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Vehicle Stats/Honda/Insight Reliability
NHTSA Official DataUpdated Aug 2026Methodology

Honda Insight Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data

Poor reliability signalOur verdict from 452 complaints and 57 recalls on NHTSA record

Comparing used Honda Insight options? We analyzed 10 model years (2009–2022) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.

452
Total Complaints
NHTSA filed
57
Safety Recalls
federal campaigns
43
Crash-Related
crash complaints
3
Fire-Related
fire complaints
28
Injuries Reported
across all years
10
Years Analyzed
2009–2022

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Found a Honda Insight? Check that exact car.

Model-year trends show patterns — they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.

  • Accident & damage history
  • Odometer rollback records
  • Open recalls & title brands
NMVTIS official data Instant results No signup for the preview
Quick Answer

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Honda Insight has 452 owner complaints and 57 safety recalls across model years 2009–2022. The most reported issue area is AIR BAGS. 2010 drew the most complaints; 2014 drew the fewest.

Honda Insight — key reliability facts
Make
Honda
Model
Insight
Model years analyzed
2009–2022 (10 years)
Total NHTSA complaints
452
Safety recall campaigns
57
Crash-related complaints
43
Fire-related complaints
3
Worst model year (by complaints)
2010 (119 complaints)
Best model year (fewest complaints)
2014 (5 complaints)
Top reported issue area
AIR BAGS
Reliability signal
Poor
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) · Data last refreshed Aug 25, 2026
This Insight has 57 open recall campaigns on record. Check whether yours is affected.Check my VIN free →

By model year

Honda Insight: which years to avoid & which to buy

Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used — lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.

Years to avoid
2010119 complaints201997 complaints201259 complaints

These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.

Best years to buy
20145 complaints202124 complaints202231 complaints

These years have the fewest owner complaints on record — lower risk starting points.

Looking at a 2010 Honda Insight? It logged the most NHTSA complaints of any model year — averages won't tell you whether this exact car is affected.Check this VIN free →

Crash test ratings

NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings

New Car Assessment Program

NCAP 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.

20222022 Honda INSIGHT 4 DR FWD
Overall Safety
5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover Risk
5/5
20212021 Honda INSIGHT 4 DR FWD
Overall Safety
5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover Risk
5/5
20202020 Honda INSIGHT 4 DR FWD
Overall Safety
5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover Risk
5/5
How to read NCAP stars
5 stars — Excellent
4 stars — Good
3 stars — Average
2 stars — Below average
1 star — Poor

Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings

What the complaint data suggests

Poor
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology

Data engine & NHTSA methodology by Eduard Batog, Co-founder & Data Engineer. How we calculate this.

The HONDA INSIGHT has 452 NHTSA complaints and 57 recalls on record. 43 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Key findings
  • 452 total complaints filed with NHTSA
  • 57 federal recall campaigns
  • 43 crash-related complaints on record
Top concerns
  • Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
  • Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Verify service records for frequently complained components
Worst years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.

Best years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.

What to check before buying used
  • Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
  • Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
  • Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect Complaint volume is influenced by sales volume — popular models naturally accumulate more complaints

Problems by model year (best vs. worst)

2010
119
2011
41
2012
59
2013
45
2014
5
2019
97
2020
31
2021
24
2022
31

Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 2026

Safety recalls

NHTSA safety recalls

57 recalls found

Safety 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

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

#24V064000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGERJanuary 2, 2024
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE

#20V771000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWAREOctober 12, 2020
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#18V042000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULESeptember 1, 2018
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#17V030000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEOctober 1, 2017
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#16V061000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULEMarch 2, 2016
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTER

#20V798000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTER
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

#20V314000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

#21V215000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

#23V858000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

#26V332000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Safety recall

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTER

#20V798000ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTER
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

#26V332000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#18V661000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#19V502000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#18V661000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#18V268000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#19V502000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#19V500000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#19V378000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#17V545000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

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.

Common problems

What goes wrong most often

The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 452 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.

01
AIR BAGS120 complaints
02
ENGINE89 complaints
03
FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE51 complaints
04
SERVICE BRAKES45 complaints
05
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM44 complaints
06
UNKNOWN OR OTHER40 complaints
07
STRUCTURE23 complaints
08
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM21 complaints

Owner complaints

NHTSA complaint reports

452 total

These 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.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEAug 2026

I was driving to Pilates class and everything was normal but as I reached a railroad crossing the car suddenly and for no reason stopped dead on the tracks. Luckily for me there were no vehicles in front or behind me and there were no trains coming. I was terrified and wasn’t sure what to do but I pushed the Drive button and the vehicle went ahead as if nothing happened.

CrashUNKNOWN OR OTHER,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEJun 2026

The vehicle unintentionally accelerated while pulling into a parking space. I was depressing the brake to slow down while making the right turn into the space. The engine suddenly revved up (as though you were depressing the gas and brake at the same time) and it accelerated forward (a though you suddenly released the brake while depressing the gas pedal) and the car lept forward, jumping a 3 foot long curb, striking the vehicle parked in front of me. The tires kept spinning as though the gas pedal was being depressed, even though the vehicle could no longer make any forward progress since it had run into the front of the vehicle parked in front of me. We’re it not for the vehicle in front, I feel that the car would have continued accelerating forward and could have caused injury or death to customers in the shopping center and/or damage to other vehicles or structures. The vehicle was towed and is currently in the body shop for repairs, but I don’t think this addresses my concern for the sudden acceleration. I don’t want to drive it in case the problem reoccurs and could cause further damage. I’ve reached out to Honda to see if I can tow the vehicle to their service repair center to try to diagnose the problem by reading data from the car’s computer, but they have not responded. I checked the floor mats and they were flat and properly installed. If I had mistakenly depressed the gas pedal (not likely as I was already braking as I approached the parking space), I would have thought that the collision avoidance system would have braked the vehicle. Airbags also did not deploy in either vehicle.

STEERINGApr 2026

At approximately 148,000 miles the steering would have an intermittent notchy, or sticky, feeling while driving straight. While driving straight at cruising speed, I noticed that the resistance on the left side of the steering wheel was greater than the right side, then the resistance would decrease suddenly (release), and the steering wheel would rotate slightly to the right, but less than 1 degree, so it would be hardly noticeable on video. The issue seems to only present itself after the vehicle is driven 20-40 minutes and when the temperature is 47 degrees or higher. I have noticed it at low speed (15-20mph) and at highway speeds. If I recall correctly, the issue first presented itself when we had our first 60 degree day and I was driving on the highway with the wheel straight. Then as I accumulated miles throughout the weeks, I would notice that it didn't happen on colder days but then happened more often on warmer days. Now that the vehicle has ~148,800 miles on it, and the air temperature is 67 degrees, the issue presented itself this morning (4/1/2026) after 3 minutes of driving and during the first sweeping left turn on my commute and at approximately 40 mph. Then the issue continued to happen throughout the drive, eventually becoming nearly constant by the end of the 45-minute commute. I do have an appointment with the Honda dealer for diagnosis, but the service advisor and I suspect that the steering rack is failing.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMJan 2026

Battery keeps draining. On my 3rd battery and believe there’s a defect in the DC/DC converter (earlier recall - K9E). This has caused issues being stranded in the cold.

SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEAug 2025

This 2020 Honda Insight performed “phantom braking” of the automated braking system when I was about to enter a clear intersection with no vehicles or obstacles in front of me. It activated the automated braking system and endangered my life and the lives of others over no real threat. This occurred 08/23/2025. The car is well maintained and does not have any service issues. This was completely random.

SERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEJul 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Insight. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, several unknown warning lights illuminated. During the failure, the brakes failed to function as intended, and the Lane Departure, Cruise Control, and Forward Collision Avoidance features failed to function as intended. The failure was intermittent. During the first failure, the vehicle was turned off and restarted after several minutes and the vehicle operated as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with battery failure. The dealer also determined that the brake pedal simulator had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle remained with the dealer unrepaired. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000.

Read 14 more owner reports
STRUCTUREJul 2025

I was driving home from vacation when my engine splash plate came loose from my car on the interstate. The splash plate fell down and dragged on highway creating friction under my car. The metal had fallen down and was chipping away creating dangerous debris to my car and other cars on the highway. Roadside service was no help, per usual. I was traveling alone. The splash plate had to be removed entirely to prevent a fire and more damage to my car. I couldn’t remove the splash plate on the side of the interstate. I drove 30-40 mph to get help to prevent further damage or loss of property and my life.

SERVICE BRAKES,FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEFeb 2025

I was driving down the highway, with no one in front of me, and my car alerted BRAKE and brought my car from 70 to an almost complete stop. This jerked myself and my passenger and caused a heat mark from the seat belt on my collar bone. It has done it multiple times since then. I'm terrified to be in traffic and for it to do this. This is most definitely putting my safety at risk, and the safety of others. I have not taken it to the dealership yet.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEAug 2024

I was driving on a two lane road driving over a small paved bridge going about 40mph with a car next to me and a car behind me nothing in front of me when my car did a hard phantom brake. No pre warning, the display did show BRAKE and it did beep. But everything was sudden. Luckily the car behind was able to slam on brakes. The car behind me continued to follow but was at least 4 car lengths away. I assume bc they didn't know why I braked.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINEMay 2024

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Insight. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (Fuel System, Gasoline) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The contact stated the vehicle had stalled on several occasions. Additionally, the vehicle occasionally failed to start-up. The local dealer was contacted, but the vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired due to the cost. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 49,000. Parts distribution disconnect.

STRUCTUREMay 2023

The whole hood vibrates while driving or when is windy, very noticeable at times. It was replaced once, almost a year ago but now it needs to be replaced again. same problem eventually the latches will be damaged creating a very hazardous situation. This vehicle has not been on an accident

Crash 1 InjurySUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN,WHEELSMar 2023

I believe the tire, wheel or suspension system failed while driving on the highway, causing me to hit my head on the driver's window and lose cosciousness. I skidded into a concrete barrier on the right side of the highway and was found unconscious at the scene. The damage to the passenger side body of the vehicle is minor and does not match the catastrophic failure of the wheel, leading me to believe the wheel failed and caused the crash, not that the crash resulted in the damage to the wheel. The vehicle is currently at a tow lot and available for inspection. Luckily, no other vehicles were involved, but I was injured and could have easily been killed, or injured and killed others as it is a busy highway, especially during rush hour when this occurred. Inspection by the insurance company is pending. The police did not investigate as a safety incident because they immediately said on site that almost all single vehicle accidents are drug/alcohol related and treated it like a DUI stop. I passed field sobriety tests and a breathalyzer on scene and blood work at the hospital showed no drugs or alcohol in my system. I am missing time and memories starting about 5 minutes before the crash and for about 30 minutes after as a result of my concussion, I do not remember much besides a feeling that my car was falling, then I remember being woken up by the cop asking if I was under the influence.

Crash 1 InjuryAIR BAGSDec 2022

On September 16, 2022, I was in an accident where a driver hit me on the rear passenger side. I went a through a green light of an intersection on the Mopac N feeder Road and Duvall. Either both our lights were green or the other driver was dishonest and his was red. Every airbag deployed. Based on the impact, it would be highly unlikely to sustain a cracked sternum. The impact was to the right and slightly behind me. I have requested information from Honda America on the airbags and they refuse. They further insulted me by telling to go to a dealership. After this, Honda is the last car I would purchase or lease. Having worked at dealerships for many years, I am certain Honda knows, as well as I do, that the dealer cannot or will not give me compete information on the airbags. My car was maintained and in amazing condition. The last time I was at First Texas Honda for service, the advisor brought it around because they were very busy. He said he was stunned it had 125,000 miles on it. It drove like it was brand new. Please see photos and reports. If you need any further information, please let me know.

POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINEDec 2022

Driving down highway at highway speed and car shot 52 failure codes. Car lost power and crawled to side of road. Nearly got rear ended multiple times trying to remove vehicle from roadway. Engine permanent codes U0111 U012D U0110 U12A5 U1206 U1205 Anti lock brakes permanent codes U040168 CAN Gateway Permanent codes U0029-00 Electric power train traction motor control module permanent code U1204 U12A5 U1205 U0100 U012D U1206 U0111 Electric power steering permanent codes U0416-68 Electric servo brake - permanent codes U0029-00 U0401-68 Integrated driver support system - permanent codes U0418-92 C0023-F0 U0100-F1 U0122-F1 U0100-00 C0031-62 C0034-62 C003A-62 U0416-68 Tire Pressure monitoring permanent codes U040168 OBDII Codes U1204 U12A5 U1205 U0100 U012D U1206 U0111 OBDII Permanent codes U1206 U12A5 U1205 U0111 U012D U0110 Over 41 codes documented and Honda says there is nothing wrong with the vehicle.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINEAug 2022

I WAS DRIVING AT 65-70 MPH ON A FREEWAY, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SPEED DROPPED EVEN MY FOOT IS ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR SLOW DOWN TO 40MPH WHEN DECIDED TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER, BARELY ENOUGH TIME TO GET OUT OF DANGER. THE CAR ENGINE SHOT DOWN BY ITS SELF, I COULD NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE TO THE FAR RIGHT ASS I WANTED TOO. THE WARNING LIGHT ON DASH BOARD INDICATED IN RED " POWER SYSTEM " BOTTOM OF IT IN WHITE LIGHT " POWER SYSTEM PROBLEM DO NOT DRIVE" THEN A MINUTE LATER, THE WARNING LIGHT CHANGED TO A RED LOGO OF A BATTERY 12 VOLT BATTERY CHARGING SYSTEM PROBLEM DO NOT DRIVE.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMJul 2022

On July 22, 2022 I was driving my Honda Insight 2020. I was on the highway, current mileage on vehicle 50,796 miles, my speed was normal at 65 MPH when the car lost the ability to accelerate and it stalled. I was forced to make an emergency stop on the side of the interstate. Vehicle displayed on the dashboard "Critical Failure Detected. Stop Driving When Safe" The acceleration on the car kept decreasing and when stop it displayed "Power System Problem. Do Not Drive." Pulling to the side of the interstate was very scary because trucks were flying at about 80mph. I requested for tow company to pick me up but after hour wait, I gave up waiting on the tow truck. I restarted the vehicle and I was able to take off again. The fuel gas showed half of tank so I continue to drive. Forty miles later down the road, the same issue occurred again. I waited 30 minutes and since I was near a gas station I filled up the gas tank to full capacity. I drove another 100 miles (very skeptical) until I reached my final destination. During my drive I felt like the car had difficulties going into gear above 65MPH. The following day I took the vehicle to the Honda dealer, they said they couldn't pin point exactly what it is. Test show no issues on their diagnostic computer. However, the computer show a record of time and issue happening. They believe it is a fuel pump sensor relay. The vehicle senses I am out of fuel, which is not the case. Honda dealer will replace the sensor/relay and I will pay for it. The dealer states this vehicle is not part of a fuel pump recall. This issue needs to be addressed before it creates a scenario with fatalities, which can easily occur.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEMar 2022

I have had 2 occasions when I experienced inadvertent spontaneous braking. Both times there was no vehicle in front of me. Both times the car stopped completely while driving in the city between 25 to 35mph. Fortunately there was no vehicle behind me either time and I did not sustain any injuries.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,SERVICE BRAKESMar 2022

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Insight. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake engaged erroneously. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The contact stated that there was no object or vehicle nearby during the failure. The vehicle was driven to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact stated that he has not contacted the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 33,000.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEFeb 2022

In 3 instances the emergency braking system has activated when the car was being driven on the freeway and the lane was curving with no obstacles in front of the car in the lane but a semi truck in the next lane over in one instance and cars in the next lane over in the other instances.

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCEFeb 2022

Two instances of braking system activating at highway speeds. In one instance, it was broad daylight, there was some traffic but nothing in my lane for a good distance, highway speed (approximately 65 mph) short sharp braking maneuver that dropped the speed approximately 10mph. I assumed there was some reflected light off of a sign that messed with the sensors, but the second instance was at midnight, same highway, same speed, no one else on the road. In these instances, with light traffic, there was no danger to my safety but if this happens again under heavier traffic, it could conceivably cause someone to rear end the vehicle. I have not been able to reproduce the problem. There might’ve been a flash on the dashboard warning the system was activated, but I couldn’t say for sure. Vehicle is available for inspection.

Showing 20 of 452 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database

Check the exact car

Before you buy, check the exact Honda Insight

These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.

The basics

How to read this data

Complaints, recalls, investigations — here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Honda Insight, in plain English.

01

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 452 complaints on record across 10 model years.

02

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 57 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.

03

What Are Crash Complaints?

Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 43 of the Honda Insight's 452 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.

04

How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?

The reliability verdict (Poor) 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. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.

05

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.

06

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.

07

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.

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By state

Check a Honda Insight by state

Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Honda Insight.

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Research more

Keep researching before you buy

Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.

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Honda Insight reliability — frequently asked questions

Is the Honda Insight reliable?

Poor. The Honda Insight has 452 NHTSA owner complaints and 57 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is AIR BAGS. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.

Which Honda Insight years to avoid?

Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2010 (119 complaints), 2019 (97 complaints), 2012 (59 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.

What are the most common Honda Insight problems?

Top reported issues: AIR BAGS (120 complaints); ENGINE (89 complaints); FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (51 complaints).

Does the Honda Insight have recalls?

Yes — 57 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Honda Insight. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

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