Honda Insight Best and Worst Years by Owner Complaints
We rank Honda Insight model years by the number of owner complaints filed with NHTSA, from fewest to most. Complaint counts aren't failure rates: years that sold more cars, or that are older, can show more reports. We rank only model years at least five years old, because newer ones are still collecting reports. Among settled years shown, the 2004 drew the fewest (2) and the 2010 the most (119).
Complaints filed by model year
Every year compared
| Most-reported component | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2004 Among the fewest complaints |
2 | 0 | Electrical system | — | 47–52 |
| 2005 Among the fewest complaints |
2 | 0 | Suspension | — | 47–52 |
| 2006 Among the fewest complaints |
2 | 1 | Air bags | — | 47–52 |
| 2003 | 3 | 0 | Electrical system | — | 47–53 |
| 2014 | 5 | 3 | Air bags | — | 41 |
| 2002 | 12 | 1 | Exterior lighting | — | 47–53 |
| 2001 | 15 | 2 | Exterior lighting | — | 47–53 |
| 2000 | 24 | 1 | Electrical system | — | 53 |
| 2021 | 25 | 3 | Forward collision avoidance | 5★ | 48–52 |
| 2020 | 31 | 6 | Forward collision avoidance | 5★ | 48–52 |
| 2022 | 33 | 3 | Forward collision avoidance | 5★ | 48–52 |
| 2011 | 41 | 10 | Air bags | — | 40 |
| 2013 | 45 | 6 | Engine | — | 41 |
| 2012 Among the most complaints |
59 | 8 | Engine | — | 41 |
| 2019 Among the most complaints |
98 | 8 | Forward collision avoidance | 5★ | 48–52 |
| 2010 Among the most complaints |
119 | 10 | Air bags | — | 41 |
Sources: NHTSA ODI complaints, NHTSA recalls, NHTSA NCAP, EPA; retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
What owners reported in the Honda Insight years with the most complaints
These settled model years drew the most owner complaints to NHTSA. The share in brackets is the part of that year’s complaints that names each component; one complaint can name several.
2010 Honda Insight: 119 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 57 (48%); Service brakes 17 (14%); Structure 15 (13%).
Reports mention 21 crashes, 11 injuries, 2 deaths. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 40,000 miles. 10 recall campaigns listed.
2019 Honda Insight: 98 complaints
Most-reported: Forward collision avoidance 17 (17%); Fuel system 15 (15%); Electrical system 13 (13%).
Reports mention 12 crashes, 1 fire, 6 injuries. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 19,600 miles. 8 recall campaigns listed.
2012 Honda Insight: 59 complaints
Most-reported: Engine 36 (61%); Air bags 11 (19%); Fuel/propulsion system 3 (5%).
Reports mention 1 crash. Typical odometer reading when owners filed: 69,000 miles. 8 recall campaigns listed.
The Honda Insight years with the fewest complaints
2004 Honda Insight: 2 complaints
Most-reported: Electrical system 1 (50%); Exterior lighting 1 (50%); Suspension 1 (50%).
0 recall campaigns listed.
2005 Honda Insight: 2 complaints
Most-reported: Suspension 1 (50%); Tires 1 (50%).
0 recall campaigns listed.
2006 Honda Insight: 2 complaints
Most-reported: Air bags 1 (50%); Engine 1 (50%).
1 recall campaign listed.
Crashes, fires and injuries in Honda Insight owner reports
| Model year | Complaints | Crashes | Fires | Injuries | Deaths | Typical miles at filing |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 33 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — |
| 2021 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — |
| 2020 | 31 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 6,000 |
| 2019 | 98 | 12 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 19,600 |
| 2014 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2013 | 45 | 2 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 60,000 |
| 2012 | 59 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 69,000 |
| 2011 | 41 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 25,400 |
| 2010 | 119 | 21 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 40,000 |
| 2006 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2005 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2004 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2003 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2002 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — |
| 2001 | 15 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 78,000 |
| 2000 | 24 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 51,000 |
Owner-reported, not verified by NHTSA. “Typical miles” is the median odometer reading in complaints that gave one (shown when at least 10 did). Source: NHTSA ODI complaints, retrieved Oct 6, 2026.
Largest Honda Insight recalls
- Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture (2010–2011 model years; 2,719,386 vehicles across all models; filed May 2016; 16V346000)
- Fuel Pump May Fail (2019–2022 model years; 2,490,460 vehicles across all models; filed Dec 2023; 23V858000)
- Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture (2010–2014 model years; 2,232,187 vehicles across all models; filed Feb 2016; 16V061000)
- Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode (2010–2014 model years; 1,355,406 vehicles across all models; filed Sep 2018; 18V661000)
- OWNER'S MANUAL HOTLINE INFORMATION INCORRECT (2006 model year; 1,190,000 vehicles across all models; filed Jul 2006; 06V270000)
All 24 Honda Insight recall campaigns · Honda Insight problems, recalls and mpg by year · Used car inspection checklist
What the numbers can't tell you
- Sales volume. NHTSA publishes no sales figures with complaints, so a popular year draws more reports even if each car is no worse.
- Recent years are under-counted. Owners file reports for years after purchase; the newest model years will keep growing.
- The individual car. Maintenance, mileage and repairs matter more for one used car than any model-year average. Get a pre-purchase inspection and check open recalls by VIN.
Honda Insight years FAQ
Which Honda Insight year has the fewest complaints?
Among the model years shown whose counts have settled, the 2004 has the fewest owner complaints filed with NHTSA (2). That is a count of reports, not a measure of reliability.
Does fewer complaints mean a more reliable car?
Not necessarily. Complaint counts depend on how many cars were sold, how old they are and how many owners file reports. Use them to spot patterns worth asking about, alongside recalls, crash tests and a pre-purchase inspection.
Are there Honda Insight years to avoid?
No model year is officially one to avoid. By owner complaints to NHTSA, the settled years with the most reports are the 2010, 2019 and 2012 models, and across all years the most-reported problem area is the air bags. Compare those years with the ones that drew the fewest reports, then check any specific car for open recalls by VIN and get a pre-purchase inspection.
What is the most common Honda Insight problem?
Across the model years shown, owners most often report problems with the air bags (124 of 516 complaints list it). Each model-year report breaks the complaints down by component.
How many recalls does the Honda Insight have?
NHTSA lists 24 recall campaigns covering the Honda Insight. See every one, with official wording and repair rates, on the Honda Insight recall page.
Why are newer years left out of fewest and most?
Owners keep filing complaints for years after a car is sold. We mark the two newest model years as still collecting reports, and we only rank years that are at least five years old.
How this page was madeSources, processing, limits, review and changes
Data sources
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - US DOT recall completion rates (data.transportation.gov)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA ODI owner complaints
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - NHTSA NCAP 5-Star Safety Ratings
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EPA fuel economy data (licence confirmation pending)
Retrieved Oct 6, 2026 - EIA weekly retail gasoline prices
Weekly, all taxes included
Processing
- Complaints are counted per component. One complaint can list several, so component totals add up to more than the total.
- Fuel cost = miles per year ÷ EPA combined mpg × EIA weekly price for your region.
Limitations
- Complaint counts are owner reports, not verified findings or failure rates. There is no sales denominator.
- Recall campaigns are listed for the model year. Only NHTSA and the automaker know whether a specific car was repaired.
- Recent model years are still collecting reports.
Review
Data compiled automatically from the official files listed here.
Changelog
- 2026-10-06 Data refreshed from the official files.