Reliable Auto DB

2013 Honda Insight reliability

Is it reliable?

Owners have filed 45 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Honda Insight over 14 years — 2 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Insight years here — under the median of the other years, which is 5. NHTSA has 6 recalls on file, including Inflator.

2010 Honda Insight LX
Photo by IFCAR, resized from the original. Wikimedia Commons Public domain
Complaints

45

Per year

2

Recalls

6

Years on the road

14

What owners report

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (31 of 45), then Air bags (8) and Powertrain (7). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 60,000 miles, and the middle half falls between 44,500 and 92,500 miles. Those filings include 2 that report a crash, 2 that report a fire, and 3 that report an injury.

Next to 2012 and 2014

The 2012 Insight has 59 complaints, 1 per year, and the 2014 has 5 complaints, 1 per year. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2012. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2014.

The complaint rate is complaints filed in this year’s first 3 years on the road, divided by however many of those years have passed. Recalls are a separate count. The numbers are for the US-market 2013 Honda Insight. How we count. Data as of .

Recalls (6)

Recall air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator 2019-06-27 · NHTSA campaign 19V500000
Summary 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.
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.
Vehicles affected 1,558
Recall air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator 2019-06-27 · NHTSA campaign 19V502000
Summary 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.
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.
Vehicles affected 9,555
Recall air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator 2019-05-16 · NHTSA campaign 19V378000
Summary 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.
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.
Vehicles affected 19,138
Recall air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator 2018-09-27 · NHTSA campaign 18V661000
Summary 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.
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.
Vehicles affected 1,355,406
Recall air bags, frontal, passenger side, inflator 2018-01-09 · NHTSA campaign 18V042000
Summary 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.
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.
Vehicles affected 691,726
Recall air bags, frontal, driver side, inflator 2016-02-03 · NHTSA campaign 16V061000
Summary 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.
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.
Vehicles affected 2,232,187

NHTSA's count is every vehicle in that campaign. A campaign can cover other model years and other models.

Complaints by component (45 total)

Engine
31
Air bags
8
Powertrain
7
Electrical system
4
Fuel and propulsion system
4
Service brakes
2
Electronic stability control (ESC)
1
Exterior lighting
1
Seat belts
1
Speed control
1
Visibility and wipers
1
Wheels
1
Show 4 more Show less
Crash-flagged

2

Fire-flagged

2

Injury reports

3

Death reports

0

Of the 31 complaints that include an odometer reading, the median is 60,000 miles. The middle half fall between 44,500 and 92,500 miles.

Complaints filed per year

12013120143201511201610201742018420193202012021120225202312025
Excerpts from recent NHTSA complaint filings
  • "I have had a 2013 Honda Insight since September 2024 and I have complained about excessive oil consumption since October 2024.This past Saturday my car stopped on the highway when I tried to accelerate. It was towed to…"
    Engine · filed 2025-11-18
  • "Noticed decreased performance & frequent oil changes in 2015. At first, I did not know the weak engine performance was related to the oil consumption & was never offered diagnostic testing until May 2023 across multiple…"
    Engine · filed 2023-11-12
  • "The contact owns a 2013 Honda Insight. The contact stated that vehicle failed to respond after shifting the transmission to the desired gear. The contact stated that the check engine warning light was illuminated. The…"
    Powertrain · filed 2023-08-15
  • "I experienced "rough running" of my 2013 Honda Insight just prior to August of 2021. Initial work on the vehicle helped, but repairs became increasingly expensive and extensive. EX: A simple oil change on about 8/2/2021…"
    Electrical system, Service brakes, Engine · filed 2023-06-06
  • "The contact owns 2013 Honda Insight. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the vehicle shuddered. Additionally, the vehicle was consuming an excessive amount of engine oil. The contact stated…"
    Engine · filed 2023-05-11

NHTSA crash ratings

Version Overall Front Side Rollover
2013 Honda Insight 5 HB FWD Not rated Not rated Not rated 4 stars

Stars are how this vehicle did in NHTSA crash tests. They are a safety result, separate from the complaint record. Not rated means that test was not run for this version.

Fuel economy

Trim Engine Transmission Drive City Hwy Combined Annual fuel cost
Insight 1.3L, 4-cyl Automatic (AV-S7) Front-wheel drive 40 42 41 MPG $1600
Insight 1.3L, 4-cyl Automatic (variable gear ratios) Front-wheel drive 40 42 41 MPG $1600

Specs and fitment

2nd generation, 2010–2014
Body styles Hatchback
Oil 0W-20 , 3.4 qt capacity
Tire size 175/65R15 to 185/60R15

Known issues for this generation

Model years 2010-2012 of this generation are covered by Honda service bulletin SB-14-064: software that manages the IMA hybrid battery incorrectly maintains the battery over time, producing a "memory effect" that shows up as reduced battery capacity or a stored P0A7F (Battery Module Deterioration) code. Honda's fix is a free control-module software update at any dealer; if the code returns afterward, the IMA battery module is replaced.

Compare

Previous year 2012 Honda Insight Next year 2014 Honda Insight See every Honda Insight model year →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Honda Insight reliable?

Owners have filed 45 complaints with NHTSA about the 2013 Honda Insight over 14 years — 2 per year. That is fewer complaints per year than most Insight years here — under the median of the other years, which is 5. NHTSA has 6 recalls on file, including Inflator.

What are common problems with a 2013 Honda Insight?

The complaints owners file most often name Engine (31 of 45), then Air bags (8) and Powertrain (7). Complaints that include an odometer have a median of 60,000 miles, and the middle half falls between 44,500 and 92,500 miles. Those filings include 2 that report a crash, 2 that report a fire, and 3 that report an injury.

Is the 2013 Honda Insight more reliable than the years next to it?

The 2012 Insight has 59 complaints, 1 per year, and the 2014 has 5 complaints, 1 per year. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2012. The 2013 has more complaints per year than the 2014.

Has the 2013 Honda Insight been recalled?

The 2013 Honda Insight has 6 recalls on file with NHTSA. See the recalls table on this page for dates, components, and remedies.

How many complaints have owners filed about the 2013 Honda Insight?

Owners have filed 45 complaints about the 2013 Honda Insight with NHTSA.

What mpg does a 2013 Honda Insight get?

EPA-rated combined fuel economy for the 2013 Honda Insight is 41 MPG. See the fuel economy table on this page for city and highway figures by engine and transmission.

How many generations of the Honda Insight are there?

This database covers two: a 2nd-generation hatchback (2010-2014) and a 3rd-generation sedan (2019-2022), with a four-year gap between them.

Does the Honda Insight have hybrid battery problems?

2010-2012 models are covered by Honda service bulletin SB-14-064 for an IMA battery software "memory effect" that can show up as reduced capacity or a stored P0A7F code; the remedy is a free control-module software update.