NHTSA (USA)Critical
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.
This page covers 9 recalls, 59 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2012 Honda Insight.
41 mpg combined
5.7 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.
Engine complaints dominate what 2012 Honda Insight owners report, with excessive oil consumption being the most consistent theme. Owners describe the engine burning through oil rapidly between changes, often with little or no visible leaking, leading to low oil levels that trigger warning lights and cause the engine to stall or become undrivable. Several owners report the car dying unexpectedly in traffic, and at least one describes a spark plug failure that caused serious internal engine damage. Warning lights, check engine, emissions, and ABS, commonly appear alongside these events. Airbag complaints make up the second-largest group, though the reported symptoms there are less consistent across accounts. A smaller number of owners mention fuel and propulsion concerns. The oil consumption pattern is the clearest thread running through this complaint set, with owners frequently catching the problem only after the engine has already begun to struggle.
59
Total Complaints
1
Crash-Related
By System
The 2012 Honda Insight has 9 recalls, all involving the frontal airbags, with the most serious being defective inflator modules on both the driver and passenger sides that can explode and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
The driver and passenger airbag inflator recalls represent the same well-documented Takata inflator problem. Over time, the propellant inside these inflators can degrade and cause the inflator to rupture violently during deployment, scattering sharp metal shards toward the driver and anyone in the front passenger seat. Prior repair attempts to replace the original inflators did not fully resolve the issue in all cases, and several follow-up recalls address vehicles where replacement inflators were installed incorrectly at dealerships. An improperly installed inflator may cause the airbag to deploy in an uncontrolled way in a crash, or fail to deploy as intended, reducing the protection the airbag is meant to provide. Across the nine recalls, the core danger is the same: in a collision where a frontal airbag is needed, the inflator may behave unpredictably, either rupturing with lethal force or deploying in a way that does not adequately protect the occupant.
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.
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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 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 passenger front air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to high humidity, heat, and temperature changes.
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 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
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.