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Honda InsightModel year report

2021 Honda Insight Problems

Compared with other Honda Insight years

Typical for this model

44/100 0.9× a typical year · 50 = typical

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
25filed with NHTSA
Median mileage
4,250miles, 4 complaints with mileage
Recalls
3campaigns on record
Trend
RisingComplaints filed in the last 3 full calendar years are at least 25% higher 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 2021 Honda Insight (complaints, recalls, investigations), NHTSA crash tests, EPA fuel economy. Report an error

NHTSA recorded 25 consumer complaints for the 2021 Honda Insight. The part named most often is forward collision avoidance, with 8 complaints (32% of the total), followed by other or unknown (6) and brakes (4). 4 of the complaints include a mileage, and 75% of those were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the median is 4,250 miles. Of all complaints, 1 involved a crash, 1 an injury, according to the filers. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns and 25 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. Compared with the other 7 Honda Insight model years that have at least 25 complaints and are old enough to compare, this one scores 44 out of 100, where 50 is a typical year for the model (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: Body and structure (1), Transmission and drivetrain (1), Vehicle speed control (1).

Example complaints

Forward collision avoidance: “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”

NHTSA complaint #11544903, filed 2023-09

Other or unknown: “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. …”

NHTSA complaint #11613881, filed 2024-09

Brakes: “On two occasions I've had a brake system problem eror message pop up on my home screen inside of the car and on the hondalink app 12/09/2020 and on 12/18/2020. I was leaving work on both incidents. The message reads: the brake system has a problem or the brake fluid may be low. I there is no resistance from the bark pedal, downshift to lower gears to slow the vehicle. Immediately stop in a safe place and contact roadside assistance. Part two: the brake system has a problem. Avoid high speeds and sudden braking. Have your vehicles checked by a dealer immediately. …”

NHTSA complaint #11388438, filed 2021-01, 2,000 miles

Air bags: “The contact's daughter owns a 2021 Honda Insight. The contact stated that while her daughter was driving at an undisclosed speed, the front driver's and passenger-side air bags suddenly deployed without impact. There was no warning light illuminated. The contact stated that the air bags cracked the front windshield and injured the driver's arm. The police arrived at the scene, but no police report was filed. The contact was unsure whether the driver had received medical attention. The contact's daughter had someone drive the vehicle to the residence. …”

NHTSA complaint #11742632, filed 2026-06, 150,000 miles

Mileage when problems were reported

75% of the 4 complaints with a mileage were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles; the middle half falls between 2,000 and 6,500 miles.

75%0–100%10–250%25–500%50–750%75–1000%100–15025%150+
Share of complaints by mileage when the problem was reported, in thousands of miles (4 complaints with mileage). Red bars: under 50,000 miles. Bucket widths differ. Median: 4,250 miles.

Complaints by year filed

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

2021202220232024202562026
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 2021 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 2021 model year: forward collision warning standard, lane departure warning standard, automatic emergency braking not available.

Neighbouring years: 2020: same overall rating; 2022: 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 2021 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 2021 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. 25 on record; the latest 10 are shown.

See all 25 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 2021 Honda Insight have?

NHTSA recorded 25 consumer complaints for the 2021 Honda Insight as of Oct 27, 2026. Complaints are unverified consumer reports and may be duplicated or inaccurate.

What part of the 2021 Honda Insight is reported most often?

Forward collision avoidance is named most often, in 8 complaints (32% of the total), followed by other or unknown with 6.

Has the 2021 Honda Insight been recalled?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for this model year. To check a specific vehicle, enter its VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.

How did the 2021 Honda Insight do in NHTSA crash tests?

NHTSA's 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2021 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 2021 Honda Insight get?

The EPA rates the 2021 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 2021 Honda Insight reported?

Among the 4 complaints that include a mileage, the median is 4,250 miles and the middle half falls between 2,000 and 6,500 miles; 75% were filed for vehicles with under 50,000 miles.

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. 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.