2010 Honda Insight Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Avoid The 2010 Honda Insight has the highest complaint index (100) of all 11 model years tracked and ranks worst overall, driven mainly by 57 airbag complaints and 10 recall campaigns. It carries an Avoid verdict among Insight model years.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 100/100
- #1 of 11 Insight years
- Verdict
- Avoid
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 119
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 10
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 21
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 11
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 41
- 40 city / 43 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 11 / 2
Top 2010 Honda Insight problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags57 (48%)
- Brakes19 (16%)
- Structure & Body17 (14%)
- Electrical System14 (12%)
- Engine13 (11%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires8 (7%)
- Seat Belts6 (5%)
- Visibility & Wipers5 (4%)
- Other4 (3%)
- Steering3 (3%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Airbags fail to deploy in low-to-moderate speed collisions, sometimes near 30-45 mph impacts.
- Brakes reportedly fail to engage or respond, leading to low-speed crashes into garages, walls, or parked vehicles.
- Owners describe sudden unintended acceleration or lurching forward when shifting from brake to parking maneuvers.
- A driver-side seat belt reportedly malfunctioned and detached from the side panel during a crash.
- Some airbag systems reportedly showed as 'disabled' on the dash even though the vehicle remained drivable.
2010 Honda Insight recalls
10 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 19V502000Jun 27, 2019Airbags9,555 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 19V500000Jun 27, 2019Airbags1,558 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
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.
Risk: 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.
- NHTSA 19V378000May 16, 2019Airbags19,138 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
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.
Risk: 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.
2010 Honda Insight fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 40 MPG
- Highway
- 43 MPG
- Combined
- 41 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $1,600
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2010 compared with other Insight years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2010 Honda Insight reliable?
- Among Insight model years, the 2010 has the worst complaint index (100) and ranks first out of 11 years, with 119 complaints and 10 recall campaigns, most tied to airbags.
- What is the main problem with the 2010 Honda Insight?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 57 of 119 complaints (48%) and 11 crashes, with a median failure mileage of 80,796.
- Does the 2010 Honda Insight have a recall?
- Yes, NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for the 2010 Insight, all related to airbags, mostly involving frontal air bag inflator or module replacement.
- Which Honda Insight years are safer than the 2010?
- The 2014 Insight has a Best verdict with a complaint index of 20, and the 2021 Insight has a Good verdict with a complaint index of 30, both far lower than the 2010's index of 100.