narrow it down by build date and VIN, so the only way to know whether yours is included is to check the VIN. You can do that free on NHTSA's recall lookup, or by calling any franchised dealer for that brand with your VIN in hand.

Recall repairs are free. Under federal law the manufacturer has to fix a safety defect at no charge, and there is no mileage limit and no expiry on that obligation for vehicles under 15 years old. A dealer cannot charge you for the parts, the labour, or the diagnosis on a recall repair, and you do not need to have bought the car there. If a dealer asks you to pay, that is worth escalating to the manufacturer's customer line, which is listed in the remedy text of each recall above.

Recalls do not block a title transfer or registration in any state. You can legally buy, sell, or register a car with an open recall, and sellers are generally not required to fix one first. That said, an open recall is worth raising before money changes hands, especially one with a do-not-drive advisory. If you are buying, run the VIN before you hand over the payment; if you are selling, telling the buyer about an open recall costs you nothing and avoids a dispute later.

Honda Clarity Fuel Cell recall questions

How many recalls does the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell have?

NHTSA lists 4 recall campaigns for the Honda Clarity Fuel Cell across model years 2017 to 2019. That count covers recalls filed from 2010 onward. Not every campaign applies to every car of that model year, because manufacturers limit recalls by build date and VIN.

Which Honda Clarity Fuel Cell model year has the most recalls?

The 2017 Honda Clarity Fuel Cell carries the most, with 3 recall campaigns. A high count does not automatically mean a worse car: a single supplier fault can trigger a recall across an entire production run, and manufacturers that report problems quickly tend to show more campaigns.

Are Honda Clarity Fuel Cell recall repairs free?

Yes. Federal law requires the manufacturer to repair a safety recall at no cost, including parts and labour, on vehicles under 15 years old. There is no mileage limit, and you do not have to be the original owner or have bought the car from that dealer.

Can I sell or register a Honda Clarity Fuel Cell with an open recall?

Yes. An open recall does not stop a title transfer or registration in any state, and private sellers are generally not required to repair one first. Dealers face stricter rules on some safety recalls. If you are buying, check the VIN before you pay; the repair is free, but you want to know what you are taking on.

Other Honda recalls

Honda Odyssey recalls61 Honda Pilot recalls56 Honda CR-V recalls54 Honda Accord recalls46 Honda Civic recalls44 Honda Ridgeline recalls36

Where this data comes from

Every recall on this page is published by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the federal agency that oversees vehicle safety recalls in the United States. We pull the full recall file from NHTSA and reproduce the campaign number, defect description, consequence, and remedy exactly as the manufacturer reported them. NHTSA data is in the public domain.

Source:: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation
NHTSA data as of:: July 18, 2026
Coverage:: Recalls from 2010 onward

Check your VIN on NHTSA.gov ↗

Buying or selling this car?

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Last reviewed: 2026-07-18 · Reviewed by the Car Paperwork editorial team · Independent resource · Not legal advice

⚠ Independent resource — check your VIN before actingCar Paperwork is not affiliated with NHTSA, any manufacturer, or any dealer. This page lists recalls issued for a model, which is not the same as a recall on your car: only a VIN check confirms that. Recall records are also updated by NHTSA continuously, so treat this as a starting point and confirm anything urgent with NHTSA or a franchised dealer. Nothing here is legal or repair advice.