2003 Honda Insight Problems & Complaints

MY HYBRID BATTERY IS OVERHEATING WHICH MY HYBRID BATTERY IS 7 YEARS OLD WITH ONLY 31,680 MILES ON IT AND ITS AFFECTING THE INTEGRATED MOTOR ASSIST AND THE MONITOR SCREEN WITH THE CONTROL GAUGES AND MY VEHICLES ACCELERATION AND MAKING IT IMPOSSIBLE TO DRIVE WITHOUT IT SHUTTING OFF AND LOCKING UP, I TALKED TO HONDA AND THEY REFUSE TO FIX IT EVEN THO OTHER CUSTOMERS HAVE HAD THE SAME ISSUE WITH THE HYBRID BATTERY AND IT SHOULD STILL BE COVERED BECAUSE OF THE MILEAGE ITS BE USED FOR AND HAS BEEN STORED AND HIGHLY TAKEN CARE OF, THE EPA CLASSIFIES HYBRID BATTERIES UNDER EMISSIONS EQUIPMENT, REQUIRING MANUFACTURERS TO WARRANTY THEM FOR EIGHT YEARS AND 100,000 MILES. SOME STATES, LIKE CALIFORNIA, REQUIRE EMISSIONS EQUIPMENT TO BE COVERED FOR TEN YEARS AND 150,000 MILES. IF THE BATTERY FAILS WITHIN WARRANTY RANGE, YOUR TOTAL REPLACEMENT COST IS ZERO.

VEHICLE WAS STOPPED TO BE PARKED. AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION WAS IN D(RIVE). KEY WAS TURNED OFF AND REMOVED. OWNER WALKED AWAY FOR APPOINTMENT. WHEN OWNER RETURNED, VEHICLE HAD MOVED. OWNER NOTICED VEHICLE WAS STILL IN D(RIVE). LATER TEST CONFIRMED KEY COULD BE REMOVED WITH VEHICLE IN D(RIVE). *TR

I TOOK THE CAR IN TO HAVE THE SRS SYSTEM CHECKED BECAUSE THE LIGHT CAME ON. THE DEALER DID A 40 POINT INSPECTION WHICH RESULTED IN THE RECOMMENDATION TO REPLACE THE FRONT MOTOR MOUNT DUE TO A "FAILURE" IN THE SYSTEM. I WAS TOLD THE MOUNTS (FRONT, SIDE AND BACK) FAIL ON THE HONDA ODYSSEY'S (NEWER MODELS, OURS IS AN '03) OFTEN. THE RESULT OF MOTOR MOUNT FAILURE IS EXCESSIVE MOVEMENT OF THE ENGINE WHEN UNDER "LOAD." I WAS TOLD THAT MEANS THE ENGINE MOVES WITHIN THE ENGINE COMPARTMENT DURING BRAKING, SHARP TURNS, BUMPS AND ACCELERATION. I WAS ALSO TOLD THAT ONCE ONE MOTOR MOUNT "BREAKS" THE OTHERS HAVE MORE TENSION AND WILL ALSO FAIL. IT WAS RECOMMENDED THAT THE PART BE REPLACED BEFORE THE OTHER MOTOR MOUNTS FAIL AND CAUSE MAJOR PROBLEMS. THIS IS CURRENTLY NOT A RECALL OR FREE LIFETIME WARRANTY. OUR LOCAL HONDA MECHANIC TOLD US THAT THE MOTOR MOUNTS SHOULD NEVER FAIL (ESPECIALLY ON SUCH A NEW CAR). HE SAID MOTOR MOUNTS SHOULD OUTLAST THE ENGINE/CAR AND HE HAD NEVER IN ALL OF HIS EXPERIENCE SEEN A MOTOR MOUNT FAIL. *TR

WHILE DRIVING ON THE INTERSTATE AT A STEADY 60MPH THE AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION BEGAN SHIFTED FROM 5TH GEAR TO 2ND GEAR WITH NO WARNING OR INDICATIONS OF ANY KIND. THIS ALMOST CAUSED A MAJOR ACCIDENT. THE VEHICLE HAD THE RECALL REPAIR IN 2004 FOR A KNOWN TRANSMISSION FAULT BUT THIS HAS OBVIOUSLY NOT FIXED THE ISSUE. THE INCIDENT HAS OCCURRED 3 TIMES. *TR

2003 HONDA ODYSSEY WITH AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION FAILURE. THE TRANSMISSION FAILED AT 73,000 AND I QUESTION IF RELATED TO THE RECALL AND I AM LOOKING FOR SUGGESTIONS. I WOULD LIKE TO BE REIMBURSED FOR THE REPAIRS OF THE VEHICLE. *JB

AIR CONDITIONING WENT OUT ON 2003 HONDA CRV TOOK IT TO A DEALERSHIP, WHERE PARTS WERE COVERED BUT HAD TO PAY FOR LABOR. *JB

HONDA ACCORD 2003 AIR CONDITIONER (A/C) FAILURE . A/C STOPPED WORKING DUE TO FAULTY COMPRESSOR CLUTCH, AND COIL . A/C DID NOT BLOW COLD AIR OR WORK ANY LONGER DUE TO THE FACT THAT THE COMPRESSOR WAS NOT FUNCTIONING TO KICK A/C ON. *AK

MY 2003 HONDA ODYSSEY HAD BEEN STALLING AND SHUTTING DOWN LOSING COMPLETE POWER STEERING, BRAKES EVERYTHING. I TOOK IT TO MY LOCAL HONDA DEALER REPAIR SHOP. DEC 2006. THEY COULD'NT FIND ANYTHING WRONG. ON FRIDAY MARCH 15, 2007 MY DAUGHTER WENT FOR CHINESE FOOD. SHE BACKED OUT OF THE PARKING SPACE, PROCEEDED TO PUT IT INTO DRIVE RELEASED HER FOOT, AND THE VAN STARTED JERKING THE LIGHTS IN THE DASH AREA WHERE BLINKING SHE LOST ALL POWER THE VAN WAS OUT OF CONTROL. THE VEICLE LANDED IN THE ENTRY WAY OF THE BUSINESS SMASHING ALL GLASS. SHE COULD NOT BRAKE SHE WAS TRAPPED IN THIS VAN.SHE SAID IT LOST ALL POWER SHE HAD BOTH FEET ON THE BRAKE TRYING TO STOP. NOTHING WORKED THIS IS THE FIFTH TIME THIS HAS HAPPENED. I DON'T FEEL SAFE IN THIS VEICHLE ANYMORE. THANK GOD NOBODY WAS SERIOUSLY INJURED. THE VAN IS UNDER INVESTGATION NOW. AND WILL BE FIXED AND TRADED IN.*AK

STRESS CRACK IN WINDSHIELD NOT DUE TO AN IMPACT OF ROCK OR SIMILAR FLYING OBJECT. *JB

SINCE I BOUGHT MY PILOT LAST NOV. EVERYTIME I APPLY THE BRAKES, GOING LESS THAN 10 MPH, BUT MORE THAN 5 MPH, MY BRAKES POP VERY LOAD, IT CONTINUES EVEN AFTER THE CAR HAS BEEN RUNNING ALL DAY. I BOUGHT IT IN TWICE TO THE DEALERSHIP, AND THEY TOLD ME IT'S SUPPOSE TO DO THAT. I TALK TO PEOPLE THAT OWN PILOTS AND HAVE KNOW PROBLEM WITH LOAD POPPING NOISES WHEN THEY APPLY THE BRAKES. *JB

WAS AT A RED LIGHT AND A CAR HIT ME FROM BEHIND AT 45 MPH AND THE AIR BAG DID NOT DEPLOY. THIS CAUSE ME TO HAVE SEVERE NECK AND SHOULDER PAIN. *NM

MY BRAKES AND ROTORS HAVE CONTINUALLY HAD PROBLEMS SINCE ABOUT 4,000 MILES. I NOW HAVE 44,000 MILES ON MY 2003 HONDA ACCORD LX, AND THE BRAKES/ROTORS HAVE BEEN SERVICED 9 TIMES SINCE I PURCHASED THE CAR. THE BRAKE PADS HAVE BEEN REPLACED; ROTORS HAVE BEEN TURNED AND ALSO REPLACED THROUGHOUT THIS PERIOD. THE BRAKES GRAB WHEN APPLIED, WHICH HAS OCCURRED SINCE IT WAS NEW. THERE HAS ALSO BEEN OCCASIONS WHEN THE BRAKES MADE A POPPING NOISE; ALWAYS VIBRATE WHEN APPLIED, AND A COUPLE OF OCCASIONS WHERE THE CAR ALMOST DID NOT STOP.*JB

THE REAR BRAKE ROTORS REQUIRED RE-GROUNDING AFTER WARPING HAD OCCURRED WHICH CAUSED A PULSATING SENSATION WHEN BRAKING. THE ROTORS WERE RE-GROUND AT 34K, BUT THE PULSATING BEHAVIOR BEGAN SOMEWHERE AROUND AN ESTIMATED 28K. THE TIRES HAD ONLY BEEN ROTATED TWICE AND BOTH TIMES WERE SECURED USING FACTORY TORQUE SPECIFICATIONS, SO INCORRECT LUG NUT SETTINGS SHOULD NOT HAVE BEEN A FACTOR. NO EVIDENCE OF GLAZING FROM RIDING THE BRAKES WAS PRESENT, NOR HAS THE CAR EVER BEEN DRIVEN WITH THE EMERGENCY BRAKE DEPLOYED. THE CAR IS BELIEVED TO BE DRIVEN WITHIN NORMAL TOLERANCES SINCE WE PURCHASED NEW IN 6/03 AND HAS BEEN USED MORE FOR COMMUTING MODE RATHER THAN A LOT OF STOP AND GO USEAGE. THE FACTORY REAR BRAKE PADS WERE REPLACED AND HAD APPROXIMATELY 10% REMAINING (WEAR TAB JUST STARTED WARNING 10 MILES EARLIER), WHILE THE FRONT BRAKES HAVE NEARLY 70% ORIGINAL MATERIAL REMAINING. I HAVE INSTALLED RAYBESTOS CERAMIC PADS ON THE REAR, BUT MY CONCERN IS THAT THIS IS AN ENGINEERING FLAW AND NOT DRIVEN MIS-USE/ABUSE AND THAT I'LL LIKELY HAVE TO REPAY FOR THIS REPEATEDLY IF I'M TYPICAL OF OTHERS WHO'VE COMPLAINED OF WARPED ROTORS ON THE 03 ACCORD EX - 6 CYL.

DT: CONSUMER'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CAR ACCIDENT ON AUGUST 1, 2005 . UPON IMPACT, THE AIR BAGS NEVER DEPLOYED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALLED. HAD NOT CONTACTED THE DEALER. *AK

THERE WERE NO SIGNIFICANT EVENTS LEADING UP TO THE FAILURE. THE TIRE SEEMED TO SPONTANEOUSLY SPLIT WHERE THE TREAD MEETS THE SIDE WALL WHICH RESULTED IN AN IMMEDIATE BLOW OUT. FORTUNATELY THE VEHICLE WAS GOING AT A SLOW SPEED AT THE TIME SO NO CRASH OCCURRED. WE HAVE SINCE BEEN INFORMED THAT THIS TIRE IS UNSAFE TO USE AT WARMER TEMPERATURES EVEN THOUGH IT IS Q99 RATED. THE TIRE IS A BRIDGESTONE BLIZZAK 215/70QR16 THAT IS ON A 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. THE TIRE WAS PROPERLY INFLATED AND WAS JUST PUT ON NOVEMBER OF 2004.

(1) INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT THAT CAUSED FRONT END DAMAGE TO THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AND A ROLLOVER.2) NONE OF THE FRONTAL OR SIDE AIR BAGS DEPLOYED.*AK

SPONTANEOUS WINDSHIELD CRACKS, RIGHT LOWER WINDSHIELD AND LEFT LOWER WINDSHIELD AT 13 MONTHS OF PURCHASE AND 15 MONTHS OF PURCHASE CONSECUTIVELY. MILLER HONDA OF WINCHESTER, VA REFUSES TO FIX SAYING THE CRACKS OCCURRED FROM A STRIKE FROM ROCK OR SOMETHING. WEBSITE FOUND CONTAINING SEVERAL C/O HONDA ELEMENT CRACKED WINDSHIELDS. MILLER HONDA STILL REFUSES TO FIX. *AK

I AM A 57 YR OLD WHITE MALE DRIVING A 2003 HONDA EX VIN. [XXX] ON RT41 IN THE TAMPA AREA WHEN MY PASSENGER SIDE AIRBAG DEPLOYED FOR NO APPARENT REASON. ROAD WAS CLEAR,,CAR CHECKED BY DEALER,,CAR HAS NO VISIBLE DAMAGE UNDER OR ON SIDE. HONDA STATES AIRBAGS DO NOT DEPLOY BY THEMSELVES. MINE DID. CAR IS 18 MONTHS OLD BUT HAS 40K ON IT.PURCHASED A $1400.00 HONDA CARE EXTENDED WARRANTY AT TIME OF PURCHASE. NOT COVERED. BOTH DEALER AND HONDA CARE SUGGESTED I CALL MY INSURANCE COMPANY.BOTH WERE VERY DISINTERESTED IN MY PROBLEM. WOULD THEY BOTH FEEL THAT WAY IF IT HAPPEND 20 MINUTES LATER AND A SMALL CHILD THAT I WAS ABOUT TO PICK UP IN MY DAIUGHTER'S CAR POOL WAS SITTING THERE. THANKS FOR LETTING ME VENT. I JUST DO NOT THINK THIS SHOULD HAPPEN TO A CAR THAT IS 18 MONTHS OLD.*AK *JS INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)

THE DOOR HANDLES HAVE CHROME WHICH SPONTANEOUSLY BEGAN TO PEEL AND CONTINUES CAUSING REPEATED PAINFUL AND ALARMING CUTS THAT OVBIOUSLY DISTRACT US FROM DRIVING.*AK

BESIDES THAT THE CAR CAUGHT ON FIRE 3 MONTHS AFTER A OIL CHANGE. THOUGH HONDA BLAIMS FAULTY OIL FILTER BECAUSE THEY DIDN'T DO THE OIL CHANGE. I HAVE HAD REPEATED PROBLEMS WITH MY SRS LIGHT COMING ON SINCE I GOT THE CAR. THE CAR WAS PRATICALLY SITTING AT THE DEALERSHIP UNDER REPAIR FOR THE SRS LIGHT. STILL 2 YEARS LATER AND I'M TIRED OF GOING BACK. ALL THEY TELL ME IS THAT THEY CHANGE SOME WIRE AND KEEP RESETING THE SYSTEM. THEY ALSO HAVE THE NERVE TO ASK ME IF I PUT A POCKET BOOK ON TOP OFF THE DASHBOARD. SO ANOTHER WORDS NO ONE IS TO BREATH ON TOP OFF THE DASH BOARD OR THE STUPID LIGHT COMES ON. HEY HONDA, I DON'T CARRY A PURSE OR A POCKET BOOK BECAUSE I'M A MALE. FIX MY CAR OR GET ME ANOTHER. PAYMENT IS ON TIME FROM ME BUT YOUR SERVICE ISN'T FIXING MY CAR. BUT THATS OK BECAUSE IT'S A LEASE AND YOUR GETTING IT BACK THEY WAY I GOT IT.*AK

(1) AT 5000 MILES, WE HAD THE OIL CHANGED IN OUR 2003 HONDA INSIGHT AT RON NORRIS HONDA IN TITUSVILLE, FL. (2) AFTER 20 MILES, THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONCLUDED THAT THE OIL FILTER HAD NOT SEALED TO THE ENGINE PROPERLY AND ALL FO THE OIL HAD LEAKED OUT. THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED. (3) THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE AND PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE CAR. THE DEALER WOULD PROBABLY BE INTERESTED IN THE NHTSA'S INVESTIGATION ON SIMILAR EVENTS ON CRVS.*AK

(HONDA REFLES MOTOR SCOOTER NSS250/A 2003)STEERING MECHANISM LOCKED FORCING CONSUMER TO LOSE CONTROL OF MOTORCYCLE.*MR *TS (LAWYER STEPHEN KANDELL ON BEHALF OF CLIENT DAVID CALRK) *JB

RIGHT FRONT PASSENGER TRIES TO OPEN THE DOOR FROM THE INSIDE, THE DOOR JAMS UP AND DOES NOT OPEN. CRITICAL IF THERE IS AN EMERGENCY. FIRST NOTICE IN FIRST WEEK OF OCT 2002 WEEK AFTER BUYING THE CAR. SERVICE COULD NOT DUPLICATE PROBLEM. HAS TO BRING IN AFTER SO MANY OCCURRENCES ON JULY 16, 2003. THEY SAID DOOR LOCK NEEDS ACTUATOR REPLACED.*JB

THE CONSUMER EXPRESSED CONCERN WITH THE DESIGN OF THE BRAKE SYSTEM. *MR *CB *NLM

THIS IS A CORRECTED INPUT TO MY ODI # 10011014 SUBMITTED 3/25/03 DURING NORMAL FREEWAY DRIVING, SMALL SAND/GRAVEL IMPACT ON WINDSHIELD RESULTED IN 8 INCH CRACK DEVELOPING WITHIN HOURS. PAST EXPERIENCE OVER 10 YEARS OF DRIVING TWO OTHER VEHICLES ON THE SAME ROAD IMPACTS OF THIS SIZE (HEAD OF A PIN SIZE IMPACT MARK) HAVE ONLY RESULTED IN MINOR WINDSHIELD PITTING. SUSPECT WINDSHIELD QUALITY OR DESIGN ARE PROBLEM AREAS. VEHICLE IS 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. I WAS WARNED PRIOR TO PURCHASE OF SIMILAR EXPERIENCE FROM OTHER HONDA ELEMENT OWNER IN THIS AREA. THIS IS A QUALITY AND POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE.*JB

NORMAL FREEWAY DRIVING, SMALL SAND/GRAVEL INPACT ON WINDSHIELD RESULTED IN 8 INCH CRACK DEVELOPING WITHIN HOURS. PAST EXPERIENCE OVER 10 YEARS OF DRIVING SAME ROAD IMPACTS OF THIS SIZE (HEAD OF A PIN SIOZE IMPACT MARK)) HAVE ONLY RESULTED IN MINOR WINDSHIELD PITTING. SUSPECT WINDSHIELD QUALITY OR DESIGN ARE PROBLEM AREAS. VEHICLE IS 2003 HONDA ELEMENT. I WAS WARNED PRIOR TO PURCHASE OF SIMILAR EXPERIENCE FROM OTHER HONDA ELEMENT OWNER IN THIS AREA. THIS IS A QUALITY AND POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE.

ENTERING THE REAR OF THE VEHICLE (HONDA ELEMENT) AND PLACING MY KNEE ON THE CENTER OF THE REAR SPACE/SPARE TIRE COVER PRODUCED AN AUDIBLE CRACKING SOUND. READING OTHER CONSUMER STATEMENTS ON THE HTTP://ELEMENTOWNERSCLUB.COM WEB SITE REVEALED THIS TO BE A WIDE SPREAD PROBLEM.

CONSUMER STATES WHILE DRIVING AT 60MPH THE VEHICLE REAR ENDED ANOTHER VEHICLE, AND THE DRIVERS AND PASSENGER AIR BAGS DID NOT DEPLOY. DEALER NOTIFIED.

IF YOU OPEN THE REAR WINDOW(S) AT ANY SPEED ABOVE 40MPH THERE IS A THUMPING SOUND IN THE VEHICLE, MY SISTER COULD NOT TAKE THIS NOISE AT 40MPH AS THE SPEED INCREASES TO 55MPH ( LEGAL CITY HIGHWAY SPEED) THE SOUND INCREASES AND PAIN OCCURS. THE HONDA MECHANIC EXPERIENCED STRONG DISCOMFORT AT THIS SPEED. IF YOU GO TO THE LEGAL RURAL SPEED LIMIT 65 MPH, THE PAIN BECOMES IN MY CASE SEVER . IF SOME OPENS THE REAR WINDOW AT THAT SPEED IN MY CASE IT WILL CAUSE ME MAJOR PROBLEMS. FIRST I WOULD NEVER BE ABLE TO HEAR AN EMERGENCY VEHICLE TO YIELD. I WOULD BE BUSY TRYING TO COPE WITH THE PAIN AND MAY LOSE CONTROL OF MY CAR. PEOPLE HAVING DOGS IN THEIR VEHICLE AND LEAVING THE BACK WINDOW OPEN WILL EXPERIENCE THIS PROBLEM. I WAS NEVER TOLD OF THE PROBLEM BEFORE BUYING THE VEHICLE AND THIS IS MY FIRST SUV OR ANYTHING LARGER THAN A 2DR COUPE PASSENGER VEHICLE. I WOULD NOT HAVE PURCHASED THIS VEHICLE IF I KNEW THIS FIRST. ANY HELP WOULD BE APPRECIATED. THANK YOU. *AK