Honda Insight Electrical Problems

Owners have filed 59 complaints about electrical system problems with the Honda Insight — 12% of all Insight complaints. The worst model years are 2019 (14), 2022 (11) and 2000 (7). Problems typically start around 37,000 miles. One related recall has been issued.

59complaints
2019worst year
37ktypical miles
1related recalls
4crashes
1fires

Electrical complaints by model year

2000200120022010201120122013201420192020202120227227114147311
Electrical complaints per model year, Honda Insight.
YearComplaintsShare of year's complaintsTypical mileage
20221133%59,000 miles
2021312%0 miles
2020723%18,000 miles
20191414%27,000 miles
201349%102,000 miles
201212%16,000 miles
201112%—
201076%19,000 miles
2002217%—
2001213%100,000 miles
2000729%53,000 miles

Which parts fail

  • 12V/24V/48V battery
    4
  • Propulsion system › Traction battery
    1
  • ADAS › Blindspot › Sensors
    1
  • Instrument panel › Speedometer/odometer
    1

Components named in complaints (battery, alternator, wiring, ignition, instrument cluster, infotainment).

Mileage when the problem started

  • Under 25k
    1648%
  • 25k–50k
    412%
  • 50k–75k
    412%
  • 75k–100k
    26%
  • 100k–150k
    39%
  • 150k+
    412%

What owners report

The contact owns a 2022 Honda Insight. The contact stated that while shifted into reverse, the rear-view camera failed to display a clear view image on the screen. No warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the center display made random selections without the screen being touched. The vehicle was taken to a local dealer where it was diagnosed and determined that the screen needed to be replaced. The contact stated that the vehicle was taken to the same dealer three times for the same failures and the vehicle was previously repaired. The vehicle was not repaired again. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 59,000.

2022 Insight · 59,000 miles · Jun 2025

The contact owns a 2022 Honda Insight. The contact stated that while driving at 40 MPH, the vehicle independently downshifted and decelerated to 5 MPH with the brake warning light illuminated. Despite the failure, the contact was able to resume normal driving functionality. The dealer was contacted about the failure and acknowledged that the issue was a known failure. The contact was provided an appointment to have the vehicle diagnosed. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.

2022 Insight · 22,000 miles · Nov 2023

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. …

2021 Insight · Jun 2024

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

2021 Insight · Sep 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Insight. The contact stated that after starting the vehicle, several unknown warning lights illuminated. During the failure, the brakes failed to function as intended, and the Lane Departure, Cruise Control, and Forward Collision Avoidance features failed to function as intended. The failure was intermittent. During the first failure, the vehicle was turned off and restarted after several minutes and the vehicle operated as intended. The vehicle was taken to the dealer and diagnosed with battery failure. The dealer also determined that the brake pedal simulator had failed. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle remained with the dealer unrepaired. The failure mileage was approximately 18,000.

2020 Insight · 18,000 miles · Jun 2025

The contact owns a 2020 Honda Insight. The contact stated that while driving at various speeds, the brake engaged erroneously. The contact stated that the failure was intermittent. The contact stated that there was no object or vehicle nearby during the failure. The vehicle was driven to the dealer to be diagnosed; however, the vehicle remained at the dealer unrepaired. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure. The contact stated that he has not contacted the manufacturer. The failure mileage was 33,000.

2020 Insight · 33,000 miles · Mar 2020

The contact owns a 2019 Honda Insight. The contact stated that while driving 75 MPH, the accelerator pedal was depressed; however, the vehicle failed to accelerate as intended. In addition, several unknown warning lights were illuminated. The contact stated that the failure had occurred while driving on a busy highway. The vehicle was driven onto the off-ramp and turned off the vehicle. The vehicle was started; however, the failure reoccurred. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where it was diagnosed with a corroded connector and broken pin at the leak detection pump in the rear of the vehicle. The contact was informed that the leak detection module and wiring harness needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact stated that the failure was a known failure with the vehicle. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure, and a case was filed. …

2019 Insight · 81,000 miles · Mar 2026

i was going home from work in my Honda insight 2019 and all of a sudden my car started showing all kings of warnings every single indicator was on and my car started to spin and hit the side railing of the highway i almost died that day no airbags deployed that is also an other safety function did work that day. Honda refuse to take any kind of responsibility for the car malfunction i called and ask for help they said go ahead buy a new car we can't help you with anything. my request to the department is take a action against HONDA so no other family or any other driver go through this. and no one lose love ones.

2019 Insight · Jul 2023 · crash

Related recalls (1)

Electrical system › Propulsion system › Charging › Module › Software

NHTSA recall 20V-798 · Dec 17, 2020 · 27,838 vehicles

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.

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.

NHTSA investigations

Pedestrian alert sounds

NHTSA investigation DP22005 · opened Jan 27, 2023 · closed Aug 7, 2023 · led to recall 22V-063

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.

Frequently asked questions

Which Honda Insight years have electrical problems?

By NHTSA complaints, the 2019 (14), 2022 (11), 2000 (7), 2010 (7) and 2020 (7) model years. Electrical complaints make up 14% of all complaints for the 2019.

Is there a recall for Honda Insight electrical problems?

Yes — 1 recall, including 20V-798 (software, Dec 17, 2020). Recall repairs are free at authorized dealers; check a specific car with the VIN recall check.

At what mileage do Honda Insight electrical problems start?

Across all years, half of the complaints with a recorded mileage happened before about 37,000 miles; 61% happened before 50,000 miles.

What part fails most often?

Owners most often name the 12v/24v/48v battery (4 mentions), followed by the propulsion system › traction battery (1).

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.