Honda Insight
Reliability, NHTSA Complaints & Recall History
10 model years analyzed (2009–2022). All data sourced directly from the NHTSA public complaints and recall database — the same data used by federal regulators.
Checking a specific Honda Insight? Run a VIN check for its exact history.
⭐ NHTSA NCAP Crash Test Ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.
AI Reliability Analysis
AverageThe Honda Insight has a moderate number of complaints, with air bag and engine issues being the most common. Crash-related complaints are relatively low given the total, but the high number of air bag complaints is a concern.
Check for open recalls, especially related to air bags and forward collision avoidance systems. Ensure all software updates are applied before purchase.
- Air bag issues
- Engine problems
- Forward collision avoidance malfunctions
🔔 NHTSA Safety Recalls
53 recalls foundSafety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Safety Recall
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2009–2022. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.
🔧 Most-Reported Problem Areas
Based on component keywords extracted from all 441 NHTSA complaints.
📋 NHTSA Complaint Reports
441 totalThese are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.
When the vehicle was recently brought in for annual PA state inspection, I was informed by the inspector that there was so much corrosion where the rear trailing arms attach to the subframe that the rear wheel on either side could suddenly collapse leading to a sudden and unpredictable loss of vehicle control. I then brought it to an authorized Honda dealership for their inspection. They produced a short video confirming that the car was unsafe to drive. Still shots from their inspection video are included with this complaint. I then consulted with a well-regarded body shop who confirmed that the car was unsafe to drive and that it probably could not be repaired. I believe that the 2010 Honda Insight rear subframe is very similar to the 2010 Honda CR V rear subframe which was recently recalled for exactly the same issue: Part 573 Safety Recall Report 23V-228
Rear trailing arm attachment points on both sides completely rusted out. Won't pass inspection as being unsafe with possibility of one or both rear wheels collapsing if a pothole is hit. Car is registered in Pennsylvania since 2009.
Rust at the body below rear door
Both sides of the car have rust. The similar issue happen to the HONDA CRV's 2007 through 2011 model, which have a recall already.
UNKNOWN. Rear frame on both sides are extremely rusted. Car purchased in Ohio in 2009 and appears the salt as eroded the car.
Corrosion of the body at the rear when exposed to normal driving conditions. The issue was validated by service center.
The contact is a police officer with the Florida Highway Patrol. The deceased owned a 2010 Honda Insight. The vehicle was at a stop sign attempting to traverse an intersection. The deceased struck the left front of another vehicle that was in the intersection with the front end of the vehicle. The air bag deployed, the other vehicle's air bag did not deploy. The deceased was transported by ambulance and pronounced dead at a trauma center. The air bag was identified as a Takata air bag, and following an autopsy, one metal fragment from the inflator was found lodged in the deceased's chest. The Florida Highway Patrol was on the scene and filed a report. The manufacturer had not been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was unknown.
I HAD ACCIDENT AND AIR NEVER OPENS. *TR
THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T COME BACK TO CENTER AT ALL. AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS AS YOU CAN CHECK IN THIS LINK: HTTPS://WWW.INSIGHTCENTRAL.NET/THREADS/STEERING-HANDLING.21905/ SO IF YOU LEAVE IT IN A DEGREE IT WILL STAY LIKE THAT. YOU CAN MAKE A CURVE BY SETTING THE STEERING WHEEL IN THE ANGLE AND THEN LETTING GO OF IT AND IT WILL NOT MOVE. THIS HAS A RANGE, IF YOU MAKE A 90 TURN IT WILL COMEBACK NEAR TO CENTER AFTER THAT. NOT FULLY. FOR ME THAT I'M USED TO ALL THE CARS TO RETURN TO CENTER IT FEELS PRETTY WEIRD AND I'M ADJUSTING THE WAY THAT I'M USED TO DRIVE. THAT'S WHY DRIVING IN THE FREEWAY COMING BACK HOME FELT SO UNSAFE.
2010 HONDA INSIGHT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO LACK OF CORNERING LIGHTS ON CONTEMPORARY CARS. *LD *JS
AS I WAS GOING TO PARK MY 2010 INSIGHT INTO A PARKING SPOT BETWEEN TWO CARS, THE CAR SUDDENLY LUNGED OUT OF CONTROL HITTING THE CAR ON MY LEFT, THEN PROCEEDED TO SLAM INTO A METAL BARRIER IN FRONT OF THE SPOT, THEN FLEW UP ON THE RIGHT SIDE AND SLAMMED DOWN ONTO THE CAR ON MY RIGHT. I HAD NO USE OF THE BRAKES OR CONTROL OF THE CAR. THE METAL BARRIER BROKE THE CAR FROM MOVING--HAD IT NOT BEEN THERE MY CAR WOULD HAVE DROPPED TO THE LEVEL BELOW ONTO PARKED CAR--IT COULD HAVE BEEN FATAL. I LIVE IN CA AND THIS IS DEEMED MY FAULT--ALTHOUGH IT WAS BEYOND MY CONTROL. I DID SOME RESEARCH ONLINE AND FOUND ON ONE WEBSITE THAT 17 CONSUMERS EXPERIENCED A SIMILAR ACCIDENT/ISSUE. THERE HAVE BEEN NO WARNINGS ABOUT THIS PROBLEM WITH HYBRID VEHICLES--EXCEPT THE TOYOTA RECALL. THESE CARS ARE AN ENDANGERMENT TO THE THE DRIVER, AS WELL AS OTHER DRIVERS AND PEOPLE IN THE VICINITY OF THE CAR IF THEY ARE WALKING NEAR IT. HERE IS A GOOGLE DRIVE LINK OF PICTURES FROM THE SCENE: HTTPS://DRIVE.GOOGLE.COM/DRIVE/FOLDERS/1M1WKRXOOCXHKIRZNU0FEDKIEZ7GKBY28 PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS INCIDENT IS COSTING ME THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS AS WELL, I'M CURRENTLY NOT WORKING AND BECAUSE OF MY FEAR OF THE CAR I NOW HAVE TO GET A NEW CAR, MY INSURANCE RATES BECAUSE OF THE ACCIDENT WILL BE 4 TIMES WHAT IT WAS AND I HAVE MY DEDUCTIBLE TO FIX MY CAR WHICH HAS $3300 WORTH OF DAMAGE.
MY COMPLAINT IS ABOUT MY CAR I HAD AN ACCIDENT ON SEPTEMBER 26, 2018, IN BINGHAMTON NY. MY AIRBAG WAS DEPLOYED, THE SEATBELT WAS DAMAGE, AND ALSO THE FRONT BUMPER. AFTER I HAD THE ACCIDENT I RECEIVED A RECALL PAPER AND WHEN I VERIFIED THE NUMBER I FOUND I HAD A RECALL. I CALLED AND TALKED TO THEM, I ALSO SEND THE FIRST COMPLAINT. THEY SENT ME AN APPLICATION I FILLED IT OUT AND SENT IT BACK. WHEN I CALL THEY SAID TO ME THEY STILL WORKING ON IT. I RECENTLY RECEIVED ANOTHER RECALL PAPER I CALLED JUST TO BE INFORM ABOUT EVERYTHING. * (RECALL RELATED INCIDENT) TS
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HONDA INSIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAG WARNING INDICATOR REMAINED ILLUMINATED FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME AFTER IT FLASHED RANDOMLY. THE FAILURE OCCURRED LESS THAN A YEAR AFTER THE VEHICLE WAS PURCHASED. VALLEY HI HONDA (5710 VALLEY PARK LN, VICTORVILLE, CA 92394, (760) 962-9600) STATED THAT THE VIN WAS NOT INCLUDED IN ANY AIR BAG RECALLS. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS NOT AVAILABLE.
I WAS DRIVING MY CAR IN SEPTEMBER AND I HIT MY BREAK TO STOP MY CAR.AT THAT TIME, MY BREAK DID NOT WORK. I FINALLY HIT ANOTHER CAR AND MY AIRBAG DEPLOYED AND EXPLODED. THAT WAS HAPPENING UPFRONT DICKINSON TOWN BINGHAMTON NY 13905. I HAD REPPORT FROM THE POLICE. THE RECALL NUMBER I RECEIVED FROM NHTSA IS 18V-661.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2010 HONDA INSIGHT. WHILE DRIVING 30 MPH, THE BRAKES FAILED TO STOP THE VEHICLE WHEN THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT CRASHED INTO THE PRECEDING VEHICLE. THE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED WITH FORCE AND INJURED THE CONTACT'S FACE AND LOWER BACK, WHICH REQUIRED MEDICAL ATTENTION. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT TAKEN TO A DEALER OR INDEPENDENT MECHANIC FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING OR REPAIRS. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 130,000. *TT*JB
THE INFLATORS WERE REPLACED 3/24/16 AND 7/29/16. ON 7/5/17 MY SON WAS HIT BY A MAN RUNNING A RED LIGHT. TO MAKE A LONG STORY SHORT, MY SON SUFFERED NUMEROUS INJURIES INCLUDING BEING KNOCKED OUT BY THE AIRBAG AND CONTINUES TO SUFFER FROM THE CONCUSSION - I KNOW THE OLD AIRBAG/INFLATOR WOULD HAVE BEEN WORSE. ALSO, THE SEATBELT BRUISED HIS CHEST AND THE DOCTOR THOUGHT HE HAD HEART DAMAGE. ECHOCARDIOGRAM SHOWED EVERYTHING WAS FINE - JUST BAD CHEST BRUISE. MY CONCERN IS THAT EVEN THOUGH THE INFLATORS WERE REPLACED THEY, THE AIRBAG/INFLATOR, STILL CAUSED DAMAGE. 14 MONTHS LATER AND STILL HAVING ISSUES WITH TBI. MY SON IS 5'11" AND SITS AS FAR BACK AS POSSIBLE WHEN HE DROVE THE CAR. I'M SENDING 2 PICTURES SO YOU CAN SEE THAT THE CAR WAS DESTROYED. THIS IS JUST AN FYI.
RECENTLY, THE DRIVER'S SIDE REAR TAIL LIGHT HAS BEEN FLICKERING AND I WAS STOPPED BY A POLICE OFFICER WHO TOLD ME THAT MY BRAKE LIGHT WAS NOT WORKING. HE GAVE ME A VERBAL WARNING AND TOLD ME TO HAVE IT REPAIRED RIGHT AWAY. MY MECHANIC SAID THAT THE ENTIRE LIGHT ASSEMBLY WOULD HAVE TO BE REPLACED. HE SUGGESTED THAT I DO A VIN CHECK TO SEE IF THIS PROBLEM FELL UNDER A RECALL. UNFORTUNATELY IT DOES NOT AND I WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR THE REPLACEMENT WHICH I UNDERSTAND IS QUITE EXPENSIVE. IT SEEMS THAT OTHERS HAVE HAD THIS SAME PROBLEM.
THERE IS OBVIOUSLY AN ISSUE WITH THE PAINT USED BY HONDA. OUR OTHER CAR - A TOYOTA - WHICH IS 3 YEARS OLDER AND SAME COLOR KEPT IN SAME CONDITIONS IS LOOKING JUST FINE - HOWEVER THE PAINT ON OUR HONDA'S ROOF AND HOOD HAS DISINTEGRATED. IT LOOKS AWFUL. WHEN PICKING UP MY CAR AFTER A TIRE ROTATION AT COSTCO - A GENTLEMAN RECOMMENDED I CONTACT HONDA. I DID. THEY BASICALLY SAID - OH WELL, TOO BAD. WE'LL MAKE A NOTE OF IT IN CASE SOMETHING COMES UP.
2010 HONDA INSIGHT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO DEFECTIVE BRAKING SYSTEM. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE BRAKE WAS DEPRESSED, BUT THE VEHICLE CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. THE VEHICLE TRAVELED THROUGH A STOP LIGHT AT AN INTERSECTION, OVER A BARRIER, DROPPING APPROXIMATELY 30 FT AND WAS STRUCK BY ONCOMING TRAFFIC. *JS
TAIL LIGHTS LED IS FLICKERING AND LIGHTS ARE BURNING OUT PREMATURE I JAVE BEEN PULLED OVER FOR THIS AND ALSO ALMOST BEEN REAR ENDED DUE TO LACK OF LIGHT LUMES
Showing 20 of 441 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database
Check a Specific Honda Insight
This page shows fleet averages across all 10 model years. Enter a VIN to see the exact accident history, odometer records, title brands, and open recall status for a specific car.
📖 Understanding This Data
What is an NHTSA Complaint?
An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Honda Insight has 441 complaints on record across 10 model years.
What is a Safety Recall?
A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Honda Insight has 53 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.
What Are Crash Complaints?
Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 42 of the Honda Insight's 441 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
How Is the AI Rating Calculated?
The AI reliability rating (Average) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. The rating provides a plain-English summary for buyers who want a quick verdict without parsing raw numbers. It is one input in your buying decision — always verify with a VIN-specific report.
Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?
Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable — simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.
Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN
Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Honda Insight vehicles on the road — not any specific car. Two Honda Insight vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.
What Are NHTSA Investigations?
When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage — NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Honda Insight has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.
Is This Data Saved in Firebase & Indexed by Google?
Yes — intentionally. When you first visit this page, our server fetches live data directly from the NHTSA public API (no key required), processes it, and caches it in Google Firebase Firestore for 24 hours. The fully rendered HTML — with all NHTSA complaints, recalls, NCAP ratings, and investigations — is then indexed by Google Search. This is by design: caching real government data in Firebase lets us serve comprehensive vehicle safety pages instantly, while giving Google Bots rich structured content to rank for searches like "Honda Insight reliability" or "NHTSA recalls." No personal data is stored — only public NHTSA records are cached. You can always verify everything directly at nhtsa.gov.