Problems · NHTSA complaints

2011 Honda Insight problems

Owners filed 41 complaints about the 2011 Honda Insight with NHTSA between Sep 2011 and Aug 2026. The most-cited component is air bags (28).

Complaints
41
Filed with NHTSA
Crashes
3
Reported by owners
Fires
0
Reported by owners
Injuries
2
People reported injured
Deaths
0
Reported to NHTSA
01 —By component

Complaints by component

One complaint can cite several components
  1. Air bags28
  2. Engine5
  3. Vehicle speed control3
  4. Wheels2
  5. Seat belts2
  6. Power train1
  7. Electrical system1
  8. Hybrid propulsion system1
  9. Structure1
  10. Visibility/wiper1
  11. Tires1
  12. Suspension1
  13. Exterior lighting1
  14. Steering1

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Nov 12, 2026NHTSA vehicle page
02 —Trend

When complaints were filed

Does it get worse with age? Complaints per calendar year filed
View as table
Model yearComplaints filed per calendar year
20111
20123
20134
20142
20151
201628
20170
20180
20190
20201
20210
20220
20230
20240
20250
20261

Mileage at failure isn’t a structured field in NHTSA complaint data, so we don’t chart it. Some owners mention it in their reports below.

03 —Owner reports

Top problems in owners’ words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaints, newest first

Air bags

28 reports2 crashes10 related recalls
“I GOT A NOTICE THAT BOTH AIRBAGS ON MY CAR WERE FAULTY AND THAT HONDA WOULD FIX THEM FOR FREE. THE PARTS DIDN'T COME IN FOR 3 OR 4 MONTHS. I WAS COMMUTING 400 MILES A WEEK FOR WORK AND ASKED THEM TO PROVIDE A RENTAL CAR FOR ME UNTIL THEN. THEY WOULD FURNISH THE CAR BUT I WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE INSURANCE ON IT. THEY TOLD ME TO GET IT INSURED BY MY OWN PERSONAL AUTO INSURANCE COMPANY. MY INSURANCE COMPANY TOLD ME THEY WOULD NOT DO THAT AND NEITHER WOULD ANY OTHER. SINCE I COULD NOT AFFORD TO PAY THE $20.00 A DAY FOR THE RENTAL CAR INSURANCE I HAD TO JUST TAKE MY CHANCES OF SERIOUS INJURY OR EVEN DEATH IN THE EVENT OF MY AIRBAGS GOING OFF. MY 82 YEAR OLD MOTHER RODE IN THAT CAR TO HER DOCTOR'S APPOINTMENTS AND THE GROCERY. WE BOTH HAVE COPD AND I HAVE A PACEMAKER. THE STRESS THE SITUATION CAUSED WAS STAGGERING AND CERTAINLY NOT GOOD FOR EITHER OF US. WHAT GOOD DID IT DO FOR HONDA TO INFORM ME OF THE RECALL IF THEY COULDN'T FIX IT RIGHT AWAY AND WOULD NOT PAY THE INSURANCE SO I COULD GET A RENTAL CAR? I GUESS THE SICK AND ELDERLY DON'T MATTER TO A BIG COMPANY LIKE HONDA.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Dec 13, 2016Air bagsODI 10935002

Engine

5 reports
“The contact owns a 2011 Honda Insight. The contact stated that while driving 30 MPH, there was a loud clunking sound coming from the vehicle while depressing the accelerator pedal. A dealer was contacted. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the motor mounts had failed and needed to be replaced. The motor mounts were replaced, and the vehicle was repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and stated that the warranty might be honored. The approximate failure mileage was 94,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 18, 2026EngineODI 11757687

Vehicle speed control

3 reports1 crash
“THIS MORNING (AUG 6, 2016), MYSELF AND MY DAD MET WITH AN ACCIDENT AND WAS DRIVING HONDA INSIGHT 2011 LX MODEL. NOTE THAT MY DAD WAS SITTING IN THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT. LET ME DESCRIBE THE ACCIDENT. I WAS ABOUT TO PARK MY CAR IN FRONT OF SPROUTS GROCERY STORE IN THE PARKING AVAILABLE SPOT JUST FACING SPROUTS. SO YOU CAN IMAGINE THAT I WAS ABOUT TO PARK MY CAR AND THE SPEED WAS AROUND 5MPH. ALL OF A SUDDEN, I COULD FEEL MY INSIGHT ENGINE EXPERIENCING SUDDEN ACCELERATION AUTOMATICALLY AND THEN I WAS TRYING TO APPLY THE LEG BRAKE TO MAKE SURE IT DOESN'T SPEED UP. SUDDENLY, THE INSIGHT STARTED SPEEDING UP AND DIDN'T STOP EVEN AFTER SLAMMING ON THE BRAKE AND IT JUMPED ON THE PARKING CURB AND FINALLY HIT THE CONCRETE PILLAR IN FRONT OF SPROUTS RESULTING IN DEPLOYING THE DRIVER AIR-BAG AND THE PASSENGER AIR-BAGS. MY WINDSHIELD DEVELOPED A DEEP CRACK AND I BELIEVE MY CAR IS GOING TO BE TOTALLED. WITH THAT, IT DIDN'T STOP, AFTER HITTING SO HARD THE CONCRETE WALL, REMEMBER THE CAR WAS STILL IN DRIVE MODE AND NOT IN REVERSE MODE, ALL OF A SUDDEN, THE CAR STARTED MOVING BACKWARDS AND EVEN DIDN'T STOP AFTER SLAMMING ON THE LEG BRAKE. THEN I CAME OUT OF THE SHOCK AND…”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Aug 15, 2016Power train, Air bags, Vehicle speed controlCrash reportedODI 10895950

Wheels

2 reports
“I BROUGHT NEW VEHICLE IN 2011, BUT SHOWING FAST TIRE WEAR, EVEN AFTER MAINTAINING SCHEDULED MAINTENANCE. IT IS JUST HAVE 20000 MILES ON MY CAR IN LAST 2 AND HALF YEARS. DEALER IS ASKING TO REPLACE TIRES WHICH WILL COST $400 FOR FOUR TIRES. IT IS EXTRA COST TO CONSUMER. I ALSO HAVE VEHICLE PROTECTION PLAN BUT THEY DON'T COVER TIRES. I CHECK ONLINE AND SAW LOTS OF CUSTOMER COMPLAINTS FOR FAST TIRE WEAR FOR HONDA INSIGHT. WITH MY PREVIOUS EXPERIENCE NEW TIRE SHOULD LAST FOR 35K. PLEASE NOTE DOWN MY COMPLAINT ABOUT HONDA INSIGHT. HONDA SHOULD REPLACE THE ORIGINAL TIRES OR GIVE ADVANCE NOTICE FOR THE LIFE OF TIRE. THANK YOU, *TR”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jul 28, 2013Tires, WheelsODI 10532207

Seat belts

2 reports1 crash
“TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA INSIGHT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, A VEHICLE CRASHED INTO THE REAR OF HER VEHICLE CAUSING HER TO CRASH INTO A GUARD RAIL. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY UPON IMPACT. THE SEAT BELT DID NOT LOCK AND HER HEAD HIT THE STEERING WHEEL. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED A MINOR CONCUSSION AND MISSING TEETH. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT NOTIFIED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 17,000. THE VIN WAS UNAVAILABLE.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Jan 14, 2013Air bags, Seat beltsCrash reportedODI 10492915

Power train

1 report1 crash
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Nov 12, 2026

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.