VehicleVerdict

2013 Honda Insight problems

Verdict · NHTSA data

One of the years to avoid

With 63 complaints filed to NHTSA — about 1.8 times the median Insight year — the 2013 model ranks #4 of 16 Insight years for complaint volume. It lands on the years-to-avoid list.

The trouble concentrates in one system: engine issues account for 49% of all reports (31 of 63), far ahead of airbags at 8.

63

NHTSA complaints

6

Recalls

1

Investigations

4

Crash-involved

5

Fires reported

8

Injuries

0

Deaths

NCAP overall

How does 2013 compare to other Insight years?

Insight NHTSA complaints by model year, 2013 highlighted155 complaints2000: 34 complaints2001: 17 complaints2002: 12 complaints2003: 6 complaints2004: 3 complaints2005: 2 complaints2006: 2 complaints2010: 155 complaints2011: 50 complaints2012: 66 complaints2013: 63 complaints2014: 5 complaints2019: 127 complaints2020: 49 complaints2021: 36 complaints2022: 50 complaints
Insight NHTSA complaints by model year, 2013 highlighted. Red bars are years to avoid.

See all Insight years to avoid →

What are the most common 2013 Honda Insight problems?

ComponentComplaintsShare
Engine3149%
Airbags813%
Transmission711%
Electrical System58%
Fuel System46%
Brakes23%
Visibility & Wipers12%
Lighting12%
Other12%
Seat Belts12%
Speed Control12%
Tires & Wheels12%

Does the 2013 Honda Insight have recalls?

6 NHTSA recall campaigns on file. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers.

19V500000AirbagsJune 27, 2019 · 1,558 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

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.

19V502000AirbagsJune 27, 2019 · 9,555 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

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.

19V378000AirbagsMay 16, 2019 · 19,138 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

18V661000AirbagsSeptember 27, 2018 · 1,355,406 units

Defect

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 certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot, 2011-2013 TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord and 2010-2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

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.

18V042000AirbagsJanuary 9, 2018 · 691,726 units

Defect

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, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Unless included in Zones A or B above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid, CR-V, Fit, and Pilot vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.

Consequence

An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Remedy

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.

16V061000AirbagsFebruary 3, 2016 · 2,232,187 units

Defect

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.

Consequence

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.

Remedy

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.

Consumer complaints filed with NHTSA

Representative excerpts, cleaned of personal information. These are consumer statements, not verified defects.

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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Engine · January 30, 2017 · fire

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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Airbags · December 12, 2013 · crash

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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Transmission · January 30, 2017 · fire

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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Electrical System · March 3, 2020

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…

Complaint filed with NHTSA · Fuel System · January 30, 2017 · fire

2013 Honda Insight — common questions

Is the 2013 Honda Insight reliable?

NHTSA data argues against it: 63 complaints put the 2013 model at #4 of 16 Insight years. It is one of the Insight years to avoid.

What are the most common 2013 Insight problems?

According to NHTSA complaint data, the leading problem areas are engine (31 complaints), airbags (8 complaints), transmission (7 complaints).

Does the 2013 Honda Insight have recalls?

Yes — NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns affecting the 2013 Honda Insight. Recall repairs are free at franchised dealers; check the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls to confirm the work was done.

Is the 2013 Honda Insight under NHTSA investigation?

NHTSA opened one investigation into this model year; all are now closed.

Which Honda Insight years should you avoid?

Based on complaint rates and open investigations, the Insight years to avoid are 2010, 2019, 2012, 2013, 2022, 2020, 2021. The cleanest record among Insight years belongs to 2006.

Related

Based on NHTSA ODI data through June 2026. Complaints are consumer-reported and unverified. Updated July 5, 2026.

Compiled by Sharon Ben-Moshe, Founder.