NHTSA (USA)Critical
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
This page covers 10 recalls, 40 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2011 Honda Insight.
40 mpg combined
5.9 L/100km
Compact Cars
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 2 tested variants for this model year.
The dominant theme across 2011 Honda Insight complaints is the airbag system, which accounts for the large majority of reports filed. Most owners describe the same situation: they received notification that their driver and passenger airbag inflators needed to be replaced, brought the car to a dealer, and were told the replacement parts were on back order with no firm availability date. Several owners report waiting months without a resolution, and some describe being in high-humidity climates where they felt the risk was more pressing. A smaller number of engine complaints describe sudden power loss while driving, with the engine dropping to a rough idle and multiple warning lights appearing on the instrument cluster, including the check engine and VSA indicators. The part availability problem with the airbag inflators appears consistently across a wide span of complaint dates.
40
Total Complaints
3
Crash-Related
2
With Injuries
By System
The 2011 Honda Insight has 10 recalls, all involving the frontal airbag inflators — the most serious being defective inflators on both the driver and passenger sides that can explode in a crash and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
The passenger-side inflator recalls cover the same core danger across multiple filings: the inflator can rupture violently rather than deploying the airbag normally, turning the module itself into a source of sharp metal debris. The driver-side inflator carries the same risk, where a crash that triggers deployment can cause the inflator to burst and strike the driver or other occupants. Prior repair attempts did not fully resolve the issue for some vehicles, and several of the recalls address Insights that had already received replacement inflators at a dealership. In those cases, an incorrectly installed replacement inflator may not deploy the airbag properly in a crash, raising the risk of injury even in vehicles that were previously brought in for service. The inflator concerns affect both the original components and some of the parts installed during earlier recall repairs, meaning some vehicles may have gone through service and still carry an open issue.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
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Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to high humidity, temperature, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during a previous replacement, potentially affecting its ability to deploy properly.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the inflator installation and replace the passenger front air bag module assembly if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag inflator at no charge.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement, potentially affecting its ability to deploy properly in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the passenger air bag and replace the module assembly if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to high humidity, temperature, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Replacement passenger front air bag inflators may have been incorrectly installed at one dealership, potentially affecting proper deployment.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger front air bag module assembly at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may rupture during a crash due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the front passenger air bag inflator at no cost when parts become available.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger front air bag inflator may rupture during a crash due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to humidity and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Moisture can seep into the dual-stage driver frontal air bag inflator over time, potentially causing it to rupture.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.