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Statement by American Honda Regarding Fuel Cell ECU Software Recall: 2017 Honda Clarity

  • 471 vehicles affected in the United States, all in California
  • Fuel Cell ECU software will be updated, free of charge
  • No U.S. customer reports of this issue; no crashes and no injuries

Honda will voluntarily recall 471 model-year 2017 Clarity Fuel Cell vehicles in the United States to update the Fuel Cell Electronic Control Unit (ECU) software, free of charge. In the U.S., the Clarity Fuel Cell is currently exclusively available for lease in California, and all affected vehicles will require the free repair at one of twelve Honda Fuel Cell dealers in the state.

The Fuel Cell ECU software responsible for monitoring voltage in the fuel cell stack may misinterpret a minor voltage variance and erroneously shut down the fuel stack in response, resulting in an unexpected loss of motive power, potentially increasing the risk of a crash. Honda has received no U.S. customer reports of this issue and there have been no reports of crashes or injuries.

If a vehicle experiences this issue, a warning message will appear on a screen below the speedometer indicating "Power System Problem. Stop Driving When Safe." In the event that a Clarity Fuel Cell driver sees this warning, Honda recommends stopping the vehicle in a safe location off the roadway as soon as possible. The vehicle can continue driving for a very short duration using electric power from the on-board traction battery, with that duration dependent on the battery's current state of charge.

Honda is announcing this recall to encourage lessees of affected vehicles to take them to an authorized Fuel Cell dealer as soon as possible for repair. Due to the relatively small number of affected vehicles, where possible, Honda is currently attempting to contact lessees of affected vehicles by phone to schedule repairs. Lessees of 2017 Clarity Fuel Cell vehicles can also determine if their vehicles require repair by visiting www.recalls.honda.com or by calling (888) 234-2138. Mailed notification to lessees of any remaining unrepaired vehicles will occur in late-February 2018.

 

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