2013 Honda Insight Problems & Owner Complaints

Engine 31 2 fire

“WE PURCHASED A NEW 2013 HONDA INSIGHT.THE CAR HAD EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. IT REQUIRED ONE QUART OF OIL TO BE ADDED EVERY 2-3 WEEKS. WE REPEATEDLY VOICED OUR CONCERNS IN AT LEAST 5 OCCASIONS. EACH TIME WE WERE TOLD BY THE THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE OIL CONSUMPTION 'WAS NORMAL'. OUR COMPLAINTS WERE IGNORED, OUR CONCERNS DISMISSED.ON JANUARY 25, 2017, WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY I-78, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED LOSING POWER AND COMPLETELY STALLED. LUCKILY, THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES BEHIND. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THERE THAT A CYL…”
NHTSA complaint #11045051, 2017 · fire

“THE VEHICLE HAS ON-GOING "OIL CONSUMPTION" ISSUES THAT AMERICAN HONDA NEGLECTED TO ADDRESS. AS A RESULT, THE OIL GOES UP EXHAUST PIPES TO CAUSED ENGINE OVER HEAT AND BLOW UP DURING DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. AMERICAN HONDA ISSUED AN "INTERNAL MEMO" TO EXTEND ENGINE WARRANTY TO 8 YEARS WITHOUT NOTIFYING CAR OWNERS. HOWEVER, THEY FAILED TO COVER OUR BLEW-UP ENGINE WHEN THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED AND CHARGED US $4600 FOR AN USED ENGINE. WITHIN 8 MONTHS, THE SECOND ENGINE BLEW UP AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY. AMERICAN HONDA FINALLY COVERED THE SECOND ENGINE REPAIR. THE AMERICAN HONDA REJECTED TO REIMBURSE THE FIRST…”
NHTSA complaint #11043313, 2017 · fire

“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. Last November I had 2 spark plugs replaced and my ignition coils. There was an ESB put out by Honda but I was not the current owner then so Honda doesn’t want to cover the cost. I also have contacted the dealership, that is not a certified reseller of Honda, mark Sweeney Buick of Cincinnati, Ohio b…”
NHTSA complaint #11700069, 2025

Air Bags 8 1 crash 2 injury

“MY CAR WAS HIT AT 60MPH, FROM A RUN AWAY CAR FLEEING THE POLICE, ON THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE. MY CAR THEN FLIPPED ONTO THE DRIVER SIDE ROTATED 180 DEGREE, ROLLED OVER AND SLID 100FT TO STOPPED ON THE PASSENGER SIDE. MY CAR STOPPED WITH TWO WHEELS IN THE AIR. THE MAJOR COMPLAINT IS ONLY THE PASSENGER CURTAIN AIRBAGS DEPLOYED. THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS, DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS, AND DRIVER CURTAIN AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. MY INJURIES WERE GLASS IN MY EYE, SEAT BELT RESTRAINT INJURIES, NECK & BACK PAIN. I WOULD LIKE TO FILE A COMPLAINT THAT THE PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAGS, DRIVER SIDE AIRBAGS AND DRIVER SI…”
NHTSA complaint #10556060, 2013 · crash · 1 injury(ies)

“I WAS DRIVING ALONG ON THE HIGH WAY DRIVING NORMALLY AND ALL OF A SUDDEN MY STEERING WHEEL AIRBAG WENT OFF, I HIT MY BRAKES IMMEDIATELY OUT OF FEAR. MY HAND WAS CUT, BRUISED AND SLIGHTLY BLEEDING. LUCKILY I DIDN'T HIT ANYONE. FROM MY UNDERSTANDING THIS MODEL OF CAR IS IN RECALL, YET MY VIN ISN'T ONE OF THEM. IT SCARES ME THAT THIS HAS BEEN A TICKING TIME BOMB SINCE I BOUGHT THIS CAR NEW. I FEEL LOST SINCE HONDA SAYS MY CAR ISN'T ONE THAT NEEDS TO BE RECALLED, YET WHY WOULD MY AIR BAG JUST DEPLOY WHILE DRIVING?”
NHTSA complaint #10955304, 2017 · 1 injury(ies)

“"TAKATA RECALL DEALER FAILURE TO ADDRESS-REMEDY SITUATION (PLEASE SEE ATTACHMENT)”
NHTSA complaint #11132006, 2018

Power Train 7 2 fire

“WE PURCHASED A NEW 2013 HONDA INSIGHT.THE CAR HAD EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. IT REQUIRED ONE QUART OF OIL TO BE ADDED EVERY 2-3 WEEKS. WE REPEATEDLY VOICED OUR CONCERNS IN AT LEAST 5 OCCASIONS. EACH TIME WE WERE TOLD BY THE THE DEALERSHIP THAT THE OIL CONSUMPTION 'WAS NORMAL'. OUR COMPLAINTS WERE IGNORED, OUR CONCERNS DISMISSED.ON JANUARY 25, 2017, WHILE MY HUSBAND WAS DRIVING ON HIGHWAY I-78, THE ENGINE SUDDENLY STARTED LOSING POWER AND COMPLETELY STALLED. LUCKILY, THERE WERE NO OTHER VEHICLES BEHIND. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER, IT WAS DISCOVERED THERE THAT A CYL…”
NHTSA complaint #11045051, 2017 · fire

“THE VEHICLE HAS ON-GOING "OIL CONSUMPTION" ISSUES THAT AMERICAN HONDA NEGLECTED TO ADDRESS. AS A RESULT, THE OIL GOES UP EXHAUST PIPES TO CAUSED ENGINE OVER HEAT AND BLOW UP DURING DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. AMERICAN HONDA ISSUED AN "INTERNAL MEMO" TO EXTEND ENGINE WARRANTY TO 8 YEARS WITHOUT NOTIFYING CAR OWNERS. HOWEVER, THEY FAILED TO COVER OUR BLEW-UP ENGINE WHEN THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED AND CHARGED US $4600 FOR AN USED ENGINE. WITHIN 8 MONTHS, THE SECOND ENGINE BLEW UP AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY. AMERICAN HONDA FINALLY COVERED THE SECOND ENGINE REPAIR. THE AMERICAN HONDA REJECTED TO REIMBURSE THE FIRST…”
NHTSA complaint #11043313, 2017 · fire

“The contact owns a 2013 Honda Insight. The contact stated that vehicle failed to respond after shifting the transmission to the desired gear. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The contact also stated that the vehicle failed to accelerate while depressing the accelerator pedal. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was diagnosed with a defective CVT (Continuously Variable Transmission). The manufacturer had yet to be notified of the failure. The vehicle had yet to be repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.”
NHTSA complaint #11538658, 2023

Electrical System 4

“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 check engine light / stalling); repair shop found a misfire on cylinder #4, and all 8 of the spark plugs were replaced.  Then on/about Nov./2022 (mileage at 71,988), the vehicle was running rough again (with check engine light on) and the repair shop found a miss in cylinder #4 again, and then replac…”
NHTSA complaint #11525650, 2023

“I have owned my Honda Insight for almost 10 years now. I bought it because it has great MPG. But this year has been horrible for it. It suddenly lost power while I was driving on the highway. Luckily I was able to move over to the side, and traffic was not too heavy at the time. Checkered Flag Honda in Virginia Beach, VA performed a TSB on it, and again two months ago, stating the exact same repair to be done each time. Now, it is displaying the very same symptoms I took it in for the first time, AGAIN. I will be uploading those reciepts as soon as I can find them tomorrow.…”
NHTSA complaint #11514718, 2023

“2013 Honda Insight Hybrid LX (4 cylinder) vehicle purchased on 8/19/14. thanks This complaint is was filed to due engine oil consumption on my Honda-hybrid. In 2020 my car began losing oil quite frequently as I was having to add or change the oil often. On 8/27/21 I took the vehicle to Honda of Downtown Los Angeles, Kesean Zachary informed me they would need to perform an engine oil consumption test and change the oil. Soon after that the car was again losing oil so I returned it to Honda of Downtown on 11/18/21, where Kesean checked the oil with the dipstick and informed that there was no oil…”
NHTSA complaint #11481912, 2022

Fuel/Propulsion System 4 1 fire

“THE VEHICLE HAS ON-GOING "OIL CONSUMPTION" ISSUES THAT AMERICAN HONDA NEGLECTED TO ADDRESS. AS A RESULT, THE OIL GOES UP EXHAUST PIPES TO CAUSED ENGINE OVER HEAT AND BLOW UP DURING DRIVING ON HIGHWAY. AMERICAN HONDA ISSUED AN "INTERNAL MEMO" TO EXTEND ENGINE WARRANTY TO 8 YEARS WITHOUT NOTIFYING CAR OWNERS. HOWEVER, THEY FAILED TO COVER OUR BLEW-UP ENGINE WHEN THE FIRST TIME HAPPENED AND CHARGED US $4600 FOR AN USED ENGINE. WITHIN 8 MONTHS, THE SECOND ENGINE BLEW UP AGAIN ON THE HIGHWAY. AMERICAN HONDA FINALLY COVERED THE SECOND ENGINE REPAIR. THE AMERICAN HONDA REJECTED TO REIMBURSE THE FIRST…”
NHTSA complaint #11043313, 2017 · fire

“MAJOR CARBON BUILD UP IN A CAR THAT HAS LESS THAN 63,000 MILES ON IT.”
NHTSA complaint #11019531, 2017

“WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF OIL OVER DECREASING AMOUNT OF MILES TO THE POINT WHERE THE CAR NOW LOSES 1.5 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 1,000 MILES (VERIFIED BY LOCAL HONDA DEALER SHOP CAN NOT SUPPORT TO INVESTIGATE WHY FULL TANK OF ENGINE OIL WAS BURNED OFF, ASKED CA CHULA VISTA HONDA DEALER BUT THEY SAID NO PROBLEM? ONLY ERASE A CAUTION SIGN ' CHECKED ENGINE' AT THE RESULTS, WHILE I DROVE I COULD HEAR VERY NOISY SOUND SO I STOPPED , YOU CAN SEE SOME PISTON CLUTCH WAS DAMAGED AND RECOGNIZED MANY BURNED PLATE SURFACE IN SIDE OF ENGINE ROOM !! I REALLY NEED YOUR HEL…”
NHTSA complaint #10887589, 2016

Service Brakes 2 1 crash 2 injury

“DRIVING ON A BUSY S.E. STREET IN WASHINGTON DC, DRIVING ABOUT 20 TO 30 MPH., HEARD A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A TIRE BLOWING OUT OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF NOISE EMANATING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. I TRIED TO PRESS THE BRAKE, BUT INSTEAD THE CAR ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT STOP. IT SPED UP AT LEAST ANOTHER 15 TO 20 MORE MPH, AND AGAIN, WOULD NOT STOP. THERE WERE VEHICLES IN THE BACK, SO I COULD NOT USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE OR SHUT THE CAR OFF. THERE WERE ALSO VEHICLES ON THE SIDE AND IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. I HAD TO MAKE A DECISION ON HOW TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN WITHOUT HITTING ANY PEDESTRIANS OR ANY…”
NHTSA complaint #10663474, 2014 · crash · 2 injury(ies)

“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 check engine light / stalling); repair shop found a misfire on cylinder #4, and all 8 of the spark plugs were replaced.  Then on/about Nov./2022 (mileage at 71,988), the vehicle was running rough again (with check engine light on) and the repair shop found a miss in cylinder #4 again, and then replac…”
NHTSA complaint #11525650, 2023

Electronic Stability Control (Esc) 1

“SO MY 2013 HONDA INSIGHT HAS ALWAYS CONSUMED OIL. I DROVE FROM IDAHO TO UTAH STOPPED AT THE STORE WHEN I STARTED MY VEHICLE UP MY DISPLAY HAS CHECK VSA, CHECK HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM, AND CHECK TPMS. I TRIED DRIVING AWAY FROM THE STORE TO GET TO HONDA AND IT LOSES ALL POWER AND BARLEY MOVES. KINDA LIKE A SAFE MODE AND DOES THIS EVERY TIME I START MY CAR.”
NHTSA complaint #11318635, 2020

Exterior Lighting 1

“THE HONDA INSIGHT 2013 APPARENTLY HAS DEFECTS IN THE OIL CONSUMPTION LEVEL. I WAS DRIVING MY CAR A MONTH AGO WITH MY OIL SERVICE RENEWED COMPLETELY AT A DEALERSHOP AND SUDDENLY A MONTH LATER THE CAR STARTED TO SHOW ME SIGNS OF (OIL CHANGE NEED TO REPAIR) AND AN EMISSION SYSTEM SIGNAL ON THE FRONT LED SCREEN INSIDE THE CAR. I KNEW AT THE MOMENT IT WAS NOT MY FAULT FOR NOT PUTTING THE OIL ON TIME BUT IT WAS THE CAR'S OIL CONSUMPTION LEVEL I KNOW THIS BY EXPERIENCE BECAUSE ON THE OTHER CARS IT DOES NOT HAPPEN BUT THE HONDA INSIGHT DOES. IT ALSO MADE A LARGE CLUNK NOISE WHICH MEANT THAT I HAD…”
NHTSA complaint #10884111, 2016

Seat Belts 1

“MY GRANDCHILD AGE 6 WAS TRAPPED IN THE SEATBELT EVERY TIME MOVED TO TRY AND FREE IT WOULD GET TIGHTER WE ENDED UP CUTTING FREE W/A BOX CUTTER, IF I HAD CALLED 911 I FEEL THE POLICE WOULD HAVE DONE THE SAME THING AS WE DID. THIS NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED IMMEDIATELY SO NO OTHER GRAND PARENT GOES THROUGH THIS. THANK YOU *TR”
NHTSA complaint #10732425, 2013

Unknown Or Other 1

“WHILE DRIVING, THE VEHICLE WOULD LOSE A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT OF OIL OVER DECREASING AMOUNT OF MILES TO THE POINT WHERE THE CAR NOW LOSES 1.5 QUARTS OF OIL EVERY 1,000 MILES (VERIFIED BY LOCAL HONDA DEALER SHOP CAN NOT SUPPORT TO INVESTIGATE WHY FULL TANK OF ENGINE OIL WAS BURNED OFF, ASKED CA CHULA VISTA HONDA DEALER BUT THEY SAID NO PROBLEM? ONLY ERASE A CAUTION SIGN ' CHECKED ENGINE' AT THE RESULTS, WHILE I DROVE I COULD HEAR VERY NOISY SOUND SO I STOPPED , YOU CAN SEE SOME PISTON CLUTCH WAS DAMAGED AND RECOGNIZED MANY BURNED PLATE SURFACE IN SIDE OF ENGINE ROOM !! I REALLY NEED YOUR HEL…”
NHTSA complaint #10887589, 2016

Vehicle Speed Control 1 1 crash 2 injury

“DRIVING ON A BUSY S.E. STREET IN WASHINGTON DC, DRIVING ABOUT 20 TO 30 MPH., HEARD A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A TIRE BLOWING OUT OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF NOISE EMANATING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. I TRIED TO PRESS THE BRAKE, BUT INSTEAD THE CAR ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT STOP. IT SPED UP AT LEAST ANOTHER 15 TO 20 MORE MPH, AND AGAIN, WOULD NOT STOP. THERE WERE VEHICLES IN THE BACK, SO I COULD NOT USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE OR SHUT THE CAR OFF. THERE WERE ALSO VEHICLES ON THE SIDE AND IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. I HAD TO MAKE A DECISION ON HOW TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN WITHOUT HITTING ANY PEDESTRIANS OR ANY…”
NHTSA complaint #10663474, 2014 · crash · 2 injury(ies)

Visibility/Wiper 1

“THE VISOR ON THE DRIVERS SIDE WILL NOT STAY UP. IT FALLS DOWN AND OBSTRUCTS THE DRIVERS VIEW. EVEN WHEN IT IS PUSHED ALL THE WAY FORWARD, IT DROPS BACK AND OBSTRUCTS THE VIEW. IT STARTED DROOPING A FEW YEARS AGO, BUT NOW HAS COMPLETELY FALLEN. LOOKING ONLINE, THERE ARE A LOT OF REPORTS OF THIS HAPPENING TO OTHER HONDA OWNERS.”
NHTSA complaint #11363413, 2018

Wheels 1 1 crash 2 injury

“DRIVING ON A BUSY S.E. STREET IN WASHINGTON DC, DRIVING ABOUT 20 TO 30 MPH., HEARD A NOISE THAT SOUNDED LIKE A TIRE BLOWING OUT OR SOME OTHER TYPE OF NOISE EMANATING FROM UNDERNEATH THE CAR. I TRIED TO PRESS THE BRAKE, BUT INSTEAD THE CAR ACCELERATED AND WOULD NOT STOP. IT SPED UP AT LEAST ANOTHER 15 TO 20 MORE MPH, AND AGAIN, WOULD NOT STOP. THERE WERE VEHICLES IN THE BACK, SO I COULD NOT USE THE EMERGENCY BRAKE OR SHUT THE CAR OFF. THERE WERE ALSO VEHICLES ON THE SIDE AND IN FRONT OF MY VEHICLE. I HAD TO MAKE A DECISION ON HOW TO SLOW THE CAR DOWN WITHOUT HITTING ANY PEDESTRIANS OR ANY…”
NHTSA complaint #10663474, 2014 · crash · 2 injury(ies)