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.
What the fix does
This page covers 6 recalls, 45 owner complaints and EPA fuel economy for the 2013 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 the 2013 Insight owner reports, with excessive oil consumption being the most consistent theme across many filings. Owners describe burning through oil at a rate that requires frequent top-offs between scheduled changes, and a number report the check engine light coming on alongside rough running and reduced power. Several owners connect the oil consumption to piston ring wear, with some eventually facing spark plug fouling and ignition coil failures as downstream effects. Powertrain complaints echo the engine trouble, owners describe the vehicle failing to respond when shifting into gear, hesitation under acceleration, and shuddering while driving. Airbag system complaints represent the second-most-reported category by volume, though the specific symptoms owners describe there are less consistent across filings. The clearest recurring pattern is an engine that consumes oil well above normal rates, often over a long period before a formal diagnosis is made.
45
Total Complaints
2
Crash-Related
2
Fire-Related
3
With Injuries
By System
The 2013 Honda Insight has 6 recalls, all involving the front airbags: the most serious is a Takata inflator defect affecting both the driver and passenger sides, where the inflator can rupture and send metal fragments into the cabin, with potential for serious injury or death.
The driver and passenger frontal airbag inflator rupture issue is the same underlying Takata defect filed across multiple campaigns, so while it appears several times in recall records, it represents one danger: an inflator that can explode with too much force rather than deploying cleanly, turning airbag hardware into projectiles inside the vehicle. There is a separate, lower-severity concern on the passenger side as well, where an incorrectly installed inflator may fail to deploy the passenger airbag at all in a crash, leaving that occupant without protection at the moment it is needed most. Owners of this vehicle should confirm through Honda's website or the NHTSA VIN lookup tool whether any of these repairs remain outstanding, as the inflator rupture issue in particular has been linked to fatalities across multiple vehicle lines.
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
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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 →
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 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
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.