Most common 2001 Honda Insight problems
Share of the 15 complaints; one complaint can involve more than one system. "~" is the median mileage when the problem started.
Honda Insight complaints by model year
Best Insight years: 2014. Years to avoid: 2010, 2019, 2012, 2011, 2013. Compare all years →
2001 Honda Insight recalls (2)
Exterior lighting › Headlights
On certain passenger vehicles, the low-beam terminal on the head light wire harness can overheat and could cause the low beams to fail without warning.
Remedy: Dealers will inspect the head light switch and coupler for signs of heat damage. If heat damage is present, the dealer will replace the switch and coupler.
Air bags › Frontal
On certain passenger vehicles, some of the passenger air bag modules were not properly welded and May not deploy in a collision.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the passenger air bag module. Owner notification began August 2, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within…
NHTSA defect investigations
Federal safety investigators have looked into a possible defect involving the 2001 Honda Insight:
Pedestrian alert sounds
NHTSA received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at NHTSA.gov under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles.
What 2001 Honda Insight owners say
Lights
Low-beam headlights failed w/o warning or external cause. Worked one day but not the next morning. No obvious fuse or relay is the cause. Found that there was an inadequately designed switch that ws prone to failure by googling the failure, which hwas covered by a recall. Honda's website VIN search said there were no recalls for this car. Local dealer says recal was satisfied in 2010. Seems there is still an inadequately designed switch that can result in complete and sudden failure of the low beam headlights.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 Honda Insight. The contact stated that the low beam headlights failed to operate properly. The vehicle was repaired under NHTSA campaign number: 04V086000 (exterior lighting) but the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 250,000.
2001 Honda Insight engines & fuel economy
| Engine | Transmission | Drive | MPG city / hwy / combined |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0L 3-cyl hybrid | 5-speed manual | FWD | 48 / 60 / 53 |
| 1.0L 3-cyl hybrid | CVT | FWD | 45 / 49 / 47 |
EPA ratings. Class: Sports car.
Frequently asked questions
Is the 2001 Honda Insight a good car?
Based on 15 owner complaints filed with NHTSA, the 2001 Insight rates better than average: 68% fewer complaints than a typical year of the Insight at the same age. Complaint counts don't account for sales volume or individual maintenance, so have any used car inspected before buying.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Honda Insight?
The lights — 4 complaints, 27% of all complaints for this model year. Next are the electrical system (2) and transmission & drivetrain (2).
How many recalls does the 2001 Honda Insight have?
There are 2 recalls for the 2001 Honda Insight, the most recent from February 24, 2004 (headlights). Recall repairs are free at any authorized dealer — check whether yours has been done with the VIN recall check.
What are the best and worst years of the Honda Insight?
The best years by complaints, compared at the same age, are 2014. Years to avoid or approach with caution: 2010, 2019, 2012, 2011 and 2013. See the full Honda Insight years comparison.
At what mileage do 2001 Honda Insight problems happen?
The median mileage reported in complaints is about 78,000 miles; 17% of problems with a recorded mileage started before 50,000 miles.
Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) — owner complaints through October 20, 2026, recalls and defect investigations; fuel economy from the EPA. Complaints are unverified reports and are not proof of a defect. How we rate model years.