Head-to-head reliability
Honda Clarity vs Toyota Camry
How the Honda Clarity and Toyota Camry compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Honda Clarity vs Toyota Camry: The Clarity averages 45.6 complaints per year over 5 years, while the Camry averages 205.6 per year over 10 years. The Clarity has 8 recalls and 16 crash-related complaints; the Camry has 31 recalls and 171 crash-related complaints. Both show serious owner-reported issues like stalling or brake problems. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda Clarity or Toyota Camry more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda Clarity
The Honda Clarity is a low-volume plug-in hybrid, so complaints average about 46 per year over five years. Owners most often report engine and electrical problems, including fuel pump failures that can cause stalling and high-voltage inverter noise. Recalls cover fuel pumps, electrical software, and seat belts. With only 228 total complaints, it's a niche car with a handful of serious safety themes.
Toyota Camry
The Toyota Camry is a high-volume sedan with about 206 complaints per year over ten years. Power train, engine, and brake issues dominate, with reports of hesitation, shuddering, stuck keys, and electronic parking brake failures. Recalls include wheels, seats, and air bag sensors. The sheer number of complaints reflects how many are on the road, but patterns like delayed acceleration and brake noise are common.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda Clarity | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 228 Better | 2,056 |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 8 Better | 31 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 16 Better | 171 |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 45.6 Better | 205.6 |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 6 Better | 158 |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Honda Clarity
- 01ENGINE43
- 02ELECTRICAL SYSTEM39
- 03UNKNOWN OR OTHER37
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM34
- 05POWER TRAIN30
Owners report fuel pump failure that can cause engine stalling while driving, and a burning smell with loud engine noise when the hybrid mode engages at highway speeds. These issues matter because stalling can leave you without power in traffic.
Complaints include a high-pitched squealing from the motor power inverter module and unexpected acceleration during U-turns. These electrical faults can affect drivability and safety, and may be hard to diagnose.
The same fuel pump defect appears here, with owners worried about stalling. A failing fuel pump can stop the engine without warning, so buyers should confirm the recall was performed.
Owners report AC condenser and evaporator failures, and one case of sudden unintended acceleration. These varied issues show that not all problems are captured by a single system, so a thorough inspection is wise.
“I am writing to express my serious concern regarding the safety recall for my 2019 Honda Clarity (VIN: [XXX] ). The recall, dated February 2024, pertains to a potential fuel pump failure that could cause engine stalling while driving, posing a significant saf…”
“PHEV BURNING SMELL ECON (EV) DRIVING. IT HAPPENED 2 TIMES AFTER THE BATTERY DROPS TO TWO BARS, WHICH MEANS MODE WAS CHANGED TO HYBRID FROM ECON. THERE WERE BIG VROOM SOUNDS FROM ENGINE ROOM WHEN EV MODE CONVERTED HYBRID MODE AT THE SPEED OF 60-70 MPH. EVEN AT…”
Toyota Camry
- 01POWER TRAIN385
- 02UNKNOWN OR OTHER323
- 03ENGINE315
- 04SERVICE BRAKES285
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM237
Owners describe an ignition key that gets stuck in Park, requiring a battery disconnect to remove, and hesitation or shuddering with the check engine light on. These can leave you stranded or cause delayed acceleration.
Reports include several seconds of delayed throttle response when pressing the accelerator, and shuddering at various speeds. This lag can be dangerous when merging or crossing traffic.
The electronic parking brake may not disengage, requiring a tow, and a clicking or vibrating noise from the brake pedal area is common. Brake problems affect basic stopping confidence.
Multiple safety systems—stability control, power steering, blind spot monitoring, and lane keeping—can malfunction at once. A cascade of electronic failures can overwhelm a driver.
“My 2023 Toyota Camry has developed an intermittent defect where the ignition key becomes stuck and cannot be removed even though the dashboard shows the vehicle is in Park. The only way to remove the key is to disconnect the vehicle's battery, which is not a…”
“The contact owns a 2023 Toyota Camry. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the vehicle was hesitating and shuddering, and the check engine warning light was illuminated. The vehicle was taken to the local dealer, who diagnosed the vehicle…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Honda Clarity — 8 recalls
The defect: 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.
The risk: 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.
The defect: 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 vehicl…
The risk: 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.
The defect: 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.
The risk: 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.
The defect: 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.
The risk: 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 1-888-2…
Toyota Camry — 31 recalls
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The lug nuts that attach the wheels to the vehicle may be loose, which can result in wheel detachment.
The risk: A wheel that detaches from a moving vehicle can cause a loss of vehicle control, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Owners are advised not to drive their vehicles until the repair has been performed. Dealers will inspect and tighten the lug nuts, and replace any damaged components, free of charge. Owner notification letters are expected to be mailed on…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2020-2021 Avalon, Avalon Hybrid, Corolla, Highlander, Highlander Hybrid, RAV4, RAV4 Hybrid, Lexus ES350, Lexus RX350, Lexus RX450H, 2021 Sienna Hybrid, Lexus ES250, 2020-2022 Camry, Camry Hybrid, and ES300H vehicles. A short cir…
The risk: An air bag that does not deploy during a crash increases the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will inspect and replace the sensor as necessary, free of charge. Interim letters notifying owners of the safety risk were mailed in February 2024. Some final remedy owner letters were mailed October 31, 2024. Letters will continue…
The defect: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing (Toyota) is recalling certain 2023-2024 Camry and Camry Hybrid vehicles. The second-row center and right-side seats may have insufficiently welded head restraint brackets. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle…
The risk: A head restraint bracket that is insufficiently welded may not properly restrain an occupant during a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the 60% rear seat-back frame sub-assembly, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed April 19, 2024. Owners may contact Toyota customer service at 1-800-331-4331. Toyota's numbers for this recall are 24TB0…
Buyer analysis
Honda Clarity or Toyota Camry: which should you buy?
The Honda Clarity has far fewer complaints per year (about 46 vs. 206 for the Camry), but it is a low-volume model, so the comparison is not apples-to-apples. In practice, the Clarity's issues cluster around stalling and high-voltage components, while the Camry's are more widespread but often less severe per complaint. Neither is problem-free; the better choice depends on which failure patterns you can tolerate.
Key differences
- The Clarity has about 46 complaints per year; the Camry has about 206 per year, but the Camry sells in much higher volume.
- Clarity owners report fuel pump stalling and inverter squealing; Camry owners report stuck keys, delayed acceleration, and parking brake failures.
- The Clarity has 8 recalls over 5 years; the Camry has 31 recalls over 10 years, including air bag sensor and seat issues.
- Crash-related complaints are 16 for the Clarity and 171 for the Camry, but again volume differs greatly.
- Confirm the fuel pump recall was performed; ask for paperwork and check for any stalling or rough running during a test drive.
- Listen for a high-pitched squeal from the front while driving and test the AC; inverter noise and AC condenser failures are reported.
- Test the ignition key in Park—make sure it can be removed without disconnecting the battery; stuck keys are a known complaint.
- Check for delayed acceleration when pressing the gas from a stop, and listen for clicking or vibrating from the brake pedal area.
Before you buy
- Ask for the full recall history and proof that open recalls (especially fuel pump for Clarity, air bag sensors for Camry) were completed.
- During a test drive, accelerate firmly from a stop to check for hesitation or shuddering, and brake to listen for unusual noises.
- For the Clarity, test the AC and listen for high-pitched whines; for the Camry, test the electronic parking brake and key removal.
- Have a mechanic inspect the hybrid system and inverter on the Clarity, and the power train and brake systems on the Camry.
- Check NHTSA.gov by VIN for any unrepaired recalls before you buy, and factor potential repair costs into your offer.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Honda Clarity | Toyota Camry |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 7 | 157 |
| 2020 | 10 | 274 |
| 2019 | 45 | 395 |
| 2018 | 161 | 744 |
| 2017 | 5 | 148 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Honda Clarity or Toyota Camry in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda Clarity vs Toyota Camry
- Honda Clarity total complaints
- 228
- Toyota Camry total complaints
- 2,056
- Honda Clarity total recalls
- 8
- Toyota Camry total recalls
- 31
- Honda Clarity avg complaints/year
- 45.6
- Toyota Camry avg complaints/year
- 205.6
- More reliable overall
- Honda Clarity
- Honda Clarity top complaint area
- ENGINE
- Toyota Camry top complaint area
- POWER TRAIN