2018 Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid: sudden loss of power

Filed May 15, 2026 · Electrical, Engine · CA

I will first start with our problems/concerns. We had experienced a complete lost power in freeway speed (65 mph) when the battery is depleted, that is when the battery bar goes to zero bar instead of 2 bars usually. I attached a photo from the video I took for your reference. This experience was the engine ramp up and not getting any power while driving on freeway, escpecially obvious during uphill slope. It is a safety hazard where we had to manuver in order avoid traffic since we could not maintain freeway speed. This originally happened around 2022, but we checked with Norm Reeves Honda Cerritos and they told us nothing is wrong and because there was no fault code, nothing they can do. When the Recall service canoaign 24-031 came, we were relieved because we think the problem is going to be fixed. We brought our Honda Clarity to the dealer on 2/3/2025 for the recall and everything was fine (meaning we can drive on HV after our battery is depleted). But around December 2025, my wife experienced the same situation where she couldn’t keep up with the freeway speed after exhausted the electric range of 34 miles. We took it to dealer again on 1/16/2026 and described the situation, dealer came back and said nothing has been found and there were no fault code. After that, the only way that we are trying to do is to avoid the battery to get down to zero miles, but since our battery is only getting 34 miles full charge instead of the 47 miles when it was new (dealer also said this is normal depreciation, I am not sure about that). Again, thank you for helping since losing engine power and speed on freeway is pretty scary and I hope this is enough information for my case. Here are answers to your questions. VIN: [XXX] Mileage: 85300 Dealership: Norm Reeves Honda Cerritos Details: Vehicle losing power on freeway speed after battery is depleted. As described above. First time it happened: Around 2022 First time dealer address my concern rather than told me th INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION A

Filed Feb 6, 2021 · Acceleration, Engine · GA

Few times it has happened especially in extreme cold weather, there will be loss of power/acceleration even though you are trying to accelerate the vehicle. While accelerating it will take the command engine RPM will be higher but vehicle is not taking up the speed. Either it will stay to go at low speed or slowly it will starting to halt situation. This has happened few times(about 5-6 times). And in such situation there will some unacceptable noise from engine. One time we were at about 50mph speed but I couldn't accelerate (just like above) and had to stop the car in middle of highway, stop the car (shut the engine) and then start the car it started working fine. This happened mostly when on gas and especially during extreme cold weather. While on fully EV mode it works fine, I have never experienced this problem.

Filed Oct 7, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 3,700 miles · NJ

Tl* the contact owns a 2018 honda clarity plug-in hybrid. While driving 5 MPH, the battery was depleted and the engine mode engaged; however, the vehicle lost power and failed to accelerate. The vehicle was recharged and worked as designed. The engine system, adaptive cruise control, road departure, and power steering warning indicators were illuminated. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer and dealer were not contacted. The failure mileage was 3,700. The VIN was invalid.

Filed Jun 2, 2019 · Fuel system · 200 miles · NY

We leased our vehicle in november of 2018. From the test drive and going forward we noticed high engine idle during acceleration but was told the car needed to be charged.(we were never told of anything regarding loss of engine power or acceleration if the battery is low! False advertising!) as the days went by we noticed the issue getting worse and that the revving was actually the car losing power when driving in any condition or driving mode. While driving the car and the battery gets to two bars the car would loose power and will not go over 10 MPH. This has happened to my wife on numerous occasions and a few while driving on the highway at speeds of 60 to 70 MPH and suddenly the car doesn't want to go and the engine revs and the RPM's go up because the car is loosing power as your stepping on the gas pedal. My wife had to pull over to the side. Thankfully there weren't many cars around her. This is a dangers situation and is not normal! My wife fears for her life and does not like to drive the vehicle!!!. We have brought the car to service and complained about the issue at least 3 times. They claim that they cant duplicate the problem and there's nothing they can do. They just tell us to pick the car up and just send us on our way. This is unacceptable! We've even put in a claim with american honda and so fare they are no help as well! Please fix this problem before someone seriously gets hurt or dies!!!

Filed May 6, 2019 · Fuel system · 500 miles · CA

We leased a 2018 honda clarity in december of 2017. Since then, the car has lost power several times (over 25 times). Attached are 2 separate video clips showing the car losing power. The car feels like the engine disengages and the revolutions go up, but the car slows down. I have been on the freeway going up a hill, when the engine lost power. We went from 65 MPH down to 20 MPH. I had to fully stop in the emergency lane and accelerate again to clear the issue. The loss of power has happened on flat residential streets, busy multi-lane highways, while accelerating out of a driveways, and accelerating up large and small hills. Though it has taken awhile to establish a pattern, it appears to happen when the electrical charge falls to 1 or 2 bars. I have taken the car to the dealer over 3 times who updated the software but that has not solved the problem. Even though the dealer has the video clips, the dealer has stated that they have not been able to duplicate or find the problem and recommends that I charge the car every night. This is not the car I purchased. I should be able to plug in the car to charge it or use my engine to charge the car. The dealer is also unwilling to solve my issues or replace the car.

Filed Apr 28, 2019 · Acceleration, Engine · 12,650 miles · CA

On approx 6 occasions, when EV power is used up, the car switches to ice mode with issues. When traveling up hill, it feels like the transmission is not engaging. The vehicle losses power, and does not accelerate. The ice revs extremely high without speed gain. Have also experienced a downhill situation with nearly full EV in EV mode. Vehicle feels like it disengages drivetrain. When pressing the accelerator, there was no response. One feels helpless when this occurs. Most of the time, the car had switches from EV to hv automatically, without issue. But, the above phenomena has happened 6 times in the last year this is unsafe. The vehicle was sold as an EV, with a gas engine to take over when EV runs out. At no time was there any explanation regarding potential situations that would cause the vehicle to become unsafe and lose power. One should not have to ensure reserve EV power for potential power loss situations. When these situations have occurred, upon shutting off the car and exiting, there is a strong smell of burning rubber and other material similar to transmission and brakes, or hot metal. Clearly something is overheating, and if the vehicle was not shutdown and allowed to cool, a reasonable person might conclude that significant damage to the engine, electric motors, EV battery, or transmission would take place. I am no longer driving the vehicle as a pure EV for city driving. The fear of power loss without control is extremely upsetting, and consequently, not getting the value of vehicle. My spouse will not drive the vehicle as driver or passenger if the trip is to exceed 20 miles in one direction. My gas savings has dropped considerably as I am unable to risk running out of EV before my trip ends. This vehicle has been taken to the dealer 3 times, and inspected by honda of america. They deny there is anything wrong with the vehicle.

Filed Feb 26, 2019 · Transmission · 500 miles · NY

In hv mode, up slope, at 2 e bars left, engine revive and loud. But no accelerate. Felt like lost power.

Filed Feb 21, 2019 · Electrical, Engine · 100 miles · NJ

3 days after purchase I was driving on an interstate when the car suddenly lost all power. I managed to pull to a slow lane but the lack of power continued for another 5 minutes. It had been running on battery just prior and I had 2 bars of power left. The outside temperature was about 15 degrees. The internal cobustion engine began to race but only began to give adequate power to the wheels after 5 minutes. A terrifying experience. Honda checked out the car and said nothing was wrong. I am hearing of other cases being reported like mine.

Filed Feb 15, 2019 · Transmission · 5,500 miles · NJ

Major power loss while in hv charge mode and accelerating up a steep hill from a stop.switched to EV mode to avoid potential rear end collision.

Filed Feb 3, 2019 · Engine, Transmission · 895 miles · TX

Loss of power and engine comes on with high revs while car is moving. In hv mode engine revs are continues even though I have 20 miles of EV range. I had power loss twice now in slow speed around 30 miles/hr andt 65 miles/hr

Filed Sep 29, 2018 · Electrical, Engine · 200 miles · CA

Twice I experienced extreme high revs (like the car was in neutral and you have the pedal to the metal)with absolute loss of power and speed down to 30 MPH first time on freeway & 10 MPH second time on highway. Happened twice when battery was low (each time battery display actually went down to 1 bar which I've been told by dealer that it is impossible to go below 2 bars when hv kicks in) and on slight incline. Super scary dangerous, family screaming of fear inside vehicle)! Also have range display error, engine turning on when battery is full almost every day and no charging when hv charge engaged. Original dealer test drove car 300 miles, did update and told me nothing wrong with car. I was afraid to drive the car, it sat at dealer for a month. After fighting with honda and going nowhere with them or dealership I took it back and all issues where still there. Took car 3 times to dealer #2 who said they cannot help, to deal with honda. I even emailed videos and photos but they did not seem to care or make effort to research it. Took test drive with tech, he had excuses for everything. Had opened ticket with honda, originally a special tech guy was supposed to come check the car, 2 months later still nothing, after dozens of calls to honda they told me that nothing is wrong with the car and they cancelled the specialist as they cannot justify the cost of it. I even had to pay for the loaner and again honda said they cannot justify covering it. They say to contact dealer, did not do anything and ended up telling me to get a lawyer. I am now stuck with a car that has major issues most of the time, I have to stop on the side of the road to shut car off 2 to 3 times in the morning when the battery is full and go through lots of gas because th e battery does not recharge and the engine is revving extremely high. I am also worried about the long term damage to the engine.