Claude Code ignores CLAUDE.md guidance and makes overconfident statements

Problem

Claude Code reads CLAUDE.md configuration but frequently ignores the guidance, particularly around being cautious and avoiding overconfident statements.

Observed Behavior

During a debugging session for system crashes, despite having guidance in CLAUDE.md about being careful and cautious, Claude:

1. Made multiple confident "root cause found" declarations that turned out to be wrong
2. Stated theories as facts ("This IS the problem" vs "This might be the problem")
3. Suggested commands that wouldn't work (ssh sudo without tty)
4. Repeatedly changed the "definitive" diagnosis multiple times

Expected Behavior

Claude should follow guidance in CLAUDE.md, especially around:

• Using hedging language ("possibly", "might", "one theory")
• Avoiding definitive statements without verification
• Admitting uncertainty appropriately

Impact

When Claude makes overconfident wrong statements, it:

• Wastes user time following incorrect solutions
• Erodes trust in Claude's suggestions
• Creates frustration when the same patterns repeat despite CLAUDE.md rules

Reproduction

1. Add guidance to CLAUDE.md about being cautious
2. Give Claude a complex debugging task
3. Observe that Claude still makes definitive statements despite the guidance

User Quote

"i have lots of stuff like that in claude.md. you ignore it most of the time"

Possible Solutions

1. Weight CLAUDE.md instructions more heavily in decision-making
2. Add explicit pre-response checks against CLAUDE.md rules
3. Provide better feedback when Claude violates stated guidelines
4. Allow users to enforce certain behavioral constraints more strictly

Environment

• Claude Code version: Latest
• CLAUDE.md present with explicit guidance about cautiousness
• Complex multi-step debugging scenario