KnownCarProblems2021 Honda Insight Problems and Recalls
Owners filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Honda Insight, most often about the driver assistance (36% of complaints). It is 8th of 16 Insight model years by number of complaints and has 3 recalls.
Most common 2021 Honda Insight problems
Driver assistance
9 complaints · 36%Parts named most often: automatic emergency braking, warnings, adaptive cruise control, blind spot detection.
Other or unspecified
6 complaints · 24%Brakes
4 complaints · 16%On two occasions I've had a brake system problem eror message pop up on my home screen inside of the car and on the hondalink app 12/09/2020 and on 12/18/2020. I was leaving work on both incidents. The message reads: the brake system has a problem or the brake fluid may be low. I there is no resistance from the bark…
Electrical
3 complaints · 12%Air bags
3 complaints · 12%The contact owns a 2021 Honda Insight. The contact stated while driving at 55 MPH, a deer jumped in front of the vehicle causing the contact to hit the deer but none of the air bags deployed. The contact mentioned that the automatic brakes were engaged during the incident. No one was injured and a police report was…
The contact's daughter owns aâ 2021 Honda Insight. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver's and passenger-side air bags suddenly deployed without impact. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the air bags cracked the front windshield…
Seats
3 complaints · 12%
Complaints are owner reports to NHTSA, not verified defects. One complaint can name several components, so shares add up to more than 100%.
2021 Honda Insight recalls
Air bags: front passenger
Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed july 7, 2026. Owners may contact honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are bol, wo9, ooa, wom, xoh, noc, pod, boe, uof, pob, eog, aoi, qo8, toj, do7, and sok. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24v064. Vehicle identification numbers (vins) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning may 29, 2026.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 acura tlx, 2019-2024 rdx, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 mdx, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 honda ridgeline, 2017-2022 pilot, 2019-2021 passport, 2018-2026 odyssey, 2019-2022 insight, 2019-2021 hr-v, 2018-2020 fit, 2020-2022 cr-v hybrid, 2017-2022 cr-v, 2017-2018, 2021 civic type r, 2017-2021 civic hatchback, 2016-2020 civic coupe, 2016-2022 civic, 2017-2022 accord hybrid, and 2016-2022 accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
Air bags: front passenger
Risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed march 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are xhp and vhq.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 pilot, accord, civic sedan, hr-v, odyssey, 2020 civic coupe, fit, 2021-2022 civic hatchback, 2021 civic type r, insight, 2020-2021 cr-v, cr-v hybrid, passport, ridgeline, accord hybrid, 2020 acura mdx, 2022 acura mdx, 2020-2022 acura rdx, and 2020-2021 acura tlx vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
Electrical: software
Risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the power converter unit (pcu) software, free of charge. The recall began february 12, 2021. Owners can contact honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is k9e.
Full defect summary
Honda (american honda motor co.) is recalling certain 2020 cr-v hybrid, accord hybrid, and 2020-2021 insight vehicles. The dc-dc converter may shut down and prevent the 12-volt battery from recharging, possibly resulting in a loss of drive power.
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
Inadvertent automatic emergency braking
Summary
On march 7, 2024, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation (pe24008) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the automatic emergency braking (aeb) system in model year 2019-2022 honda insight and 2019-2022 honda passport vehicles. The complainants allege activation of the aeb system with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's path, resulting in rapid vehicle deceleration. Honda indicated that it is aware of a total of 412 reports that may relate to the alleged defect. Honda provided analysis of the alleged defect and stated that some customers possibly had an inadequate understanding of the aeb system and its limitations. However, many consumer compl
Inadvertent automatic emergency braking
Summary
On march 7, 2024, the office of defects investigation (odi) opened a preliminary evaluation (pe24008) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the automatic emergency braking (aeb) system in model year 2019-2022 honda insight and 2019-2022 honda passport vehicles. The complainants allege activation of the aeb system with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's path, resulting in rapid vehicle deceleration. Honda indicated that it is aware of a total of 412 reports that may relate to the alleged defect. Honda provided analysis of the alleged defect and stated that some customers possibly had an inadequate understanding of the aeb system and its limitations. However, many consumer compl
Pedestrian alert sounds
Summary
Nhtsa received a petition on or about july 18, 2022, requesting that federal motor vehicle safety standard (fmvss) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the united states. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under odi number 11486072. Fmvss 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 kg or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after march 1, 2021.on january 27, 2023, NHTSA opened defect petition (dp) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matt
Questions about the 2021 Honda Insight
- What are the most common problems with the 2021 Honda Insight?
- By NHTSA owner complaints: driver assistance (9 complaints); other or unspecified (6 complaints); brakes (4 complaints).
- How many recalls does the 2021 Honda Insight have?
- 3 recalls listed by NHTSA, the latest from May 21, 2026 (air bags). Check your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to see which ones are still open on your car.
- Is the 2021 a bad year for the Honda Insight?
- It is 8th of 16 Insight model years by number of complaints, with 25 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.