repaired · 2020 Q4
Driver side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
2013 Honda InsightProblems, recalls & complaints
NHTSA has logged 45 owner complaints about the 2013 Honda Insight, most often about the engine. It is covered by 6 safety recalls, and for recall 19V-502 the manufacturer reports only 36% of affected cars repaired.
Source: NHTSA complaints, recalls, investigations and manufacturer recall reports, through November 18, 2025. Updated daily. Photo: Elise240SX, CC BY-SA 4.0.
Complaints by system
Where the 2013 Honda Insight has problems
45 complaints grouped by the system owners reported.
31Engine2 crash/fire/injury
8Air bags2 crash/fire/injury
7Power train2 crash/fire/injury
4Fuel/propulsion system1 crash/fire/injury
4Electrical system
2Service brakes
1Vehicle speed control
1Visibility/wiper
1Electronic stability control (ESC)
33 other systems
| System | Complaints | Crash, fire or injury |
|---|---|---|
| Engine | 31 | 2 |
| Air bags | 8 | 2 |
| Power train | 7 | 2 |
| Fuel/propulsion system | 4 | 1 |
| Electrical system | 4 | 0 |
| Service brakes | 2 | 1 |
| Vehicle speed control | 1 | 1 |
| Visibility/wiper | 1 | 0 |
| Electronic stability control (ESC) | 1 | 0 |
| 3 other systems | 3 | 1 |
Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. Complaints are submitted by the public and are not verified by NHTSA.
6 recalls
2013 Honda Insight recalls and how many were fixed
Each ring shows the share of affected cars repaired, from the manufacturer’s latest quarterly report to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers.
repaired · 2020 Q4
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2020 Q4
Passenger side: inflator module
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.
repaired · 2020 Q1
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Show 2 more recalls
repaired · 2019 Q2
Passenger side: inflator module
Risk. An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
repaired · 2018 Q2
Driver side: inflator module
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…
Recalls apply to specific cars. To see whether a recall is still open on yours, enter the 17-character VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls or with Honda.
Best & worst years
2013 vs. every other Insight year
Bars show complaints per model year. Colors show the CarFlaw verdict: complaints weighted for crashes, fires and injuries, adjusted for years on the road and compared with the Insight median. How we score
'00'01'02'03'04'05'06'10'11'12'13'14'19'20'21'22
- Avoid
- Caution
- Solid
- Best
- Not rated
NHTSA crash tests
2013 Honda Insight safety ratings
2013 Honda Insight 5 HB FWD in NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program. Photos are from NHTSA's crash tests.
- Rollover: 4 stars (11.3% risk)
- Stability control: Standard
- Forward collision warning: No
- Lane departure warning: No
1 investigation
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal investigations that included the 2013 Honda Insight, and the recalls they led to.
- Pedestrian alert soundsLed to recall 22V-063
In owners' words
What Insight owners report
Recent engine complaints filed with NHTSA, shortened. Personal details are removed.
I have had a 2013 Honda Insight since September 2024 and I have complained about excessive oil consumption since October 2024.This past Saturday my car stopped on the highway when I tried to accelerate. It was towed to Honda and the diagnostic comes back as piston ring replacement with spark plugs.…
Noticed decreased performance & frequent oil changes in 2015. At first, I did not know the weak engine performance was related to the oil consumption & was never offered diagnostic testing until May 2023 across multiple Honda shops in different states. With this, I was under the impression that my…
I experienced "rough running" of my 2013 Honda Insight just prior to August of 2021. Initial work on the vehicle helped, but repairs became increasingly expensive and extensive. EX: A simple oil change on about 8/2/2021 (mileage at 64,545). At about mileage 68,370 the vehicle failed again (showing…
Own a 2013 Insight?
Decode your VIN to see the recalls for your exact car, then confirm open recalls with NHTSA.