YearToAvoid

2013 Honda Insight Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls

Caution The 2013 Honda Insight ranks 5th worst out of 11 model years, with a complaint index of 60 and a Caution verdict. Engine problems dominate, making up 71% of its 45 complaints, with owners reporting oil consumption issues at a median 67,000 miles.

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

YearToAvoid Scorecard

Complaint Index
60/100
#5 of 11 Insight years
Verdict
Caution
vs. other years of this model
Complaints
45
unique NHTSA reports
Recalls
6
distinct NHTSA campaigns
Crashes
2
reported in complaints
Fires
2
Injuries
4
Top issue
Engine
Best nearby year
2014
rated Best
NHTSA overall rating
Not rated
EPA combined MPG
41
40 city / 42 hwy
Injuries / deaths
4 / 0

Top 2013 Honda Insight problems

Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Engine32 (71%)
  2. Airbags8 (18%)
  3. Transmission & Powertrain7 (16%)
  4. Electrical System5 (11%)
  5. Fuel System4 (9%)
  6. Brakes3 (7%)
  7. Other1 (2%)
  8. Seat Belts1 (2%)
  9. Suspension, Wheels & Tires1 (2%)
  10. Visibility & Wipers1 (2%)

A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.

What owners report

  • Engine burns excessive oil, sometimes over a quart per 1,000 miles, prompting warning lights for oil, check engine, brake, hill start assist, and VSA systems.
  • Some owners report the engine overheating or failing after long-term oil consumption went unaddressed, in one case near 100,000 miles.
  • Airbag warning lights and recall-related concerns appear, including long waits for replacement parts under the Takata inflator recall.
  • A seat belt was reported to tighten uncontrollably on a child, requiring the belt to be cut to free the child.
  • One report describes a sudden noise followed by unintended acceleration and loss of braking at low speed in city driving.
2013 Honda Insight complaints: complaints filed per month3Dec 2013Mar 2016Sep 2016Jul 2017Mar 2018Nov 2019Aug 2022Nov 2023
45 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2013 to Nov 2025; peak Nov 2016 (3).

2013 Honda Insight recalls

6 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 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.

  3. 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.

See all 6 recalls for the 2013 Honda Insight →

2013 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.

2013 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
2011Caution40411040
2012Caution5059841
2013Caution6045641
2014Best205341
2019Avoid9098850

All Honda Insight years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Honda Insight reliable?
NHTSA data ranks it 5th worst of 11 Insight model years, with a Caution verdict and a complaint index of 60. Engine complaints, mostly about oil consumption, account for 71% of the 45 complaints filed.
What is the biggest problem with the 2013 Honda Insight?
The Engine is the top problem area, with 32 complaints (71% of the total) and a median failure mileage of 67,000 miles, mostly related to oil consumption.
Does the 2013 Honda Insight have a recall?
NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for the 2013 Insight, all related to Airbags (Takata inflator issues), with none classified as do-not-drive.
How does the 2013 Insight compare to other years?
It's worse than the 2014 Insight (Best verdict, complaint index 20) and the 2021 Insight (Good verdict, complaint index 30), but better than the 2010 and 2019 Insight, both rated Avoid with complaint indexes of 100 and 90.
What is the fuel economy of the 2013 Honda Insight?
EPA rates it at 41 mpg combined (40 city/42 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,600.

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.