2021 Honda Insight problems, complaints & recalls

Updated Oct 10, 2026 from NHTSA data · How we count

Owners have filed 25 complaints with NHTSA about the 2021 Honda Insight, most often about driver assistance & safety tech. There are 3 recalls for this model year.

Complaints: 25
Recalls: 3
Crashes: 1
Fires: 0
Injuries: 1
Median mileage: 4,250 mi

Key facts

Driver Assistance & Safety Tech is the most-reported problem area, named in 9 of 25 complaints (36%).
Brakes (4) and airbags (3) follow.
Half of the complaints that list mileage happened before 4,250 mi.
Owners reported 1 crash, 0 fires and 1 injury.
The 2021 Honda Insight has 3 recalls on file.
NHTSA has opened 3 defect investigations covering this vehicle.
It ranks 5th of 8 Honda Insight model years by our severity-weighted complaint score (1st = worst).
That is 19% fewer complaints than the 2020 model year (31).

A complaint can mention more than one problem area, so categories add up to more than the total.

Most-reported components

Component (as filed with NHTSA)	Complaints
Unknown or other	6
Forward collision avoidance: automatic emergency braking	5
Forward collision avoidance: warnings	4
Service brakes	4
Electrical system	3
Seats	3
Air bags	3
Forward collision avoidance: adaptive cruise control	2

When problems happen (mileage)

Mileage at the time of the problem, for 2021 Honda Insight complaints that list mileage.

2021 Honda Insight recalls (3)

Recall 26V332000May 21, 202698,892 vehicles
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022 CR-V, 2017-2018, 2021 Civic Type R, 2017-2021 Civic hatchback, 2016-2020 Civic coupe, 2016-2022 Civic, 2017-2022 Accord Hybrid, and 2016-2022 Accord vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, which can cause the air bags to deploy unintentionally during a crash.
Risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH, NOC, POD, BOE, UOF, POB, EOG, AOI, QO8, TOJ, DO7, and SOK. This recall expands previous NHTSA recall number 24V064. Vehicle Identification Numbers (VINs) involved in this recall will be searchable on NHTSA.gov beginning May 29, 2026.
Recall 24V064000Feb 1, 2024750,114 vehicles
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura RDX, and 2020-2021 Acura TLX vehicles. The front passenger seat weight sensor may crack and short circuit, failing to suppress the air bag as intended.
Risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
Remedy: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls are XHP and VHQ.
Recall 20V798000Dec 17, 202027,838 vehicles
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:CHARGING:MODULE:SOFTWARE · ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTER
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.
Risk: A loss of drive power can increase the risk of a crash.
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. Honda's number for this recall is K9E.

NHTSA defect investigations

EA25002Opened Jan 17, 2025Open
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
On March 7, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE24008) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system in model year 2019-2022 Honda Insight and 2019-2022 Honda Passport vehicles. The complainants allege activation of the AEB system with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's path, resulting in rapid vehicle deceleration. Honda indicated that it is aware of a total of 412 reports that may relate to the alleged defect. Honda provided analysis of the alleged defect and stated that some customers possibly…
PE24008Opened Mar 7, 2024Closed Jan 17, 2025
Inadvertent Automatic Emergency Braking
On March 7, 2024, the Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened a Preliminary Evaluation (PE24008) to assess reports of inadvertent activation of the Automatic Emergency Braking (AEB) system in model year 2019-2022 Honda Insight and 2019-2022 Honda Passport vehicles. The complainants allege activation of the AEB system with no apparent obstruction in the vehicle's path, resulting in rapid vehicle deceleration. Honda indicated that it is aware of a total of 412 reports that may relate to the alleged defect. Honda provided analysis of the alleged defect and stated that some customers possibly…
DP22005Opened Jan 27, 2023Closed Aug 7, 2023led to recall 22V063000
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. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after Marc…

Recent 2021 Honda Insight complaints

Excerpts of the newest owner complaints, lightly cleaned of personal details. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Filed Sep 21, 2026FLOther / Unknown
The Honda infotainment screens have a history of "Phantom Touches". I have replaced my infotainment system once under warranty. The problem is that while out in sunlight the vehicle's infotainment system will randomly beep and change screens and functions on its own as bands of sunlight enter via the windshield or side windows. It is extremely distracting and things like switching music souces from blutooth source to radio, cutting in and out, swapping to the default screen…
NHTSA complaint #11765752 · source
Filed Jun 8, 2026150,000 miNJ1 injuredAirbags
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…
NHTSA complaint #11742632 · source
Filed Apr 11, 2026OHBody & Structure
There is a massive hood flutter when large vehicle drive towards me going above 50mph. It feels and looks like the hood is not latched correctly and going to open into my windshield. This has happened since I purchase the vehicle new in 2021
NHTSA complaint #11730558 · source
Filed Jan 23, 2026ORFuel, Hybrid & EV Propulsion
Went in for a typical servicing. They noted that the downstream O2 sensor was damaged by rodents. The vehicle, with around 14k has always been stored in a weather tight garage, never stored outside. There has been no rodents in the building since I owned it from 1999. This is a presumptuous statement I refuted, but they wouldn’t take off, and I felt this is a warranty or recall item. There are lots of speed bumps in the North Portland neighborhood, which may have caused the…
NHTSA complaint #11712835 · source
Filed Dec 26, 2025GASeats & Seat Belts
I received a 2021 Insight Seat Weight Sensor Safety Recall in September 2025 saying that recall replacement parts were now available at Honda Dealers. Ever since I received this notice, none of the Atlanta area Honda dealers are able to remedy the defect in my vehicle due to lack of parts, contrary to the notice saying parts are available.
NHTSA complaint #11707122 · source
Filed Nov 24, 2025CAEngine
Under certain circumstances, the portion of the PCU that controls charging of the 12 volt accessory battery malfunctions, sending the PCU into a "fail safe" mode, preventing battery charging and activating warning displays for the driver. This has caused my vehicle to stall while driving, potentially increasing the risk of a crash. Other honda hybrids during this year have been recalled but not by my VIN number, however I am having the exact same issue. Below has me give a…
NHTSA complaint #11701339 · source
Filed Nov 12, 2025FLBrakes
The brake servo control unit feel simulator which reduces the simulation force provided to the brake pedal during emergency or failed conditions and is a key component of realizing a Regenerative Braking System. It provides a good pedal feeling to a driver, improves energy recovery and ensures braking security. My safety has been put at risk as that part is integral to my brake system (including the hybrid function) e.g. my car was in reverse and the brakes were not…
NHTSA complaint #11699002 · source
Filed Oct 31, 2025GUElectrical System
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
NHTSA complaint #11696866 · source

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Other 2021 Honda models

Source: U.S. National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) Office of Defects Investigation public data, as of Oct 10, 2026. Complaints are submitted by owners and are not verified by NHTSA or by us; a complaint does not prove a defect exists. View this vehicle on NHTSA.gov Methodology