YearToAvoid

2012 Honda Insight Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Caution

Complaint Index

50/100

#6 most-complained of 11 Insight years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2012 Honda Insight has 59 owner complaints and 8 safety recalls on file with NHTSA. Its Complaint Index is 50 out of 100 — #6 highest of 11 Insight model years (verdict: Caution). The most reported problem area is engine (38 complaints, 64% of the total). Complaints report 1 crash.

Complaints
59
Recalls
8
Crashes / fires
1 / 0
Injuries / deaths
0 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
41
40 city / 42 hwy

Top 2012 Honda Insight problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine38 (64%)
  2. Airbags11 (19%)
  3. Other6 (10%)
  4. Fuel System3 (5%)
  5. Structure & Body3 (5%)
  6. Brakes2 (3%)
  7. Electrical System1 (2%)
  8. Transmission & Powertrain1 (2%)
2012 Honda Insight complaints: complaints filed per month6Jul 2012May 2015Jan 2016Aug 2016Jan 2017Sep 2018Oct 2019Jan 2023
65 complaints filed with NHTSA from Jul 2012 to Dec 2024; peak Dec 2016 (6).

2012 Honda Insight recalls

8 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. NHTSA 18V661000Sep 27, 2018Airbags1,355,406 vehicles

    Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module

    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.

    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 November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M2J and S2K.

See all 8 recalls for the 2012 Honda Insight →

2012 Honda Insight fuel economy and fuel cost

City
40 MPG
Highway
42 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.

2012 compared with other Insight years

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)025507510020052006201020112012201320142019202020212022
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid1001191041
2011Good40411040
2012Caution5059841
2013Caution6045641
2014Best205341

All Honda Insight years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Honda Insight a reliable year?
Judged by NHTSA owner complaints and recalls, the 2012 Honda Insight ranks #6 of 11 among Insight model years (Complaint Index 50/100, verdict: Caution). It has 59 complaints and 8 recalls on file. This reflects reported safety-related problems, not an overall reliability rating.
What are the most common problems with the 2012 Honda Insight?
The most reported problem areas are engine (38 complaints), airbags (11 complaints), and fuel system (3 complaints). The median mileage at the time of failure in complaints that report it is 69,000 miles.
Does the 2012 Honda Insight have any recalls?
Yes — NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns for the 2012 Honda Insight, most recently reported 2019, covering airbags.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Honda Insight?
EPA rates the 2012 Honda Insight at 41 MPG combined (40 city / 42 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,600. Where several configurations exist, the median is shown.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.