2013 Honda INSIGHT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Average

Quick Summary

The 2013 Honda INSIGHT has 63 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 0.8x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is engine problems (49% of all complaints), specifically: excessively burn engine oil. defective piston rings car was stalling on freeway with "check engine" "check brake" " "check hill start assistant" "check vsa" light flashing. i researched and found exact same symptons which was filed for 2012 honda insight. refer to nhtsa id number: 10747250.. ⚠️ 5 fire reports filed.

5 fire reports 4 crash reports 8 injuries

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

0.8x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

ENGINE

31 complaints

49%

• EXCESSIVELY BURN ENGINE OIL. DEFECTIVE PISTON RINGS CAR WAS STALLING ON FREEWAY WITH "CHECK ENGINE" "CHECK BRAKE" " "CHECK HILL START ASSISTANT" "CHECK VSA" LIGHT FLASHING. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND EXACT SAME SYMPTONS WHICH WAS FILED FOR 2012 HONDA INSIGHT. REFER TO NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10747250.
• AT ABOUT 24500 MILES, I DROVE FOR 1500MILES RIG1500MILESOIL SERVICE AT DEALER, THE ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. I CONTACT THEM AND THEY TOWED THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER/SERVICE. THEY FILLED THE ENGINE AND TOLD ME TO DRIVE 1000 MILES AND CAME BACK FOR THEM TO TEST OIL CONSUMPTION. I DID IT FOR 2 TIMES CONS
• EXCESSIVE OIL CONSUMPTION. USES A MINIMUM OF 1 QUART EVERY 1,000 MILES. HONDA REFUSES TO DO ANYTHING WITH REPAIRING IT.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“EXCESSIVELY BURN ENGINE OIL. DEFECTIVE PISTON RINGS CAR WAS STALLING ON FREEWAY WITH "CHECK ENGINE" "CHECK BRAKE" " "CHECK HILL START ASSISTANT" "CHECK VSA" LIGHT FLASHING. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND EXACT SAME SYMPTONS WHICH WAS FILED FOR 2012 HONDA INSIGHT. REFER TO NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10747250.”

— NHTSA complaint filing

AIR BAGS

8 complaints

13%

• 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
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA INSIGHT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS). THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE
• 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 L

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“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”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

7 complaints

11%

• MY CAR HAD BEEN SITTING FOR 2 AND A HALF WEEKS WHILE I WAS OUT OF THE COUNTRY. UPON STARTING THE CAR, CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM, CHECK VSA SYSTEM, CHECK HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM, SERVICE DUE SOON AND CHECK EMISSION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON MY DASHBOARD. WHEN I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR ONLY GOT UP TO 5 MIL
• 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
• 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'

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 2 fire reports

“MY CAR HAD BEEN SITTING FOR 2 AND A HALF WEEKS WHILE I WAS OUT OF THE COUNTRY. UPON STARTING THE CAR, CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM, CHECK VSA SYSTEM, CHECK HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM, SERVICE DUE SOON AND CHECK EMISSION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON MY DASHBOARD. WHEN I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR ONLY GOT UP TO 5 MIL”

— NHTSA complaint filing

FUEL SYSTEM

4 complaints

• 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 L
• 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 V
• MAJOR CARBON BUILD UP IN A CAR THAT HAS LESS THAN 63,000 MILES ON IT.

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“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 L”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

4 complaints

• 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
• 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 Down
• 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 H

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“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 ”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

FUEL SYSTEM(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 63 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
ENGINE: EXCESSIVELY BURN ENGINE OIL. DEFECTIVE PISTON RINGS CAR WAS STALLING ON FREEWAY WITH "CHECK ENGINE" "CHECK BRAKE" " "CHECK HILL START ASSISTANT" "CHECK VSA" LIGHT FLASHING. I RESEARCHED AND FOUND EXACT SAME SYMPTONS WHICH WAS FILED FOR 2012 HONDA INSIGHT. REFER TO NHTSA ID NUMBER: 10747250.
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
AIR BAGS: 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
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: MY CAR HAD BEEN SITTING FOR 2 AND A HALF WEEKS WHILE I WAS OUT OF THE COUNTRY. UPON STARTING THE CAR, CHECK BRAKE SYSTEM, CHECK VSA SYSTEM, CHECK HILL START ASSIST SYSTEM, SERVICE DUE SOON AND CHECK EMISSION LIGHTS ILLUMINATED ON MY DASHBOARD. WHEN I BEGAN TO ACCELERATE, THE CAR ONLY GOT UP TO 5 MIL
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
FUEL SYSTEM: 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 L
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)