2012 Honda Insight Engine Problems
- Complaints
- 36about this part
- Share
- 61%of 59 total for the year
- Median mileage
- 71,214miles
- Trend
- FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA recorded 36 complaints about the engine of the 2012 Honda Insight, 61% of the 59 complaints for this model year. Where a mileage was given, the median is 71,214 miles. 1 of these say a crash was involved, according to the filers.
Example complaints
Selected from NHTSA records; personal details are removed. They are consumer reports, not findings.
“Tthis car has safety problems burns oil like crazy , my daughter was driving down 81 when the dash lights came on the car was shaking so she pulled over and called the police who impounded the car 300 to get it out then we had it towed over 100miles . Honda dealer says the spark plug failed and went into the engine . Getting prices on a new engine .”
NHTSA complaint #11412853, filed 2021-04, 76,883 miles“The spark plugs failed during driving on the highway resulting in a dangerous situation. I later learned that the spark plugs failed because 2 of the cylinders were burning excessive oil. Honda has recalled this car due to excessive oil consumption but has refused to reimbursement me after I had the car repaired.”
NHTSA complaint #10993501, filed 2017-06, 84,000 miles“In october 2016, I took my vehicle to scott robinson Honda in torrance due to a check oil light that came on the day before. After a day of diagnosis, Honda determined the engine on my Insight was burning oil too rapidly, and that the problem had been occurring for quite some time. …”
NHTSA complaint #10915390, filed 2016-10, 70,000 miles“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. …”
NHTSA complaint #10724827, filed 2015-06, 16,121 miles“I purchased my car in july 2015 from a used car dealership. It had approximately 64k miles on it. A month later my check emissions light came on while driving in a residential area. The car had received a complete oil change the day I purchased it but I took it to a local service shop where they informed me my car was low on oil. A month later the check emissions light came on again. It was a quart low. I added a quart (not cheap for hybrids as Honda recommends api premium grade 0w-20 detergent oil only). …”
NHTSA complaint #10819553, filed 2016-01, 66,000 milesRelated service bulletins
- 10128890Feb 3, 2018Service bulletin - The oil control rings may become clogged with carbon deposits. These deposits restrict the ability to scrape and return oil from the cylinder walls to the…
- 10108390Apr 17, 2017Customer letter - on some 201213 insight vehicles, the oil control rings may become clogged with carbon deposits. These deposits restrict the control rings ability to scrape and…
- 10108291Mar 17, 2017"service bulletin - the oil control rings may become clogged with carbon deposits. These deposits restrict the ability to scrape and return oil from the cylinder walls to the…
- 10099347Dec 12, 2015Service bulletin - engine oil consumption exceeds customer expectations. The oil control rings may become clogged with carbon deposits. These deposits restrict their ability to…
- 10100195Nov 12, 2015Service bulletin - engine oil consumption exceeds customer expectations. The oil control rings may become clogged with carbon deposits. These deposits restrict their ability to…
Engine: other model years
Other parts of the 2012 Honda Insight
11 complaintsOther or unknown
6 complaintsFuel system
3 complaintsVehicle speed control
3 complaintsSeats
2 complaintsBrakes
1 complaintsElectrical system
1 complaintsElectronic stability control
1 complaintsBody and structure
1 complaintsTransmission and drivetrain
1 complaints
← All problems reported for the 2012 Honda Insight
About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.
To check a specific vehicle for open recalls, use its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls. Methodology