Is the 2013 Honda Insight engine reliable?

NHTSA lists 32 engine complaints out of 45 total complaints for the 2013 Insight, a 71% share. Most describe excessive oil consumption, so the engine is a notable weak point based on owner complaints.

Does the 2013 Honda Insight have an engine recall?

No. NHTSA's data shows no related recalls listed for this engine issue on the 2013 Insight.

At what mileage do 2013 Honda Insight engine problems usually appear?

The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 67,000 miles.

Were there any fires or injuries linked to the engine issue?

NHTSA records show 2 fires and 2 injuries among the 32 engine complaints for the 2013 Insight, along with 1 crash.

How does the 2013 Insight compare to other years for this problem?

NHTSA data shows the 2012 Insight had a similar 64% share of engine complaints, while the 2013 has the highest at 71%, both well above later years like 2019 through 2022.

2013 Honda Insight Engine Problems

Engine problems account for 32 of 45 total complaints (71%) on the 2013 Honda Insight, mostly tied to excessive oil consumption. The median mileage at failure is 67,000 miles, and NHTSA lists no related recalls for this issue.

Engine complaints: 32; 71% of 45
Crashes reported: 1
Fires reported: 2
Injuries reported: 2
Median mileage: 67,000 mi
Related recalls: 0

Typical engine symptoms owners report

Owners report excessive oil consumption, often needing a quart added every 800 to 1,000 miles between oil changes.
Some describe the engine stalling at low speeds or on the highway, with warning lights for check engine, VSA, and hill start assist illuminating together.
Several owners say dealers confirmed abnormal oil use through Honda's oil consumption test but found levels 'within normal' after refills.
One owner reported the engine overheating and failing on the highway, which they linked to oil traveling up the exhaust system.
A few complaints mention the vehicle losing power and entering a reduced-power 'safe mode' after the oil-related warning lights appeared.
One report describes a loss of braking response tied to an underlying engine noise before the vehicle would not stop.

When 2013 Honda Insight engine complaints were filed

First complaint Dec 10, 2014, latest Nov 18, 2025.

32 complaints filed with NHTSA from Dec 2014 to Nov 2025; peak Nov 2016 (2).

Engine recalls for the 2013 Honda Insight

No safety recalls on record for this model year.

Engine complaints by Insight model year

Raw complaint counts per model year; newer years have had less time to accumulate complaints.

20050 (0%)
20061 (50%)
201013 (11%)
20116 (15%)
201238 (64%)
201332 (71%)
20140 (0%)
20198 (8%)
20206 (19%)
20212 (8%)
20222 (6%)

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2013 Honda Insight engine reliable?: NHTSA lists 32 engine complaints out of 45 total complaints for the 2013 Insight, a 71% share. Most describe excessive oil consumption, so the engine is a notable weak point based on owner complaints.
Does the 2013 Honda Insight have an engine recall?: No. NHTSA's data shows no related recalls listed for this engine issue on the 2013 Insight.
At what mileage do 2013 Honda Insight engine problems usually appear?: The median mileage at failure reported to NHTSA is 67,000 miles.
Were there any fires or injuries linked to the engine issue?: NHTSA records show 2 fires and 2 injuries among the 32 engine complaints for the 2013 Insight, along with 1 crash.
How does the 2013 Insight compare to other years for this problem?: NHTSA data shows the 2012 Insight had a similar 64% share of engine complaints, while the 2013 has the highest at 71%, both well above later years like 2019 through 2022.