2012 Honda INSIGHT: complaints, problems and recalls
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
59 owner complaints analyzed
8 distinct recall campaigns
69,000 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2012 model year. Data snapshot: . 39 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Engine is the most frequently named component, appearing in 36 of 59 complaints (61.0%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Engine operation | 8 | 13.6% |
| Braking behavior | 6 | 10.2% |
| Transmission and shifting | 1 | 1.7% |
| Steering behavior | 1 | 1.7% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Engine | 36 |
| Air Bags | 11 |
| Unknown Or Other | 6 |
| Fuel/Propulsion System | 3 |
| Vehicle Speed Control | 3 |
| Seats | 2 |
| Electrical System | 1 |
| Electronic Stability Control (Esc) | 1 |
Engine: 36; Air Bags: 11; Unknown Or Other: 6; Fuel/Propulsion System: 3; Vehicle Speed Control: 3; Seats: 2; Electrical System: 1; Electronic Stability Control (Esc): 1
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 4 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 3 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 16 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 8 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 8 |
| 150,000 and above | 0 |
Under 25,000: 4; 25,000 to 49,999: 3; 50,000 to 74,999: 16; 75,000 to 99,999: 8; 100,000 to 149,999: 8; 150,000 and above: 0
50,000 to 74,999 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (16). 20 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2012 | 1 |
| 2013 | 1 |
| 2015 | 9 |
| 2016 | 22 |
| 2017 | 10 |
| 2018 | 5 |
| 2019 | 4 |
| 2020 | 1 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 2 |
| 2024 | 1 |
2012: 1; 2013: 1; 2015: 9; 2016: 22; 2017: 10; 2018: 5; 2019: 4; 2020: 1; 2021: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 2; 2024: 1
Pattern summary
Engine leads the component reports. Engine operation appears in 8 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 6 complaint narratives. Transmission and shifting appears in 1 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Examples from the source records
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10468173 · 2012-07-29 (July 29, 2012)
WITHIN A FEW WEEKS OF PURCHASING MY HONDA INSIGHT, I BEGAN TO DEVELOP LOWER BACK PAIN RELATED TO SITTING IN THE DRIVER'S SEAT. NOT ONLY IS THERE A GENERAL LACK OF CUSHIONING IN THE BASE OF THE SEAT WHICH ALONE WOULD BE FRUSTRATING, BUT THERE ALSO IS A RIGID LOWER BACK / LUMBAR SUPPORT THAT IS EXTREMELY UNCOMFORTABLE. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THAT I CAN RECALL WHERE I HAVE HAD AN ISSUE WITH A CAR SEAT. THERE UNFORTUNATELY IS NO APPARENT METHOD TO ADJUST THE AMOUNT OF LOWER BACK SUPPORT, AND MODIFYING THE POSITION OF THE SEAT HAS PROVEN FRUITLES…
Owner-reported narrative. 400 miles reported. Look up ODI 10468173 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10555927 · 2013-12-13 (December 13, 2013)
BEGAN HAVING HIP AND LOWER BACK PAIN ON A LONGER COMMUTE THAN I WAS NORMALLY DRIVING AFTER CHANGING JOBS. IT STARTED AS DISCOMFORT AND SOON MOVED TO SEVERE PAIN IN THE LOWER BACK, NUMBNESS IN MY LEFT LEG AND FOOT. I THOUGHT MAYBE IT WAS JUST ME. MY WIFE'S CAR LEASE WAS ENDING AROUND THIS TIME SO I GOT A DIFFERENT CAR AND THE LOW BACK PAIN WENT AWAY ALONG WITH THE NUMBNESS. NOW MY WIFE, WHO IS STILL DRIVING THE 2012 INSIGHT AND HAS NEVER HAD BACK OR HIP PAIN, IS EXPERIENCING THE EXACT SAME PROBLEMS I WAS WHEN I WAS DRIVING THE INSIGHT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 8,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10555927 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10673081 · 2015-01-16 (January 16, 2015)
[I HAVE THE SVC RECORDS FOR THIS INFO-POINTS OF CONTACT ARE AT THE END OF THE REPORT] ON JAN 8TH AT ABOUT 630 AM I WAS DRIVING ON I495W IN VA - I WAS AT THE INTERSECTION OF I495 AND THE EXITS FOR I95S AND I395 WASHINGTON. I WAS DRIVING ABOUT 55 MILES/HR AND MY CAR ENGINE SIMPLY STOPPED. I PUT MY HAZARDS ON AND GLIDED TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD. THE CAR HAS 125,400 MILES--I PURCHASED IT NEW IN FEB, 2012. I WAS TOWED TO SHEEHY HONDA, ALEXANDRIA, VA. THEY SAID THE SPARK PLUGS WERE FOULED AND REPLACED THEM. AFTER REPLACEMENT, THEY SAID THE THERE WA…
Owner-reported narrative. 125,480 miles reported. Look up ODI 10673081 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10680981 · 2015-02-03 (February 3, 2015)
DRIVING WITH SPEED CONTROL ON, ON I20 EAST OF COLUMBIA SC, AUTOMOBILE BEGAN TO ACCELERATE ON ITS OWN. WHEN IT REACHED 85 MPH I ATTEMPTED DO DECREASE SPEED USING THE DECEL/SET BUTTON, CAR CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE. I WAS ABLE TO DISCONNECT SPEED CONTROL USING CANCEL BUTTON. AFTER WE SLOWED TO 70MPH I REENGAGED THE SPEED CONTROL. ABOUT 30 MINUTES LATER THE CAR BEGAN TO ACCELERATE AGAIN AND AT ABOUT 77MPH I DISENGAGED THE SPEED CONTROL USING THE CANCEL BUTTON. I HAD A SIMILAR INCIDENT SEVERAL MONTHS AGO, WHICH I VERBALLY REPORTED TO .HONDA'S C…
Owner-reported narrative. 33,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10680981 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10689595 · 2015-02-20 (February 20, 2015)
APPROXIMATELY 5 MONTHS AGO I NOTICED THAT THE ENGINE WAS MAKING A SLIGHT TICKING SOUND. I CHECKED THE OIL AND IT WAS A QUART LOW SO I ADDED A QUART. I DIDN'T CHECK IT AGAIN BECAUSE I DIDN'T HEAR THAT TICKING NOISE AGAIN. APPROXIMATELY 1 MONTH LATER I TOOK IT TO HONDA IN STOCKTON, CA. TO HAVE A NOISE CHECKED THAT I THOUGHT WAS A BRAKE ISSUE. THERE WAS ALSO A NOISE COMING FROM THE FRONT OF THE CAR THAT SOUNDED LIKE SOMETHING SCRAPING OR DRAGGING. WHEN I WENT TO PICK IT UP THE MAN SAID THAT IT WAS A QUART LOW AND THAT IF I DIDN'T ALWAYS KEEP MY OI…
Owner-reported narrative. Look up ODI 10689595 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10704412 · 2015-04-08 (April 8, 2015)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA INSIGHT. WHILE DRIVING AT APPROXIMATELY 60 MPH, ALL OF THE WARNING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL ILLUMINATED. IN ADDITION, THE ACCELERATOR PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED BUT THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE. THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO THE DEALER WHERE IT WAS DIAGNOSED THAT THERE WAS NO OIL IN THE VEHICLE. THREE WEEKS PRIOR TO THE FAILURE, THE VEHICLE HAD AN OIL CHANGE. THE VEHICLE WAS NOT REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE APPROXIMATE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 56,000. THE VI…
Owner-reported narrative. 56,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10704412 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10716265 · 2015-05-13 (May 13, 2015)
CHECKED OIL LEVEL AND FOUND IT BELOW THE BOTTOM INDICATOR MARK (OIL PERCENTAGE LIFE METER WAS ABOVE 60% AT THIS POINT.. TOOK IT IN TO HONDA OF SANTA MARIA, CA , WHILE DRIVING TO DEALERSHIP EMISSION SYSTEMS FAULT WARNING CAME ON. THEY CONFIRMED ALMOST ALL OIL WAS GONE. THEY HAD ME PAY FOR AN OIL CHANGE TO START A OIL CONSUMPTION TEST, AND RETURN AT 500 MILE POINT TO VIEW LOSS. THEY SAID NO LOSS AT THAT POINT. 4000 MILES LATER THE EMISSION SYSTEM WARNING CAME BACK, SAME AS BEFORE ALL OIL WAS GONE. THIS TIME THEY DID AN OIL CHANGE AND WANTED ME TO…
Owner-reported narrative. 57,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10716265 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10724827 · 2015-06-11 (June 11, 2015)
I WAS DRIVING IN A LINE OF SLOW MOVING TRAFFIC ON A TWO LINE LANE MAIN STREET KEEPING A CONSTANT SPEED OF 22 MPH WHEN SUDDENLY MY CAR LURCHED FORWARD ACCELERATING RAPIDLY MAKING A HIGH PITCHED SCREAMING SOUND. AS THE CAR GAINED SPEED I SWERVED INTO THE OTHER LANE TO AVOID CRASHING INTO THE CAR IN FRONT OF ME. MEANWHILE I STOMPED ON THE FOOT BRAKES, PULLED ON THE EMERGENCY BRAKE AND SHIFTED INTO PARK TRYING TO STOP THE CAR. BARELY MISSING A HEAD ON COLLUSION, THE CAR JUMPED OVER THE SIDEWALK, TOOK DOWN A STEEL SIGN, SCRAPED OVER CONCRETE BARRIE…
Owner-reported narrative. 16,121 miles reported. Look up ODI 10724827 at NHTSA ↗
Recall history
8 distinct campaigns affect this selection. Announcement dates below are different from vehicle model years. A campaign may cover multiple years.
16V061000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Driver Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2016-02-03 (February 3, 2016)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JY0, JY1, and JY2.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V030000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2017-01-10 (January 10, 2017)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2012 Acura TSX, 2011-2012 Acura TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Acura ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2012 Honda Accord Crosstour and Honda Insight, 2009-2012 Honda Fit, 2009-2012 Pilot, 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2012 Honda FCX Clarity and 2006-2011 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid, Civic NGV vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands, or "Zone A." Additionally, if not included in "Zone A" above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Fit and Pilot, 2008-2009 Honda Accord, 2006-2009 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, and 2007-2009 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia, or "Zone B." Additionally, if not included in "Zone B" above, Honda is recalling certain 2008 Honda Accord, 2006-2008 Honda Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV and 2007-2008 Honda CR-V vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the passenger frontal air bag modules used as original equipment or replacement equipment. In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the front air bags, these inflators may rupture due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to absolute humidity and temperature cycling.
Consequence: An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the front passenger side air bag inflator, free of charge. The manufacturer has mailed an interim notification, and will send a second notification when parts are available. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KE1 and KE2.
NHTSA campaign record ↗17V545000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2017-08-31 (August 31, 2017)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2008-2012 Accord, 2010-2012 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2012 Fit and Pilot, 2010-2012 Insight, and 2009-2012 Acura TSX vehicles that received replacement passenger frontal air bag inflators. One dealership may have incorrectly installed the replacement air bag inflators.
Consequence: In the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began October 30, 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are O07, Y0A, N06, G05, M04, Y01, and O09.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V042000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2018-01-09 (January 9, 2018)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX, ZDX, Honda Accord Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot vehicles, 2011-13 Acura TSX Sportswagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord,, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles and 2013 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2012 Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Accord Crosstour, Fit and Pilot, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V, and 2010 Acura ZDX and Honda Insight vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Unless included in Zones A or B above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid, CR-V, Fit, and Pilot vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence: 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 February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are B0K and L0J.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V268000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2018-04-26 (April 26, 2018)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Consequence: An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are K1P, and M1O.
NHTSA campaign record ↗18V661000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2018-09-27 (September 27, 2018)
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, California, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Acura TSX, TSX Wagon and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Insight, Fit and Pilot vehicles, 2011-2012 Honda Accord and 2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Lastly, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot, 2011-2013 TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord and 2010-2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence: 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 November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M2J and S2K.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V378000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2019-05-16 (May 16, 2019)
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.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗19V502000 · Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator Module
Reported: 2019-06-27 (June 27, 2019)
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.
Consequence: 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.
NHTSA campaign record ↗