2012 Honda Insight problems, complaints & recalls
Most-reported problem areas: Engine (32) · Air Bags (10) · Vehicle Speed Control (3)
🧭 Reliability snapshot
Compared against other Honda Insight model years — complaint volume vs the model's median year, recalls and severity. How we score →
🛣️ Complaints by mileage
39 NHTSA complaints that reported an odometer reading.
Safety recalls (8)
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2019-06-27 · campaign 19V502000 · 9,555 vehicles
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to p
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are F5F and Q5E.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2019-05-16 · campaign 19V378000 · 19,138 vehicles
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M4O, P4R, T4Q, and W4P.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2018-09-27 · campaign 18V661000 · 1,355,406 vehicles
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, California, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Acura TSX, TSX Wagon and ZDX, Honda
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M2J and S2K.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2018-04-26 · campaign 18V268000 · 1,335 vehicles
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are K1P, and M1O.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2018-01-09 · campaign 18V042000 · 691,726 vehicles
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX, ZDX, Honda Accord Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot vehicles, 2011-13 Acura TSX Sportswagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord,, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles and 2013 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Sai
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are B0K and L0J.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2017-08-31 · campaign 17V545000 · 3,257 vehicles
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2008-2012 Accord, 2010-2012 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2012 Fit and Pilot, 2010-2012 Insight, and 2009-2012 Acura TSX vehicles that received replacement passenger frontal air bag inflators. One dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators.
Risk: In the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are O07, Y0A, N06, G05, M04, Y01, and O09.
Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module 2017-01-10 · campaign 17V030000 · 977,708 vehicles
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Acura TSX, 2011-2012 Acura TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Acura ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2012 Honda Accord Crosstour and Honda Insight, 2009-2012 Honda Fit, 2009-2012 Pilot, 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2012 Honda FCX Clarity and 2006-2011 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid, Civic NGV vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Sa
Risk: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The manufacturer has mailed an interim notification, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KE1 and KE2.
Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module 2016-02-03 · campaign 16V061000 · 2,232,187 vehicles
Defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Risk: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JY0, JY1, and JY2.
Service bulletins (73)
Technical service bulletins are repair instructions manufacturers send dealers for known issues. Unlike recalls, the fix is not automatically free — but naming the bulletin at the service desk can save diagnosis time and support goodwill repairs.
Air Bags 2026-02-28 · A18-048 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
service bulletin - warranty extension: customer support program for driver's airbag inflator for 2007-11 cr-v and other listed years and models.
Service Brakes 2021-02-26 · APaS02262021902 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
dealer message - american honda motor co., inc. (ahm) is searching for certain 2011-2016 cr-zs, 2010-2014 insights, & 2011-2017 odysseys with a customer complaint of the brake pedal feeling soft or spongy when depressed, almost reaching the floor. to better understand the cause of this condition, ah
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 2021-02-10 · APaS02102021902 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
dealer message - american honda motor co., inc. (ahm) is searching for certain 2011-2016 cr-zs, 2010-2014 insights, & 2011-2017 odysseys with a customer complaint of the brake pedal feeling soft or spongy when depressed, almost reaching the floor. to better understand the cause of this condition, ah
Equipment:appliance:air Conditioner 2021-01-23 · A07-030 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
"service bulletin - there are several a/c leak detection tools available. -refrigerant gas leak detector -ultrasonic leak detector -leak dye"
Service Brakes, Hydraulic 2021-01-22 · APaS01222021909 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
dealer message - american honda motor co., inc. (ahm) is searching for certain 2011-2016 cr-zs, 2010-2014 insights, & 2011-2017 odysseys with a customer complaint of the brake pedal feeling soft or spongy when depressed, almost reaching the floor. to better understand the cause of this condition, ah
Service Brakes 2021-01-06 · APaS01062021907 · Service Bulletin/Repair Instructions
dealer message - american honda motor co., inc. (ahm) is searching for certain 2011-2016 cr-zs, 2010-2014 insights, & 2011-2017 odysseys with a customer complaint of the brake pedal feeling soft or spongy when depressed, almost reaching the floor. to better understand the cause of this condition, ah
Showing the 6 most recent of 73 bulletins. Search all of them free at nhtsa.gov.
What owners report
2024-12-18 · Engine“the car has only 83000 miles. we bought the vehicle 2 months ago from the estate of an individual that passed away. we were driving the vehicle and the gas pedal stopped working. prior to this happening, we noticed no oil leak from the car. per the manual we were checking oil level everytime we filled car up and would top it as it would be lower. …”
2023-09-15 · Unknown Or Other“roof and hood of car lost all paint and clear coat. starting to rust …”
2023-01-09 · Engine“oil consumption issues. i can't drive my car 10 feet without dying. i was stuck in traffic when my car died from the issues. look up tsb 15-015…”
2022-10-05 · Engine · 82,000 mi“the contact owns a 2012 honda insight. the contact stated while driving 25 mph, the vehicle jerked forward. the contact stated that the check engine, emissions, and abs warning lights were illuminated. the contact was able to park near a gas station. the vehicle was not drivable. the contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagn…”
2021-04-19 · Engine · 76,883 mi“tthis car has safety problems burns oil like crazy , my daughter was driving down 81 when the dash lights came on the car was shaking so she pulled over and called the police who impounded the car 300 to get it out then we had it towed over 100miles . honda dealer says the spark plug failed and went into the engine . getting prices on a new engine …”
2021-03-04 · Unknown Or Other“door lock actuator malfunctions. continues to lock itself when driving, continues to lock itself when sitting and car is not running. ongoing for many months. hundreds of dollars to replace, i'm opting to disconnect and live with manual locks.…”
2020-11-12 · Engine · 130,200 mi“about two months ago, my car began fluttering after i started the engine and began accelerating. the power felt reduced as well. like most people's first instinct, i began checking the oil and noticed the oil appeared low especially considering that i had received an oil change not long before this occurred. since then i've head to check the oil in…”
2019-10-19 · Engine · 89,000 mi“this car is the absolute worst car i have ever owned. the oil consumption is outrageous and the car only has 89k miles on it. it also burns through spark plugs like crazy, i've probably put close to 500 dollars into it at least just in oil and spark plugs this year alone. in the two years i have owned it, it has left me stranded in strange neighbor…”
2019-07-26 · Engine · 68,000 mi“i have a 2012 honda insight with 80000 miles and am having excessive oil consumption at 1 quart of oil per 2000 miles of driving per the dealership. honda says this is acceptable and only a problem at 1 quart per 1000 miles driven. i have read the concerns and the vehicle has poorly seated rings due to a design defect admitted by honda. my conce…”
2019-04-30 · Engine · 72,429 mi“my honda insight 2012 is burning oil. after an oil change i drive around 800 miles i'm 1/2 quart low on oil. this is not normal at all.…”
Excerpts of consumer complaints filed with NHTSA, lightly truncated. They are owner statements, not verified findings.