
110
uuIndicators uDriver Information Interface Wa rning and Information Messages
Instrument Panel
MessageConditionExplanation
●Appears when the outside temperature is low.●In extremely cold climates,  keep the vehicle stored in a 
garage or connect the charging connector.
2 Charging P. 457
●Appears when the engine starts automatically when 
the engine has not started for a long time.
—
●Appears when the vehicle can run only in EV because 
the failure that cannot generate power by the engine 
failure or generator  failure etc occurs.
●The estimated distance you can travel on the 
remaining power is displayed.
●Have your vehicle checked by an authorized Honda 
Clarity Plug-In Hybrid dealer.
●Appears when you are unable to select the HV 
Charge because the High Voltage battery charge 
level is at maximum limit  (12 segments) of the HV 
Charge.
2 SPORT HYBRID i-MMD Plug-in (Intelligent Multi-
mode Drive Plug-in)  P. 11
●Appears if the drive mode cannot be changed due to 
certain situations, such as a system error or adverse 
driving conditions.
—
Canadian models
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372
Driving
Before Driving
Driving Preparation
Check the following items before you start driving.
• Make sure there are no obstructions on th e windows, door mirrors, exterior 
lights, or other parts of the vehicle.
u Remove any frost, snow, or ice.
u Remove any snow on the roof, as this can slip down and obstruct your field of 
vision while driving. If frozen solid , remove ice once it has softened.
u When removing ice from around the wheel s, be sure not to damage the wheel 
or wheel components.
• Make sure the hood is securely closed.
u If the hood opens while driving, your front view will be blocked.
• Make sure the tires are in good condition.
u Check air pressures, and check  for damage and excessive wear.
2Checking and Maintaining Tires  P. 501
•Make sure there are no people or ob jects behind or around the vehicle.
u There are blind spots from the inside.
• Disconnect the charging cable.
■Exterior Checks1Exterior Checks
NOTICE
When doors are frozen s hut, use warm water around 
the door edges to melt any ice. Do not try to force 
them open, as this can damage the rubber trim 
around the doors. When done, wipe dry to avoid 
further freezing.
Do not pour warm water  into the key cylinder.
You will be unable to insert the key if the water 
freezes in the hole.
Heat from the engine  and exhaust can ignite 
flammable material s left under the hood, causing a 
fire. If you’ve parked y our vehicle for an extended 
period, inspect and remove  any debris that may have 
collected, such as dried grass and leaves that have 
fallen or have been carried  in for use as a nest by a 
small animal. Also check  under the hood for leftover 
flammable materials after  you or someone else has 
performed maintenance on your vehicle.
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Continued379
uuWhen Driving uTurning on the Power
Driving
3. Press the  POWER button without 
depressing the accelerator pedal.
u The Ready To Drive  message appears 
on the driver info rmation interface.
u When the ambient temperature is 
extremely low, the vehicle does not move 
until certain conditions are met.
A warning message appears instead of 
Ready To Drive .
2Driver Information Interface 
Warning and Information Messages  
P. 103
u If the High Voltage battery is fully 
charged, the gasoline engine may not 
start.
u If the High Voltage battery charge level is 
low, the gasoline engine starts.
1Turning on the Power
If the temperature of the High Voltage battery drops 
to approximately –22°F (–30° C) or below, the power 
system will not start. Wait for the High Voltage 
battery to warm up or move the vehicle to a warmer 
location. Note plugging the ve hicle in will not help in 
this case.
Store the vehicle in a gara ge or take another measure 
to insure that temperature of the High Voltage 
battery does not fa ll below this temperature. If 
necessary, consult an author ized Honda Clarity Plug-
In Hybrid dealer.
If the exhaust system sounds abnormal or you can 
smell exhaust gas inside the  vehicle, have your vehicle 
checked by an authorized  Honda Clarity Plug-In 
Hybrid dealer. There may be a problem with the 
engine or ex haust system.
The immobilizer system pr otects your vehicle from 
theft.
If an improperly coded de vice is used, the power 
system does not activate. 2 Immobilizer System  P. 153
Canadian models
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383
uuWhen Driving uTransmission
Driving
If there is a strong impact with something  under the vehicle, stop in a safe location. 
Check the underside of the vehicle for damage or any fluid leaks, and contact an 
authorized Honda Clarity  Plug-In Hybrid dealer.
Transmission
As with a conventional gasoline-powered ve hicle with an automatic transmission, 
this vehicle will creep.
Keep the brake pedal firmly depressed when stopped.
Quickly depressing the accelerator pedal wh ile driving uphill may cause the vehicle 
to react similar to an automatic transmissio n vehicle, unexpectedly increasing vehicle 
speed. Depress the accelerator pedal carefu lly, especially on slippery roads and 
curves.
■Other Precautions
■Creeping
■Kickdown
1 Precautions While Driving
Do not press the 
(N button, as you will lose 
regenerative braking (and ac celeration) performance.
During the first 600 miles (1,000 km) of operation, 
avoid sudden acceleration or  full throttle operation so 
as to not damage the  engine or powertrain.
Avoid hard braking for the  first 200 miles (300 km).
You should also follow this  when the brake pads are 
replaced.
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425
uuWhen Driving uVehicle Stability Assist ® (VSA ®), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
Continued
Driving
Vehicle Stability Assist ® (VSA ®), aka Electronic 
Stability Control (ESC), System
VSA ® helps to stabilize the vehicle during corn ering if the vehicle turns more or less 
than what was intended. It also assists in  maintaining traction on slippery surfaces. 
It does so by regulating engine and motor output and selectively applying the 
brakes.
When VSA® activates, you may notice that the 
engine and motor do not respond to the 
accelerator. You may also notice some noise 
from the hydraulic system. You will also see 
the indicator blink.
■VSA ® Operation
1 Vehicle Stability Assist ® (VSA ®), aka Electronic Stability Control 
(ESC), System
The VSA ® may not function properl y if tire type and 
size are mixed. Make sure to use the same size and 
type of tire, and the air pressures as specified.
When the VSA ® system indicator comes on and stays 
on while driving, there ma y be a problem with the 
system. While this may not interfere with normal 
driving, have your vehicle checked by an authorized 
Honda Clarity Plug-In Hybrid dealer  immediately.
The indicators for the Vehicle Stability Assist ® (VSA ®) 
System, Vehicle Stability Assist ® (VSA ®) OFF, low tire 
Pressure/TPMS and Collision Mitigation Braking 
System
TM (CMBSTM) may come on along with a 
message in the driver information interface after 
reconnecting the 12-volt  battery. Drive a short 
distance at more than 12 mph (20 km/h). The 
indicator should go off. If  it does not, have your 
vehicle checked by an aut horized Honda Clarity Plug-
In Hybrid dealer.
VSA ® cannot enhance stability in all driving situations 
and does not control the entire braking system. You 
still need to drive and corner at speeds appropriate 
for the conditions and alwa ys leave a sufficient 
margin of safety.
The main function of the VSA ® system is generally 
known as Electronic Stability Control (ESC). The 
system also includes a  traction control function.
VSA® System 
Indicator
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uuWhen Driving uVehicle Stability Assist ® (VSA ®), aka Electronic Stability Control (ESC), System
426
Driving
This button is on the driv er side control panel. 
To partially disable VSA ® functionality/
features, press and hold it until you hear a 
beep.
Your vehicle will have normal braking and 
cornering ability, but traction control function 
will be less effective.
To restore VSA ® functionality/features, press 
the  (VSA ® OFF) button until you hear a 
beep.
VSA ® is turned on every time you turn the 
power system on, even if you turned it off the 
last time you drove the vehicle.
■VSA ® On and Off1 Vehicle Stability Assist ® (VSA ®), aka Electronic Stability Control 
(ESC), System
In certain unusual  conditions when your vehicle gets 
stuck in shallow mud or fr esh snow, it may be easier 
to free it with the VSA ® temporarily switched off.
When the   button is pressed, the traction control 
function becomes less effective. This allows for the 
wheels to spin more freely  at low speed. You should 
only attempt to free your vehicle with the VSA ® off if 
you are not able to free it when the VSA ® is on.
Immediately after  freeing your vehicle, be sure to 
switch VSA ® on again. We do not recommend driving 
your vehicle with the VSA ® system switched off.
You may hear a motor sound coming from the 
engine compartment while system checks are being 
performed immediately after turning the power 
system on or while driving. This is normal.
VSA ® OFF Indicator
U.S. models
Canadian models
VSA ® OFF Indicator
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440
uuBraking uAnti-lock Brake System (ABS)
Driving
Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
Helps prevent the wheels from locking up, an d helps you retain steering control by 
pumping the brakes rapidly, much faster than you.
The electronic brake distribution (EBD) system, which is part of the ABS, also 
balances the front-to-rear braking distri bution according to vehicle loading.
You should never pump the brake pedal.  Let the ABS work for you by always 
keeping firm, steady pressure on the brake pe dal. This is sometimes referred to as 
“stomp and steer.”
■ABS operation
You may hear an operating noise when the  ABS is working. Depress the brake pedal 
and keep holding the pedal firmly down. On  dry pavement, you will need to press 
on the brake pedal very hard before the ABS activates. However, you may feel the 
ABS activate immediately if you are trying to stop on snow or ice.
ABS may activate when you depress  the brake pedal when driving on:
• Wet or snow covered roads.
• Roads paved with stone.
• Roads with uneven surfaces, such as potholes, cracks, manholes, etc.
When the vehicle speed goes unde r 6 mph (10 km/h), the ABS stops.
■ABS1Anti-lock Brake System (ABS)
NOTICE
The ABS may not function correc tly if you use a tire of 
the wrong size or type.
If the ABS  indicator comes on while driving, there 
may be a problem with the system.
While normal braking will not  be affected, there is a 
possibility that the ABS wi ll not be operating. Have 
your vehicle checked by an  authorized Honda Clarity 
Plug-In Hybrid dealer immediately.
The ABS is not designed  for the purpose of reducing 
the time or distance it takes for a vehicle to stop: It is 
designed to limit brake lo ckup which can lead to 
skidding and loss of steering control.
In the following cases, yo ur vehicle may need more 
distance to stop than a vehicle without the ABS:
•You are driving on rough or uneven road surfaces, 
such as gravel or snow.
•The tires are equipped with tire chains.
The following may be observed with the ABS system:
•Motor sounds coming from the engine 
compartment when the brakes are applied, or 
when system checks are being performed after the 
power system has been turned on and while the 
vehicle accelerates.
•Brake pedal and/or the ve hicle body vibration when 
ABS activates.
These vibrations and sou nds are normal to ABS 
systems and are no cause for concern.
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473
Maintenance
This chapter discusses basic maintenance.
Before Performing MaintenanceInspection and Maintenance ............ 474
Safety When Performing Maintenance...475Parts and Fluids Used in Maintenance Service ........................................... 476
Maintenance Minder
TM..................... 477
Maintenance Under the Hood Maintenance Items Under the Hood .. 482
Opening the Hood ........................... 483
Recommended Engine Oil ................ 484
Oil Check ......................................... 485
Adding Engine Oil ............................ 486
Changing the Engine Oil and Oil Filter ...487 Engine Coolant ................................ 490
Cooling System ................................ 492
Transmission Fluid ............................ 494
Brake Fluid ....................................... 494
Refilling Window Washer Fluid......... 495
Replacing Light Bulbs ....................... 496Checking and Maintaining Wiper 
Blades .......................................... 498
Checking and Maintaining Tires
Checking Tires ................................. 501
Tire and Loading Information Label .. 502
Tire Labeling .................................... 502
DOT Tire Quality Grading (U.S. Vehicles).. 504
Wear Indicators ............................... 506
Tire Service Life ................................ 506
Tire and Wheel Replacement ........... 507
Tire Rotation .................................... 508
Winter Tires ..................................... 509
12-Volt Battery ................................. 510
Remote Transmitter Care Replacing the Button Battery ........... 512
Climate Control System Maintenance.. 513CleaningInterior Care .................................... 515
Exterior Care.................................... 517
Accessories and Modifications ........ 521
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