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2013 Honda Insight Problems and Recalls

Owners filed 45 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Honda Insight, most often about the engine (69% of complaints, typically around 68,000 miles). It is 4th of 16 Insight model years by number of complaints and has 6 recalls.

Complaints45
Recalls6
Crashes reported2
Fires reported2
Injuries reported4

Most common 2013 Honda Insight problems

  1. Engine

    31 complaints · 69%

    Half of these problems showed up before 68,000 miles.

    Excessive oil consumption fixed by Honda after warranty expired and at no cost with free loaner car!!! There is a serious problem with the newer gen Honda engines! My personal opinion is bad piston rings!!! Groves are created over time and thus oil is consumed into the block. I did the recommended oil consumption test…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2016, at 68,000 miles
    I have life time oil changes, I had the oil changed on 10/27/16, I advised, for the second time that it was using quite a bit of oil (it was low again). They said it was normal for the car. On december 1, I was on the freeway and my car stalled. I was able to pull off of the freeway and had to wait for a tow truck as…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2017, at 66,000 miles
  2. Air bags

    8 complaints · 18%

    Half of these problems showed up before 25,000 miles.

    I was never notified from the manufacturer that my new car was under recall for a year. I only found out when I took it in to get regular service. My son bought his car, also a 2013 Insight, and he was never notified. I am livid. Please hold them accountable for notifying owners there is a danger.
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2016, at 25,000 miles
    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…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2013, at 20,300 miles
  3. Transmission

    7 complaints · 16%

    Half of these problems showed up before 100,000 miles.

    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…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2017, at 100,000 miles
    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…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2023, at 102,000 miles
  4. Fuel system

    4 complaints · 9%

    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…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2016, at 14,500 miles
    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…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2017, at 100,000 miles
  5. Electrical

    4 complaints · 9%

    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…
    Owner report to NHTSA, 2020, at 102,000 miles

Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.

2013 Honda Insight recalls

  1. Air bags: inflator module

    NHTSA 19V502000 · June 27, 2019 · 9,555 vehicles

    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.

    Full defect summary

    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 propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

  2. Air bags: inflator module

    NHTSA 19V500000 · June 27, 2019 · 1,558 vehicles

    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 driver 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 s5b and w59.

    Full defect summary

    Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2013 acura ilx, 2015 rdx, 2005-2010 and 2012 rl, 2009-2014 tl, 2010 and 2012 zdx, 2007-2011 cr-v, 2011-2013 and 2015 cr-z, 2009-2013 fit, 2013 fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 insight and 2007-2014 ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

  3. Air bags: inflator module

    NHTSA 19V378000 · May 16, 2019 · 19,138 vehicles

    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.

    Full defect summary

    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.

  4. Air bags: inflator module

    NHTSA 18V661000 · September 27, 2018 · 1,355,406 vehicles

    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.

    Full defect summary

    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 crosstour, insight, fit and pilot vehicles, 2011-2012 honda accord and 2011 honda civic ngv, civic, civic hybrid and cr-v vehicles in arizona, arkansas, delaware, the district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri, nebraska, nevada, new jersey, new mexico, north carolina, ohio, oklahoma, pennsylvania, tennessee, virginia and west virginia. Lastly, honda is recalling ce

  5. Air bags: inflator module

    NHTSA 18V042000 · January 9, 2018 · 691,726 vehicles

    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.

    Full defect summary

    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 (saipan), and the u.s. Virgin islands or "zone a." additionally, honda is recalling certain 2010-2012 acura tsx, honda accord, accord crosstour, fit and pilot, 2010-2011 honda civic, civic ngv, civic hybrid and cr-v, and 2010 acura zdx and honda insight vehicles ever registered in the states of arizona, arkansas, delaware, district of columbia, illinois, indiana, kansas, kentucky, maryland, missouri,

  6. Air bags: inflator module

    NHTSA 16V061000 · February 3, 2016 · 2,232,187 vehicles

    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.

    Full defect summary

    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.

Recall repairs are free at any franchised dealer. Enter your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which recalls are still open on your car.

NHTSA defect investigations

Questions about the 2013 Honda Insight

What are the most common problems with the 2013 Honda Insight?
By NHTSA owner complaints: engine (31 complaints, typically around 68,000 miles); air bags (8 complaints, typically around 25,000 miles); transmission (7 complaints, typically around 100,000 miles).
How many recalls does the 2013 Honda Insight have?
6 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from June 27, 2019 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
Is the 2013 a bad year for the Honda Insight?
It is 4th of 16 Insight model years by number of complaints, with 45 complaints. Complaint counts are not adjusted for how many cars were sold, so popular years collect more of them, and the newest years have had less time to.

Other Honda Insight years

Honda Insight problems by year