Reliability
Honda

Insight (3rd)

2019-2022 · Compact Sedan · 1 engine
187 NHTSA Complaints
11 Recalls
1 Fire Reports
16 Crash Reports
View all 5 generations of the Honda Insight → Inspection checklist

Reliability Score

7.2 / 10

Reliability score

About as many owner complaints as similar compact sedans

The class average is 7.0. Based on complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the engine, transmission or drivetrain.

Owners filed 46 powertrain complaints. A typical compact sedan fleet of this size and age would have drawn about 48.

Scores this low have often eased: the three years after looked about 0.8 points better in the typical case.

Breakdown
Complaints overall46 complaints against about 48 for similar vehicles
7.2
Last three years28 complaints against about 30 for similar vehicles
7.2
Engine, transmission or drive unit failed or replaced
n/aNot enough data
Oil consumption, fuel in the oil or overheating
n/aNot enough data

Each line scores one view of the same complaints the same way, so the lines overlap. The mark on each bar is the class average. A line needs 20 expected complaints to show a number.

By model year
  • 20196.9
  • 20207.5
  • 20217.9
  • 20227.8

Similar vehicles are others in the same class, compared at the same age and in the same years. The score counts complaints owners filed with NHTSA, per vehicle built, which is different from the share of vehicles that fail. How the score is worked out

On the record · from NHTSA's files, not reviewed by hand

Recall20V798
Electrical System, Propulsion System, Charging, Module, Software · 12,725 vehicles (16% of those built) · maker's estimate: 2% have the defect

Complaints by Engine Code

LEB6

1.5L 4-cyl / 107 hp
184 complaints 46.0 per year Gasoline
1 fire report
View details

Complaint Breakdown

safety systems
72
electrical
35
fuel system
29
brakes
24
other
20
Show 1 additional engine variant with limited data
These engines appear in fewer than 10 owner complaints. A low count can mean a clean record, and it can also be a VIN-decode anomaly in NHTSA's data.

Honda Insight Unidentified Engine

3 complaints 1.5 per year
View details

Complaint Breakdown

brakes
1
safety systems
1
fuel system
1
other
1

Battery & Propulsion Reliability

Hybrid (HEV)

Battery & propulsion complaint analysis for the 2019-2022 Honda Insight

9 battery-related complaints 2.2 per year 1 battery-related recall

Too few field reports to rate this generation against peers yet. Most recently launched models accumulate complaints over the first 2-3 years.

What kind of battery complaint?

Among the 9 battery-related complaints, here's the type mix. These percentages describe what the complaints are about — not how reliable the vehicle is overall.

Electric Propulsion 4 (44%)

Loss of power, drive unit, inverter, traction motor, DC-DC converter.

Hybrid Drivetrain 2 (22%)

Hybrid system warnings, eCVT, motor-generator, hybrid transaxle.

High-Voltage Battery 1 (11%)

Propulsion battery defects, capacity loss, BMS faults, replacement claims.

12V Auxiliary Battery 1 (11%)

Low-voltage battery deaths, common on EVs and hybrids that use a 12V for accessories.

Regenerative Braking 1 (11%)

Regen brake feel, one-pedal driving, B-mode complaints.

Battery & propulsion recalls (1)
20V798000 ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTER

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2020-2021 Insight vehicles. The DC-DC converter may shut down and prevent the 12-volt battery from recharging, possibly resulting in a loss of drive power.

Consequence: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.

Sample complaint excerpts
Electric Propulsion
  • [2020] 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
  • [2021] WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 1/23/21. ON 2/4/21, I WAS DRIVING IN DOBSON, NC, WHEN THE POWER CONTROL UNIT (PCU) MALFUNCTIONED, LEADING TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IT WITHOUT WARNING LIGHTS. I THEN BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVE AND STARTED ON MY WAY. AS I WAS DESCENDING A HILL, THE TRANSMISSION SHUT OFF.
  • [2022] This issue actually started in November of 2022. Driving down from the mountains the car started losing power. I took the car to the dealership on Monday. I was then advised that there was not an issue they could they could find. A few months later the car would not start. They replaced the battery and the issue was resolved (I don’t recall the exact month the battery was replaced). November 29,
Hybrid Drivetrain
  • [2019] TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2019 HONDA INSIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING AT VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE COLLISION AVOIDANCE SENSOR ACTIVATED WHICH CAUSED THE AUTOMATIC BRAKING SYSTEM TO ABRUPTLY STOP THE VEHICLE. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO POHANKA HONDA LOCATED AT 1772 RITCHIE STATION CT, CAPITAL HEIGHTS, MD (301) 899-7800, HOWEVER, THE MECHANIC WAS UNABLE TO DETERMINE THE CAUSE FOR THE FAILURE. THE
  • [2020] WHEN PUTTING THE CAR IN REVERSE, THE CAR IS MAKING VERY LOUD 'DONG DONG DONG' NOISE. THIS ISSUE ALSO OCCURS WHEN THE CAR IS IN IDLE (STOP FOR THE TRAFFIC LIGHT). I AM NOT SURE IF THE NOISE IS FROM THE HYBRID SYSTEM, BUT THE NOISE MAKE ONE'S EARS VERY UNCOMFORTABLE.
High-Voltage Battery
  • [2020] 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 re
12V Auxiliary Battery
  • [2020] 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 " B
Regenerative Braking
  • [2021] The brake servo control unit feel simulator which reduces the simulation force provided to the brake pedal during emergency or failed conditions and is a key component of realizing a Regenerative Braking System. It provides a good pedal feeling to a driver, improves energy recovery and ensures braking security. My safety has been put at risk as that part is integral to my brake system (including t

Source: classified from NHTSA complaint and recall data. "Battery-related" includes high-voltage propulsion battery, charging system, hybrid drivetrain, electric propulsion, regenerative braking, 12V auxiliary battery, and thermal-event complaints. Other complaints (suspension, steering, brakes, infotainment) appear in the engine and vehicle-level sections. Rates are absolute counts, not normalized per-VIN — high-volume models naturally produce more raw complaints than low-volume ones. Self-reported death and injury counts are capped per complaint to limit form abuse.

Battery: Honda Insight two-motor hybrid pack (2019-2022)

Lithium-ion · 60 cells in the Intelligent Power Unit under the rear seat base
View full pack reference →
▼ You're looking at: Insight LX / EX / Touring (2019-2022)
Combined mpg 48-52
EPA figures span the trims and model years this entry covers.
About the pack
Capacity
1.2 kWh
as published
Service life
8 yr
100k mi typical
Warranty floor
—
see OEM warranty book

Pack overview

ChemistryLithium-ion
Cell supplierNot published
Cell formatNot published
Voltage (nominal)222 V
CoolingAir (cabin-fed)
Architecture60 cells in the Intelligent Power Unit under the rear seat base
Warranty 8 yr / 100k mi

Known issues

Medium
NHTSA 20V-798 (December 2020) covers certain 2020 and 2021 Insights with the 2020 CR-V Hybrid and Accord Hybrid. The DC-DC converter in the power control unit can shut down in cold weather and stop recharging the 12-volt battery, which can end in a loss of drive power. Dealers update the power control unit software free of charge. No recall on this car names the high-voltage battery.
Low
Honda gives the Insight's battery as 1.2 kWh and places it under the rear seat base, which left the trunk and folding rear seatback intact.
Low
The pack has 60 cells and is cooled by a fan that pulls cabin air through vents beneath the rear seat bottom. Honda's warranty runs 8 years or 100,000 miles, or 10 years or 150,000 miles depending on the state where the car is bought or registered.
Low
Honda's warranty booklet treats gradual capacity loss as expected and not covered. It covers greater-than-normal degradation for 8 years or 100,000 miles and states no percentage.

How this pack ages (industry context)

Industry fleet aggregates: 2.3% average annual capacity loss across 22,700 EVs / 21 models (Geotab, 2026), and 95% range retention at 5 years on average across 30,000+ vehicles (Recurrent, 2026).

OEM warranty floor on this pack: 8 yr / 100k mi.

Public per-pack degradation curves are not available for most models. Individual results vary materially with climate, charging behavior, and DC fast-charge frequency.

Owner Complaints by System

Complaints owners filed with NHTSA about the Honda Insight, counted across every engine. A complaint can name more than one system.

Safety Systems: 73 owner complaints
Electrical System: 35 owner complaints
Fuel System: 30 owner complaints
Brakes: 25 owner complaints
Engine: 14 owner complaints

What to check on a used 2019-2022 Honda Insight

On a used 2019-2022 Honda Insight, the systems with the most NHTSA owner complaints are the airbags and driver-assist systems (73), the electrical system (35) and the fuel system (30). Each one has an inspection step below, with counts as of 2026-10-12. A complaint is an owner report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.

  1. Switch the ignition on and watch the airbag light. On the drive, check the backup camera and any collision or lane warning.Safety. NHTSA has 73 owner complaints on the 2019-2022 Honda Insight about the airbags and driver-assist systems.
  2. Switch on every electrical item in turn: lights, windows, locks, wipers, climate fan, screen and power outlets.Costly repair. NHTSA has 35 owner complaints on the 2019-2022 Honda Insight about the electrical system.
  3. Let the engine idle for five minutes, walk around the car and smell for fuel.Safety. NHTSA has 30 owner complaints on the 2019-2022 Honda Insight about the fuel system.
  4. On an empty road, brake firmly from 40 mph with a light grip on the wheel.Safety. NHTSA has 25 owner complaints on the 2019-2022 Honda Insight about the brakes.
  5. Start the engine cold and listen for the first 30 seconds, then again at idle once it is warm.Costly repair. NHTSA has 14 owner complaints on the 2019-2022 Honda Insight about the engine.
Open the full inspection checklist for the 2019-2022 Honda Insight

Recalls (11)

26V332000May 21, 2026serious
Air Bags

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.

24V064000Feb 1, 2024serious
Air Bags

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.

23V858000Dec 18, 2023serious
Fuel System

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV, Fit, and 2015-2020 Honda Accord Hybrid, Pilot, Acura NSX vehicles. The fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

23V158000Mar 9, 2023serious
Seat Belts

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017-2020 CR-V, 2018-2019 Accord and Accord Hybrid, 2018-2020 Odyssey, 2019 Insight, and 2019-2020 Acura RDX vehicles. A manufacturing issue with the front seat belts may cause the seat belt buckle channel to interfere with the release button, preventing the seat belt buckle from latching.

21V900000Nov 18, 2021serious
Seat Belts

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2021 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, CR-V, Ridgeline, 2022 Insight and CR-V Hybrid vehicles. The automatic locking retractor on the second-row center seat belt assembly may deactivate improperly, which can result in an unsecured child restraint system. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard number 208, "Occupant Crash Protection."

Show 6 older recalls
21V215000Mar 25, 2021serious
Fuel System

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019-2020 Acura MDX, MDX Sport Hybrid, RDX, TLX, Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Insight, 2019 Acura ILX, Honda Accord Hybrid, Civic Coupe, Civic Coupe Si, Civic Sedan, Civic Sedan Si, Civic Type R, Fit, HR-V, Odyssey, Passport, Pilot and Ridgeline, and 2018-2019 CR-V vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

20V798000Dec 17, 2020serious
Electrical System

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2020-2021 Insight vehicles. The DC-DC converter may shut down and prevent the 12-volt battery from recharging, possibly resulting in a loss of drive power.

20V771000Dec 10, 2020serious
Electrical System

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, and 2019-2020 Insight vehicles. A software error may cause intermittent or continuous disruptions in communication between the Body Control Module (BCM) and other components. This may result in malfunctions of various systems such as the windshield wipers and defroster, rearview camera, exterior lights, audible warning of a stopped vehicle, and power window operation. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 103, "Windshield Defrosting and Defogging Systems" and number 111, "Rear Visibility" as well as FMVSS numbers 104, 108, 114, 118, and 305.

20V314000May 28, 2020serious
Fuel System

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura NSX, 2019 Acura RDX, RLX and RLX Sport Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R and HR-V, 2019-2020 Insight and 2019 Fit vehicles. The low-pressure fuel pump inside the fuel tank may fail.

18V664000Sep 27, 2018serious
Seat Belts

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2019 Honda Insight, Odyssey, and Ridgeline vehicles. The Supplemental Restraint System (SRS) control unit may have a manufacturing error, possibly resulting in the air bags or seatbelt pretensioners not deploying in the event of a crash.

18V629000Sep 13, 2018serious
Back Over Prevention

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018 Honda Accord and 2019 Honda Insight vehicles. In certain scenarios, the back-up camera center display may not function properly. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 111, "Rearview Mirrors."

NHTSA Safety Ratings About NHTSA ratings

Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.3% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Standard
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.3% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Standard
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.3% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Standard
Overall ★★★★★ 5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover
5/5 (9.3% risk)
ESC: Standard FCW: Standard LDW: Standard

Alternatives in Compact Sedan

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the most common 2019-2022 Honda Insight complaints?

Owners have filed 187 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019-2022 Honda Insight. The systems they name most often are the safety systems, the electrical system and the fuel system.

Is the 2019-2022 Honda Insight a good used car?

That depends on the model year, the mileage and the maintenance history of the car in front of you. Owners have filed 187 complaints with NHTSA about the 2019-2022 Honda Insight. Check which systems they name most often and whether a recall is still open on that car.

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2019-2022 Honda Insight have?

NHTSA has 187 owner complaints on file for the 2019-2022 Honda Insight as of the latest data pull. A complaint is an owner's report, not a confirmed defect, and counts rise with sales.

What recalls affect the 2019-2022 Honda Insight?

NHTSA lists 11 recalls covering some 2019-2022 Honda Insight vehicles. Which ones apply depends on the VIN: enter it at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see the open campaigns on a specific car.

What should I check before buying a used Honda Insight?

Run the VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm every open recall has been done. Look hardest at the safety systems, the electrical system and the fuel system, the systems owners complain about most. Ask for maintenance records, have an independent mechanic inspect the car and run a vehicle history report for prior accidents and title issues.

What are the NHTSA crash test ratings for the Insight?

The 2022 Honda Insight received an overall 5-star safety rating from NHTSA. Frontal crash: 5 stars. Side crash: 5 stars. Rollover: 5 stars (9.3% rollover probability). Electronic Stability Control: Standard. Forward Collision Warning: Standard. Lane Departure Warning: Standard. These ratings are based on standardized crash tests conducted by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Data from NHTSA federal complaints database. 187 complaints analyzed. Data confidence: high. Last updated: 2026-10-12.

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