Honda Insight problems and known issues

By CarWhere Research · Updated

By NHTSA recall count, the 2010–2011 Insight has the most campaigns (10 each), nearly all for Takata air bag inflators. The 2019 sedan follows with 8, including camera and body-control software fixes, and 2020–2021 cars have a DC-DC converter recall. We found no recall in the DOT dataset naming the 2000–2006 Insight.

CarWhere lists 6 documented Insight issues, including 6 NHTSA safety recalls, each with affected years, powertrains, symptoms, pre-purchase checks and a source. Recall entries come from NHTSA's recall dataset on the DOT open-data portal, which may not list every campaign, so run the specific VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup.

Insight generations at a glance

Honda Insight generations and the known issues listed for each
GenerationModel yearsIssues on this page
3rd generation2019–2022DC-DC converter may shut down and cause loss of drive power (recall 20V798) · Body control module software may disrupt wipers, lights and camera (recall 20V771) · Rear camera display may not work (recall 18V629) · Low-pressure fuel pump may fail (recalls 20V314, 21V215, 23V858) · Seat weight sensor, seat belt and SRS unit recalls (26V332, 24V064, 23V158, 21V900, 18V664)
2nd generation2010–2014Takata driver and passenger air bag inflators (recalls 16V061, 18V661 and others)
1st generation2000–2006No widespread issue documented here

3rd generation Insight problems (2019–2022)

DC-DC converter may shut down and cause loss of drive power (recall 20V798) (2020–2021)

Safety recall
Generation:
3rd generation (2019–2022)
Years:
2020–2021
Powertrain:
1.5L two-motor hybrid

The DC-DC converter can shut down and stop the 12-volt battery from charging, which can lead to a loss of drive power. The 27,838-vehicle campaign covers 2020–2021 Insights and 2020 CR-V Hybrid and Accord Hybrid models. Dealers update the power control unit software free of charge.

Symptoms

  • 12-volt battery warning
  • Multiple warning lights
  • Loss of drive power

Check before buying

  • Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete
  • Confirm the PCU software update

NHTSA recall: 20V798 (2020-12) · 27,838 vehicles in the campaign

Sources: [1][2][3]

Body control module software may disrupt wipers, lights and camera (recall 20V771) (2019–2020)

Safety recall
Generation:
3rd generation (2019–2022)
Years:
2019–2020
Powertrain:
1.5L two-motor hybrid

A software error can disrupt communication between the body control module and other systems, causing problems with wipers, defroster, rear camera, exterior lights, the stopped-vehicle warning and power windows. The 737,233-vehicle campaign covers 2019–2020 Insights and 2018–2020 Accords. Dealers update the BCM software free of charge.

Symptoms

  • Wipers or lights act on their own or stop
  • Rear camera drops out

Check before buying

  • Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete

NHTSA recall: 20V771 (2020-12) · 737,233 vehicles in the campaign

Sources: [4]

Rear camera display may not work (recall 18V629) (2019)

Safety recall
Generation:
3rd generation (2019–2022)
Years:
2019
Powertrain:
1.5L two-motor hybrid

In certain scenarios the backup camera display may fail on 2019 Insights and 2018 Accords (232,140 vehicles). Dealers reprogram the display audio software free of charge.

Symptoms

  • No camera image in reverse

Check before buying

  • Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete

NHTSA recall: 18V629 (2018-09) · 232,140 vehicles in the campaign

Sources: [5]

Low-pressure fuel pump may fail (recalls 20V314, 21V215, 23V858) (2019–2022)

Safety recall
Generation:
3rd generation (2019–2022)
Years:
2019–2022
Powertrain:
1.5L two-motor hybrid

20V314 and its expansion 21V215 (624,552 vehicles) cover 2019–2020 Insights, and 23V858 (2,490,460 vehicles) covers 2019–2022 Insights. A failed pump can stall the engine; dealers replace it free of charge.

Symptoms

  • Engine will not start
  • Stall

Check before buying

  • Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete

NHTSA recall: 23V858 (2023-12) · 2,490,460 vehicles in the campaign

Sources: [6][7][8]

Seat weight sensor, seat belt and SRS unit recalls (26V332, 24V064, 23V158, 21V900, 18V664) (2019–2022)

Safety recall
Generation:
3rd generation (2019–2022)
Years:
2019–2022
Powertrain:
1.5L two-motor hybrid

26V332 (98,892 units) and 24V064 replace front passenger seat weight sensors on 2019–2022 and 2021 Insights. 23V158 (448,613 vehicles) replaces front buckle parts on 2019 cars. 21V900 (4,346 vehicles) replaces the rear center belt on 2022 Insights. 18V664 (118 vehicles) replaced faulty SRS control units on some 2019 Insights.

Symptoms

  • Belt will not latch
  • SRS warning light

Check before buying

  • Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete

NHTSA recall: 26V332 (2026-05) · 98,892 vehicles in the campaign

Sources: [9][10][11][12][13]

2nd generation Insight problems (2010–2014)

Takata driver and passenger air bag inflators (recalls 16V061, 18V661 and others) (2010–2014)

Safety recall
Generation:
2nd generation (2010–2014)
Years:
2010–2014
Powertrain:
1.3L 4-cylinder IMA hybrid

Every second-generation Insight is in a Takata driver inflator recall: 16V061 (2,232,187 vehicles) covers 2010–2014. Passenger inflators are covered by zone-based campaigns 16V346, 17V030, 18V042 and 18V661 (2014 nationwide). Replacement-part recalls 19V500 and 19V502 and install-error recalls 17V545, 18V268 and 19V378 also list the Insight.

Symptoms

  • No warning sign before a crash; the defect only shows when the air bag deploys

Check before buying

  • Run the 17-digit VIN through NHTSA's recall lookup and confirm the remedy shows as complete
  • Confirm both driver and passenger remedies

NHTSA recall: 16V061 (2016-02) · 2,232,187 vehicles in the campaign

Sources: [14][15][16][17][18][19][20][21][22][23][24][3]

Related Insight research

This page explains specific mechanical issues and recalls. Which model years drew the most owner complaints relative to the rest of the model’s history is answered in the years-to-avoid research where CarWhere publishes it.

Confirm how an Insight was built before you buy.

Engine, transmission and packages decide which of these issues apply. The CarWhere Honda build sheet reconstructs factory colors, options and packages from licensed VIN-level build data — availability is checked free, and it is $9.99 only when detailed build data is found for that VIN.

Honda build sheet by VIN

Frequently asked questions

Which Honda Insight years have the most recalls?

The 2010 and 2011 Insight are each named in 10 NHTSA campaigns and the 2019 in 8. The 2022 Insight has the fewest of the hybrid sedans, at 3, and the 2014 has 3.

Does the first-generation Insight have recalls?

None of the Honda recall records in the DOT recall dataset name the 2000–2006 Insight. Some older NHTSA summaries describe vehicles only as 'certain passenger vehicles', so still run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls before buying.

Why can a 2020–2021 Insight lose drive power?

Recall 20V798 covers 2020–2021 Insights whose DC-DC converter can shut down and stop the 12-volt battery from charging, which can end in a loss of drive power. Dealers update the power control unit software free of charge.

Are Insights in the Takata air bag recall?

Second-generation 2010–2014 Insights are: driver inflators under 16V061 and passenger inflators under regional campaigns 16V346, 17V030, 18V042 and 18V661, with the 2014 recalled nationwide under 18V661. The 2019–2022 sedan is not in those campaigns.

How do I check a used Insight?

Run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm both Takata inflators on a 2010–2014 car. On a 2019–2022 car, confirm the fuel pump (23V858), body control software (20V771, 2019–2020) and DC-DC converter (20V798, 2020–2021) remedies.

Sources

Issue descriptions are CarWhere’s own summaries of the sources below. Repair costs are shown only where a source states them and vary by shop and region.

  1. Recall 20V798: Loss of Drive Power from DC-DC Converter Shutdown — NHTSA (via data.transportation.gov recall dataset)
  2. 2019 Honda Insight Press Kit — Honda News (American Honda Motor Co.)
  3. Honda Marks 25 Years Of Hybrid-Electric Sales (Dec. 12, 2024) — Honda News (American Honda Motor Co.)
  4. Recall 20V771: BCM Software Malfunction/FMVSS 103/111 — NHTSA (via data.transportation.gov recall dataset)
  5. Recall 18V629: Rearview Image Display Failure/FMVSS 111 — NHTSA (via data.transportation.gov recall dataset)
  6. Recall 23V858: Fuel Pump May Fail — NHTSA (via data.transportation.gov recall dataset)
  7. Recall 20V314: Fuel Pump May Fail — NHTSA (via data.transportation.gov recall dataset)
  8. Recall 21V215: Fuel Pump May Fail — NHTSA (via data.transportation.gov recall dataset)
  9. Recall 26V332: Air Bags May Deploy Unintentionally During a Crash — NHTSA (via data.transportation.gov recall dataset)
  10. Recall 24V064: Air Bag May Deploy Unintentionally During a Crash — NHTSA (via data.transportation.gov recall dataset)
  11. Recall 23V158: Seat Belt Buckle May Not Latch — NHTSA (via data.transportation.gov recall dataset)
  12. Recall 21V900: Seat Belt Retractor Malfunction/FMVSS 208 — NHTSA (via data.transportation.gov recall dataset)
  13. Recall 18V664: SRS May Become Disabled Due to Manufacturing Error — NHTSA (via data.transportation.gov recall dataset)
  14. Recall 16V061: Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture — NHTSA (via data.transportation.gov recall dataset)
  15. Recall 18V661: Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode — NHTSA (via data.transportation.gov recall dataset)
  16. Recall 16V346: Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture — NHTSA (via data.transportation.gov recall dataset)
  17. Recall 17V030: Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture — NHTSA (via data.transportation.gov recall dataset)
  18. Recall 18V042: Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode — NHTSA (via data.transportation.gov recall dataset)
  19. Recall 19V500: Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode — NHTSA (via data.transportation.gov recall dataset)
  20. Recall 19V502: Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode — NHTSA (via data.transportation.gov recall dataset)
  21. Recall 17V545: Incorrectly Installed Replacement Air Bag — NHTSA (via data.transportation.gov recall dataset)
  22. Recall 18V268: Improperly Installed Passenger Air Bag — NHTSA (via data.transportation.gov recall dataset)
  23. Recall 19V378: Improperly Installed Passenger Air Bag Inflator — NHTSA (via data.transportation.gov recall dataset)
  24. 2010 Honda Insight Press Kit: Overview — Honda News (American Honda Motor Co.)

More Honda tools

Independent reference compiled by CarWhere — not affiliated with or endorsed by Honda Motor Co., Ltd. or American Honda Motor Co., Inc. Honda, Type R and the model names are trademarks of their owners.