2012 Honda Insight Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2012 Honda Insight has a complaint index of 50, ranking 6th out of 11 model years, with a Caution verdict. Engine problems dominate at 64% of complaints, and the car carries 8 airbag-related recalls.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 50/100
- #6 of 11 Insight years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 59
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 8
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 1
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 0
- Top issue
- Engine
- NHTSA overall rating
- Not rated
- EPA combined MPG
- 41
- 40 city / 42 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 0 / 0
Top 2012 Honda Insight problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Engine38 (64%)
- Airbags11 (19%)
- Other6 (10%)
- Fuel System3 (5%)
- Structure & Body3 (5%)
- Brakes2 (3%)
- Electrical System1 (2%)
- Transmission & Powertrain1 (2%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Some owners report sudden, unintended acceleration while cruise control was engaged, including a case that reached 85 mph before the driver could cancel it.
- Owners describe the accelerator pedal being depressed with no response from the vehicle, in one case traced to the engine having no oil.
- Reports mention excessive oil consumption between scheduled oil changes, sometimes paired with a 'check emissions system' warning light.
- Several owners with Takata airbag recalls said they waited months for replacement parts and felt unsafe driving the car in the meantime.
- One report describes a sudden lurch and rapid acceleration at low speed in traffic that led to a crash-avoidance swerve.
2012 Honda Insight recalls
8 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 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.
- 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.
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
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Honda Insight reliable?
- NHTSA data shows the 2012 Insight has a complaint index of 50 and ranks 6th out of 11 model years, earning a Caution verdict. It sits in the middle of the pack, better than the 2010 (index 100, Avoid) but worse than the 2014 (index 20, Best).
- What are the main problems with the 2012 Honda Insight?
- Engine issues make up 64% of complaints (38 of 59), including reports of unintended acceleration and low-oil warnings, at a median mileage of 70,000. Airbags account for another 19% of complaints, tied to recall campaigns.
- Does the 2012 Honda Insight have an airbag recall?
- Yes. NHTSA lists 8 recall campaigns affecting the 2012 Insight, all related to Takata airbag inflators, though none are do-not-drive recalls.
- How does the 2012 Insight compare to other years?
- The 2012 model's complaint index of 50 is lower than the 2010 (100), 2019 (90), and 2020 (80) Avoid years, but higher than the 2014 (20, Best) and 2021 (30, Good) years.
- What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Honda Insight?
- EPA rates the 2012 Insight at 41 mpg combined (40 city / 42 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,600.