Which year to buy
Bar height: serious owner complaints to NHTSA for that year per car on the road, against this model's usual year.
2012GOOD BUYSerious complaints 1.2× usual, mostly engine and air bags Extended coverage
52 serious complaints of 59, the most about engine (36) and air bags (11); per car on the road, 1.2× this model's usual year. 8 recalls.
What owners report
“The contact owns a 2012 Honda Insight. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle jerked forward. The contact stated that the check engine, emissions, and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to park near a gas station. The vehicle was not drivable.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the engine, Oct 2022
“Takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 honda insight. The contact received notification of nhtsa campaign number: 16v061000 (air bags); however, 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 of the issue.”
An owner's complaint to NHTSA about the air bags, Dec 2016
Fixes and extended coverage
- Extended coverage American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only. (A18-048, May 2018)
- Extended coverage Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's Airbag Inflator for 2010-12 Accord and Other Listed Years and Models (Expires September 30, 2028) (19-003-1, Aug 2019)
- Extended coverage service bulletin - the oil control rings may become clogged with carbon deposits. To increase customer confidence, american honda is extending the warranty on the engine related to engine oil consumption to 8 years from the original date of purchase with no mileage limit. (A16-101, Mar 2017)
- Extended coverage dealer message - today, march 10, 2017, american honda motor, co., inc. To increase customer confidence, american honda is extending the warranty on the engine related to engine oil consumption to 8 years from the original date of purchase with no mileage limit. (ABOM03102017901, Mar 2017)
From the manufacturer's bulletins filed with NHTSA. A dealer can look up whether a car has had the work done or is still covered.
59 owner complaints · 8 recalls (check a car's VIN for open recalls) · EPA combined: 41 mpg · NHTSA: Not rated · 2012 trims and features
Every Insight year's verdict →
Verdicts computed from NHTSA owner complaints, defect investigations and recalls. Cars on the road from New York State registrations. (How we judge.) Data checked 2026-10-06.
Trims and features
Engines: 1.3L 4-cyl · Drive: FWD
2012 Insight trims
| EX | LX |
|---|
base price, seating and driver-assistance equipment from NHTSA's vehicle database (vPIC), as Honda reports it. Tech and comfort features (CarPlay, heated seats, sunroof) for Honda aren't in our data yet. "—": not verified in our sources. "Varies": standard on some versions of the trim.
Year by year
| Year | Engines | Drive | Fuel economy | Crash rating | Recalls | Owner complaints | Most-reported problem | CarPlay |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 1.5L 4-cyl, 107 hp | FWD | 48–52 mpg | 5 of 5 | 3 | 32 | Forward collision avoidance (14) | Yes |
| 2021 | 1.5L 4-cyl, 107 hp | FWD | 48–52 mpg | 5 of 5 | 3 | 25 | Forward collision avoidance (8) | Yes |
| 2020 | 1.5L 4-cyl, 107 hp | FWD | 48–52 mpg | 5 of 5 | 6 | 31 | Forward collision avoidance (12) | Yes |
| 2019 | 1.5L 4-cyl, 107 hp | FWD | 48–52 mpg | 5 of 5 | 8 | 98 | Forward collision avoidance (17) | Yes |
| 2014 | 1.3L 4-cyl | FWD | 41 mpg | Not rated | 3 | 5 | Air bags (3) | No |
| 2013 | 1.3L 4-cyl | FWD | 41 mpg | Not rated | 6 | 45 | Engine (31) | No |
| 2012 | 1.3L 4-cyl | FWD | 41 mpg | Not rated | 8 | 59 | Engine (36) | No |
| 2011 | 1.3L 4-cyl | FWD | 40 mpg | Not rated | 10 | 41 | Air bags (28) | No |
| 2010 | 1.3L 4-cyl | FWD | 41 mpg | Not rated | 10 | 119 | Air bags (57) | No |
Owner complaints are unverified reports to NHTSA, counted as filed: older years have had longer to collect them and sales aren't adjusted for, so see Which year to buy for a fair comparison. Most-reported problem: the component named in the most complaints that year. Sources: EPA, NHTSA, Apple.
Which years have…
Apple lists CarPlay for: Insight 2019–2022 (Apple).
Every NHTSA-rated version: crash ratings, safety tech, recalls, complaints
| Year | Version | Stars | Forward collision warning | Lane departure warning | Recalls | Complaints |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Honda INSIGHT 4 DR FWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 3 | 32 |
| 2021 | Honda INSIGHT 4 DR FWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 3 | 25 |
| 2020 | Honda INSIGHT 4 DR FWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 6 | 31 |
| 2019 | Honda Insight 4 DR FWD | 5 | Standard | Standard | 8 | 98 |
| 2014 | Honda Insight 5 HB FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 3 | 5 |
| 2013 | Honda Insight 5 HB FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 6 | 45 |
| 2012 | Honda Insight 5 HB FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 8 | 59 |
| 2011 | Honda Insight 5 HB FWD | Not Rated | No | No | 10 | 41 |
| 2010 | Honda Insight 4-DR. w/SAB | Not Rated | No | No | 10 | 119 |
Source: NHTSA.
Every EPA-rated version: engines and combined mpg
| Year | EPA model | Engines | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 | Insight | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.5 L | 52 |
| 2022 | Insight Touring | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.5 L | 48 |
| 2021 | Insight | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.5 L | 52 |
| 2021 | Insight Touring | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.5 L | 48 |
| 2020 | Insight | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.5 L | 52 |
| 2020 | Insight Touring | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.5 L | 48 |
| 2019 | Insight | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.5 L | 52 |
| 2019 | Insight Touring | Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.5 L | 48 |
| 2014 | Insight | Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 1.3 L Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.3 L |
41 |
| 2013 | Insight | Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 1.3 L Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.3 L |
41 |
| 2012 | Insight | Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 1.3 L Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.3 L |
41 |
| 2011 | Insight | Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 1.3 L Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.3 L |
40 |
| 2010 | Insight | Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 1.3 L Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.3 L |
41 |
Source: fueleconomy.gov.