A while ago, when Honda announced that the Clarity was being discontinued, I emailed Honda support querying them about what Honda's corporate policy is for parts availability for discontinued models. Their response is attached below. Not that I am surprised by their response, but it does help to maintain a certain peace of mind that Honda will continue to at least manufacture first-party parts for the Clarity—even if they are almost always out of stock. Cheers
In 2019, Honda couldn't supply a shift linkage for my 2006 Insight. Fortunately, I found a good one on eBay from an auto recycler. Before that, I learned from someone in Japan that they couldn't find a headlight nacelle in either country. Honda built fewer than 15,000 gen-1 Insights, but that is no excuse for a major automotive manufacturer not to maintain a parts inventory for at least 15 years after production ceases.
To some degree the problem is compounded by the fact that these are unlikely to sit in a junkyard for any period of time, so the ones that are salvaged and taken off the road may not provide parts in the same way a 'normal' vehicle would
I needed an unavailable shift linkage because the cables froze up. Some Hondas need replacement parts after an accident.
Auto manufacturers are required by US Federal Law to have parts available for any models they sold for the period of 10 years. At least I read that here: https://askinglot.com/how-long-do-auto-manufacturers-have-to-make-parts They probably have to make more than they need to be sure they last 10 years and then keep selling them for as long beyond that as it makes business sense.
No, that is a misconception, and your own link states the same. The time that an auto manufacturer is required to supply replacements parts has to do with the length of their warranties, not a set number like 10 years. Cheers
Yeah, but it beats the alternative. Gene 2020 Honda Clarity Sent from my Pixel 3 using Inside EVs mobile app
It’s good to know that Service Manager and the Parts Manager are in the best position to confirm the decisions made by Honda corporate team members. Go team!
