NHTSA recalls, safety ratings, and consumer complaints for the 2021 Honda Insight.
| Trim | City | Hwy | Combined | Annual fuel $ |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.5L 4 cyl Automatic (variable gear ratios) | 55 | 49 | 52 | $1,150 |
| Overall Rating | |
| Frontal Crash |
Component: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTER
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2020-2021 Insight vehicles. The DC-DC converter may shut down and prevent the 12-volt battery from recharging, possibly resulting in a loss of drive power.
Consequence: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the power converter unit (PCU) software, free of charge. The recall began February 12, 2021. Owners can contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is K9E.
Component: AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
Consequence: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024, October 18, 2024, and August 2025. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
There is a massive hood flutter when large vehicle drive towards me going above 50mph. It feels and looks like the hood is not latched correctly and going to open into my windshield. This has happened since I purchase the vehicle new in 2021
Went in for a typical servicing. They noted that the downstream O2 sensor was damaged by rodents. The vehicle, with around 14k has always been stored in a weather tight garage, never stored outside. There has been no rodents in the building since I owned it from 1999. This is a presumptuous statement I refuted, but they wouldn’t take off, and I felt this is a warranty or recall item. There are lots of speed bumps in the North Portland neighborhood, which may have caused the problem by cable scraping. I believe they documented it as rodents to escape their extended warranty contract requirements. I purchased an O2 sensor, which my independent said I don’t need to use it after taping the scrape as there’s no electronic issues being reported in the system. I would like this investigated and them pay for the sensor I apparently don’t need to install.
I received a 2021 Insight Seat Weight Sensor Safety Recall in September 2025 saying that recall replacement parts were now available at Honda Dealers. Ever since I received this notice, none of the Atlanta area Honda dealers are able to remedy the defect in my vehicle due to lack of parts, contrary to the notice saying parts are available.
The 2021 Honda Insight has 2 NHTSA recalls and 23 consumer complaints on file. It received an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars in NHTSA crash testing. For the most detailed information about a specific vehicle, decode its VIN using our free decoder above.
Enter a specific VIN to get the full report — specs, recalls, safety ratings, complaints, investigations, and technical service bulletins.
| Side Crash |
| Rollover |
Under certain circumstances, the portion of the PCU that controls charging of the 12 volt accessory battery malfunctions, sending the PCU into a "fail safe" mode, preventing battery charging and activating warning displays for the driver. This has caused my vehicle to stall while driving, potentially increasing the risk of a crash. Other honda hybrids during this year have been recalled but not by my VIN number, however I am having the exact same issue. Below has me give a specific date but this happens almost every morning.
The brake servo control unit feel simulator which reduces the simulation force provided to the brake pedal during emergency or failed conditions and is a key component of realizing a Regenerative Braking System. It provides a good pedal feeling to a driver, improves energy recovery and ensures braking security. My safety has been put at risk as that part is integral to my brake system (including the hybrid function) e.g. my car was in reverse and the brakes were not responding and had to leave my car. I towed my car to a local independent service provider and they confirmed via the OBD-II scanner that confirmed my break servo control feel simulator is bad and would need to be replaced. After doing research, the brake servo part is made in Japan by a company called Nissin. The part has been recalled in Japan and UK due to failures in similar hybrid models. The brake servo serves many functions including ensures consistency, mimics traditional braking, and provide the driver with a natural-feeling brake pedal, especially because the system relies on both regenerative braking and hydraulic friction brakes. For about 3 days I received a cluster of warning signs from my car such as traction control, brake system, brake, steering malfunction, and ACC. Given that this part directly affects braking capability and overall vehicle safety, I am deeply concerned that my safety has been compromised as the life of the part is supposed to last the life of the car (about 150,000 miles) . I respectfully request an immediate investigation, and would like to know whether this issue is covered under an existing or pending recall campaign. If not, I'd like to submit this to the recall campaign in the U.S. Please advise on the next steps for inspection, replacement, and ensuring my vehicle is safe to drive. Thank you.
While my wife was driving my car on a busy road. The servo brake control unit/ pedal simulator broke making it near impossible to stop the car. She had to crash the car into a parking block. And Honda import/export is uncooperative and dismissive of the fact that my wife and daughters lives were jeopardized due to the part malfunctioning
On two (2) occasions, the "collision mitigation braking system" braked with no reason. It has happened on a quiet and straight line residential street with no other moving vehicle, pedestrian, animal, or any other obstruction in view. After one second or so of braking, it returned to normal. It is available for inspection. I have not spoken to the local Honda dealer about it, and there were no adverser repercussions. There were no prior warnings of any system malfunction.
On at least two occasions the automatic emergency braking system has activated with nothing in front of the vehicle. Several instances when cresting a steep rise in the road the forward collision warning system has activated the "BRAKE" warning light.
I am urging your immediate attention to a safety issue affecting the 2021 Honda Insight. The vehicle’s infotainment system, which controls key safety features including the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), has failed. This malfunction prevents drivers from monitoring tire pressures, applying necessary software updates, and accessing navigation and hands-free features, which significantly increases the risk of accidents. The system's failure distracts drivers and compromises critical vehicle safety functions, warranting an urgent recall investigation. Thank you for your attention to this critical matter.
I received the "important safety recall" letter in March 2024 from the Honda Automobile Division regarding the seat weight sensor circuit board. The letter said that in a crash, the airbags could deploy in a dangerous fashion. I have called my Honda dealer three times since that date. Today, Sept. 10, 2024, I was told again that the dealer did not have the parts to perform the repair, and that it had no idea when it would receive them. I called the national Honda number. Same answer. I called 888-327-4236 to see if NHTSA had more information, held on the phone, then provided my number for a call back. When the NHTSA returned the call, the line was choppy. Either the call dropped, or she hung up on me. She did not call back. I have waited patiently for five months. Neither NHTSA nor my local Honda dealer is able or willing to tell me when this safety issue will be resolved. What is the problem and what is NHTSA doing about it?
Car emergency braking system engaged while there was nothing in front of the car. The automatic brakes were applied and the brake indicator flashed on the driver screen with no warning.
Summary American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (Honda) is recalling certain 2021 model year Insight vehicles. A capacitor in the printed circuit board of the front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and lead to an internal short circuit from the exposure to environmental humidity. Safety Risk In the event of a crash, the front passenger frontal and knee airbags may deploy despite the presence of an infant in a child seat or child, increasing the risk of injury. I have reached out to the dealership and said that they are waiting for the parts from the manufacturer. It has been 4 months and have not heard back from the dealership nor from the manufacturer. The safety risk states in the event of a crash, the front passenger frontal and knee airbags may deploy despite the presence of an infant in a child seat or child, increasing the risk of injury, which is very concerning. Please contact Honda manufacturer to get the parts ready and have it replaced at their earliest convenience.
This has been happening with my two honda cads. I currently have Honda 2023 CRV and 2021 Honda Insight. the Collison Mitigation Braking System brakes really hard for no reason
I previously reported this issue to NHTSA and was given the case number [XXX]. Here is my recent letter to Honda. RE: Case #[XXX] (I was informed that this case was closed) Although I did not agree that the adaptive cruise control issue was resolved, Honda closed the referenced case. I am writing to confirm that the issue is not resolved. I rarely drive the Insight but did so yesterday on a two lanes in each direction, limited access highway. Here are my experiences: On multiple occasions while driving at 60 mph in the right hand lane with ACC controlling the distance to the vehicle in front of me, the vehicle in front moved to the exit lane clearing the path in front of me. As the exiting vehicle slowed in the exit lane, the ACC applied the Insight's brakes, quickly reducing my speed to 30 mph in the driving lane. This sudden slow down exposed me to possible rear end collisions by following vehicles that were surprised by Insight's slowing in the driving lane. Once while driving at 70 mph in the passing lane with the ACC controlling the distance to the vehicle in front of me, the leading vehicle moved to the right lane, clearing the lane in front of me. When the Insight approached the vehicle that had moved to the driving lane and was then going at a slower speed, the Insight applied its brakes, quickly slowing the Insight to 40-50 mph. Again this sudden slowdown exposed me to a rear end collision by the vehicle behind me that was also going 70 mph. This is the same issue that I reported earlier. Despite the Honda dealer where I bought the vehicle servicing the ACC system under warranty, this unsafe issue still exists. It seems that the ACC is not "unlocking" from a leading vehicle when it moves to the right despite the path directly forward being clear. Please advise as to Honda's next step in resolving this safety issue. Thanks [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).
Intermittently the car’s forward collision warning will flash and occasionally start applying the brake without any other vehicles or obstacles in front of me.
Showing 15 of 23 complaints