Skip to content
Honda InsightModel year report

2020 Honda Insight Problems

Compared with other Honda Insight years

More complaints than typical for this model

81/100 2.0× a typical year · 50 = typical

Nearby years with a typical complaint level and no open NHTSA investigation: 2021, 2022

Based only on NHTSA complaints, recalls and investigations. Not adjusted for how many vehicles were sold, and not a reliability rating. How this is calculated

Complaints
31filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
5,750miles, 12 complaints with mileage
Recalls
6campaigns on record
Trend
FallingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.
NHTSA crash rating
5 / 5stars overall
EPA fuel economy
52 mpgcombined, 1.5L 4-cyl · hybrid FWD · 55 city / 49 hwy

Sources: NHTSA records for the 2020 Honda Insight (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 31 consumer complaints for the 2020 Honda Insight. The part named most often is forward collision avoidance, with 12 complaints (39% of the total), followed by electrical system (7) and transmission and drivetrain (5). 12 of the complaints include a mileage, and 100% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 5,750 miles. Of all complaints, 3 involved a crash, 2 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns and 50 technical service bulletins for this model year. Forward collision avoidance complaints overlap with 1 NHTSA investigation and 3 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Electrical system complaints overlap with 1 recall campaign covering the software and 18 technical service bulletins filed under the same part. Compared with the other 7 Honda Insight model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 81 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (more complaints than typical for this model). The comparison allows for the era and for how long each year has had to collect complaints, but not for how many vehicles were sold.

Which parts are reported most

Complaints can name more than one part, so the counts add up to more than the total. Select a part to see its complaints, recalls and bulletins.

Also reported: Air bags (1), Back-over prevention (rear camera) (1), Suspension (1), Visibility (wipers, defrost, mirrors) (1), Wheels (1).

Example complaints

Forward collision avoidance: “Very occasionally the car collision avoidance systems kicks in erratically. The car brakes automatically to reduce speed substantially. This can be very dangerous because someone might hit from the back. This has happened to me on city streets as well as the highway. I think it might be due to the collison sensor missclassifying signboards or overhead bridges as humans or cars”

NHTSA complaint #11383112, filed 2020-12, 41,000 miles

Electrical system: “While driving on the interstate where speed limit is 70 miles per hour, I looked in my rear view mirror and saw smoke coming out of the back of my car. I then saw warnings flashing from my dash board saying: AC malfunction, lkas malfunction,and then another warning flashed saying - low oil fluid, stop car do not drive. I coasted car to the side of the interstate and got out of vehicle and called towing service.”

NHTSA complaint #11399273, filed 2021-03, 8,800 miles

Transmission and drivetrain: “I bought a 2020 Honda Insight in march 2020. I have 8,000 miles on it and just the three weeks ago I started having transmission problems. The dashboard illuminated saying transmission problem, see dealership. It's brand new. I took it to the lodi Honda and the codes were a stuck selonied. They said there was no damage. Ok, it did it a second time and I am ready to give it back. Please help me. Scared of getting stranded on the road. I was driving on the highway.”

NHTSA complaint #11340291, filed 2020-07

Brakes: “This 2020 Honda Insight performed “phantom braking” of the automated braking system when I was about to enter a clear intersection with no vehicles or obstacles in front of me. It activated the automated braking system and endangered my life and the lives of others over no real threat. This occurred 08/23/2025. The car is well maintained and does not have any service issues. This was completely random.”

NHTSA complaint #11682568, filed 2025-08

Mileage when problems were reported

100% of the 12 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 2,800 and 18,000 miles.

67%0–108%10–2525%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–1500%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (12 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 5,750 miles.

Complaints by year filed

Trend: falling. Complaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% lower than in the 3 years before.

20202021202282023202420252026
Complaints by year the complaint was filed with NHTSA. Red bars: the last 3 full calendar years used for the trend. The current year (2026) is partial.

Crash test ratings

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings for the 2020 Honda Insight. Frontal results are shown driver / passenger; rollover shows the star rating and NHTSA's estimated risk of rolling over in a single-vehicle crash.

VersionOverallFrontalSideSide poleRollover
Insight · sedan FWD★★★★★5 / 5555 · 9.3% risk

Driver aids listed by NHTSA for the 2020 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking not available.

Neighbouring years: 2019: same overall rating; 2021: same overall rating. A redesign between years can change both the car and the test.

Source: NHTSA New Car Assessment Program (5-Star Safety Ratings), nhtsa.gov/ratings.

Fuel economy and running cost

EPA ratings for each 2020 Honda Insight version. Annual fuel cost is the EPA's estimate at its current fuel prices for 15,000 miles a year (55% city driving).

VersionEngineTransmissionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yr
Insight FWD1.5L 4-cyl · hybridCVT554952$1,300
Insight Touring FWD1.5L 4-cyl · hybridCVT514548$1,400

Source: U.S. EPA and Department of Energy, fueleconomy.gov. Ratings are for comparing vehicles; real-world mileage varies with driving and conditions.

Recalls and investigations

Recall details for the 2020 Honda Insight → · Check a VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls

NHTSA investigations

Technical service bulletins

TSBs are manufacturer notes to dealers about known repair procedures. They are not recalls and do not by themselves mean a vehicle has a fault. 50 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 50 bulletins →

Other model years of the Honda Insight

YearComplaintsMedian miRecallsCrash ★MPGScore (50 = typical)Trend
20223342,500355244 · TypicalRising
2021254,250355244 · TypicalRising
2020315,750655281 · MoreFalling
20199919,6008552100 · MoreRising
2014510,0003—41—Not enough data
20134560,0006—4129 · FewerStable
20125969,0008—4119 · FewerFalling
20114122,70010—4055 · TypicalFalling
201011940,00010—41100 · MoreRising
200212101,8391—53—Not enough data
20011569,0002—53—Stable
20002451,0001—53—Stable

All Honda Insight model years · Best and worst years by complaints

Frequently asked questions

How many NHTSA complaints does the 2020 Honda Insight have?

NHTSA recorded 31 consumer complaints for the 2020 Honda Insight as of Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2020 Honda Insight is reported most often?

Forward collision avoidance is named most often, in 12 complaints (39% of the total), followed by electrical system with 7.

Has the 2020 Honda Insight been recalled?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2020 Honda Insight do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2020 Honda Insight 5 out of 5 stars overall. Ratings from different model years are only comparable when the vehicle was not redesigned in between.

What gas mileage does the 2020 Honda Insight get?

The EPA rates the 2020 Honda Insight (Insight, 1.5L 4-cyl · hybrid) at 52 mpg combined, 55 city and 49 highway, with an estimated annual fuel cost of $1,300 at 15,000 miles a year. Other engine and drive versions are rated differently.

At what mileage are problems with the 2020 Honda Insight reported?

Among the 12 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 5,750 miles and the middle half falls between 2,800 and 18,000 miles; 100% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

About this data. Data from NHTSA (ODI) complaints, recalls, TSBs and investigations, updated Oct 29, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate. Crash ratings are from NHTSA’s New Car Assessment Program. Fuel economy is from the EPA and DOE (fueleconomy.gov).

Complaint counts come from NHTSA’s public complaint database; we count each complaint once. The source records for this vehicle are on nhtsa.gov. Scores and trends are our own summaries of that data, described in the methodology. This page is not legal, safety or repair advice: for a specific vehicle, check its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and ask a qualified mechanic. See an error? Tell us.