2021 Honda Insight Safety Report
2021 HONDA INSIGHT Safety Report
Safety Decision Cockpit for the 2021 Honda Insight
This page is the hub for deciding what to inspect next on the 2021 Honda Insight. It connects recall campaigns, owner complaint patterns, service bulletins, sibling model years, component issue hubs, and the model buying guide so a shopper or owner can move from a single report into the wider safety graph.
| Signal | Value | What to inspect next |
|---|---|---|
| Recall burden | Moderate (2) | Review campaign numbers, affected components, and dealer remedies below. |
| Owner complaints | Moderate (22) | Scan complaint narratives for recurring symptoms, mileage, crashes, fires, injuries, and dates. |
| Crash and fire reports | 0 | Treat any crash, fire, injury, or fatality-linked pattern as a priority pre-purchase inspection item. |
| Primary component hub | Forward Collision Avoidance | Compare forward collision avoidance issues across vehicles. |
| Cleaner nearby model year | 2022 | Compare against the 2022 Honda Insight with 28 complaints and 2 recalls. |
| Riskier nearby model year | 2019 | Check the 2019 Honda Insight before buying across this generation. |
Honda Insight Year-by-Year Comparison
The safest purchase decision usually comes from comparing neighboring model years, not reading a single page in isolation. The table below uses only validated Honda Insight years already present in the cleaned NHTSA dataset, so each comparison links to a real vehicle safety report rather than a generated combination.
| Model Year | Complaints | Recalls | Use case |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2022 Honda Insight | 28 | 2 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2020 Honda Insight | 28 | 5 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
| 2019 Honda Insight | 94 | 7 | Inspect as a potentially higher-complaint year. |
2021 Honda Insight Complaint Theme Map
Complaint counts become more useful when they are grouped into inspection themes. For the 2021 Honda Insight, these are the component areas with the clearest NHTSA complaint signals. Use each link to jump from this single vehicle into broader component hubs and make-specific issue pages.
Forward Collision Avoidance
7 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Forward Collision Avoidance issues Honda onlyService Brakes
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Service Brakes issues Honda onlyUnknown Or Other
2 owner complaints mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Unknown Or Other issues Honda onlyFuel/Propulsion System
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Fuel/Propulsion System issues Honda onlySeats
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Seats issues Honda onlyEngine
1 owner complaint mention this component in the current safety profile.
All Engine issues Honda onlyAI Safety Analysis for the 2021 Honda Insight
Reliability Score
The 2021 Honda Insight receives a reliability score of 5 out of 100 based on analysis of NHTSA complaint data, recall history, crash reports, and safety ratings. This indicates below-average reliability. Significant issues have been reported by owners and should be carefully evaluated before purchase.
NHTSA Safety Ratings for the 2021 Honda Insight
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) evaluates vehicles through controlled crash tests and assigns star ratings from 1 to 5, with 5 being the safest.
Known Issues for the 2021 Honda Insight
The following issues have been identified from NHTSA complaint data and owner reports for the 2021 Honda Insight:
| Issue | Severity | Frequency | Typical Mileage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seat Weight Sensor Circuit Board Recalled in September 2025, this issue can cause the infotainment system to malfunction, affecting key safety features. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Dc/Dc Converter Recalled in 2020, this component can fail, leading to potential loss of power. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Forward Collision Avoidance System Malfunctions in some cases, potentially leading to unintended braking. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
| Service Brakes Can fail under certain conditions, making it difficult to stop the vehicle. |
Medium | Common | 30k-60k miles |
Common Problems Reported by Owners
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the following components account for the majority of reported issues with the 2021 Honda Insight:
Issues with the infotainment system can affect key safety features.
Recalled due to potential failure, leading to loss of power.
Recalled due to potential malfunction, affecting infotainment and safety features.
Malfunctions in some cases, potentially leading to unintended braking.
Recall Details for the 2021 Honda Insight
The following 2 recalls have been issued for the 2021 Honda Insight by NHTSA:
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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, October 18, 2024, and August 2025. 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.
Summary: 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.
Consequence: 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 Complaint Summaries for the 2021 Honda Insight
Below are complaint narratives filed by owners of the 2021 Honda Insight with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
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 ar...
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.
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...
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 t...
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
On two (2) occasions, the "collision mitigation braking system" braked with no reason. It has happened on a quiet and straight line residential street with no other moving vehicle, pedestrian, animal, or any other obstruction in view. After one second or so of braking, it returned to normal. It is available for inspection. I have not spoken to the local Honda dealer about it, and there were n...
On at least two occasions the automatic emergency braking system has activated with nothing in front of the vehicle. Several instances when cresting a steep rise in the road the forward collision warning system has activated the "BRAKE" warning light.
I am urging your immediate attention to a safety issue affecting the 2021 Honda Insight. The vehicle’s infotainment system, which controls key safety features including the Tire Pressure Monitoring System (TPMS), has failed. This malfunction prevents drivers from monitoring tire pressures, applying necessary software updates, and accessing navigation and hands-free features, which significantly in...
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...
Car emergency braking system engaged while there was nothing in front of the car. The automatic brakes were applied and the brake indicator flashed on the driver screen with no warning.
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 i...
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
I previously reported this issue to NHTSA and was given the case number [XXX]. Here is my recent letter to Honda. RE: Case #[XXX] (I was informed that this case was closed) Although I did not agree that the adaptive cruise control issue was resolved, Honda closed the referenced case. I am writing to confirm that the issue is not resolved. I rarely drive the Insight but did so yesterday on a two...
Intermittently the car’s forward collision warning will flash and occasionally start applying the brake without any other vehicles or obstacles in front of me.
driver side headlight failed. available for inspection upon request. can't drive without headlight on at nighttime or dark days. I haven't gone to dealer yet. not inspected by manufacturer yet. warning and message: headlight system problem. headlight performance may be reduced. see your dealer. First appeared on 12/12/22. and I was told by gateguard that my left headlight went out, complete off....
Several times since purchasing this vehicle the blindspot warning has lighted when no vehicles are present. It has lighted while driving next to the k rail center barrier, driving in the middle lane of a 3 lane highway, also at night when no cars are around on a 2 lane road. It has also lighted while driving in the rain with no vehicles around.
Honda has a feature called "Traffic Sign Recognition System". With its mounted cameras the car is able to capture traffic signs while driving and display them on the dashboard. THE PROBLEM: the system is not very good at reading traffic signs and posts incorrect speed limits at times. I tried to turn this feature off but Honda does not have an option for that. Displaying the incorrect speed lim...
The recent NHTSA disclosure of issues with Honda's driver-assistance technologies causes me to write about the troubling performance of adaptive cruise control on my 2021 Insight. When following another vehicle on controlled access highways, the system works fine. However if the vehicle in front enters an exit lane and slows, my car is slowed to the point that the brakes are fully applied, causing...
I have had 6 times where the collision warning has slammed on the brakes when there is no vehicles on the road in front of me. This is very dangerous when vehicles are behind you. I'm afraid that this car is going to cause a reck and get me and my wife hurt. A device that is supposed to help you has the ability to get you hurt. The dealer said that they were unable to get it to do it, and that if...
The contact owns a 2021 Honda Insight. The contact stated while driving at 55 mph, a deer jumped in front of the vehicle causing the contact to hit the deer but none of the air bags deployed. The contact mentioned that the automatic brakes were engaged during the incident. No one was injured and a police report was filed. The contact stated no warning lights were illuminated. The vehicle was towed...
Showing 20 of 22 complaints. Additional complaints are available via the NHTSA database.
NHTSA Defect Investigations for the 2021 Honda Insight
NHTSA defect investigations are higher-signal than ordinary complaints because they indicate the agency opened a formal review of a potential safety defect. Some investigations later connect to recall campaigns; others close without a recall after review.
Component: Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
Opened 2024-03-07 · Closed 2025-01-17
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 a...
Component: Forward Collision Avoidance: Automatic Emergency Braking
Opened 2025-01-17
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 a...
Component: Electrical System:Propulsion System
Opened 2023-01-27 · Closed 2023-08-07
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-spe...
Frequently Asked Questions About the 2021 Honda Insight
Has the 2021 HONDA INSIGHT been recalled?
Yes, the 2021 HONDA INSIGHT has 2 recalls on record with NHTSA. Each recall addresses a specific safety defect identified by the manufacturer or NHTSA.
How many complaints does the 2021 HONDA INSIGHT have?
The 2021 HONDA INSIGHT has 22 complaints filed with NHTSA. None of the complaints involved crashes. No injuries or deaths have been reported.
What is the safety rating for the 2021 HONDA INSIGHT?
The 2021 HONDA INSIGHT received an overall NHTSA safety rating of excellent (5/5). Frontal crash: 5/5. Side crash: 5/5. Rollover: 5/5.
What are the most common problems with the 2021 HONDA INSIGHT?
The most commonly reported problems with the 2021 HONDA INSIGHT involve forward collision avoidance (7 complaints), service brakes (2 complaints), unknown or other (2 complaints). Other affected components include fuel/propulsion system, seats, engine.
How many crash reports does the 2021 HONDA INSIGHT have?
There are no crash reports associated with the 2021 HONDA INSIGHT in the NHTSA database.
How many fire reports does the 2021 HONDA INSIGHT have?
There are no fire reports for the 2021 HONDA INSIGHT in the NHTSA database.
Are there any deaths reported for the 2021 HONDA INSIGHT?
No deaths have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 HONDA INSIGHT.
How many injuries are reported for the 2021 HONDA INSIGHT?
No injuries have been reported in NHTSA complaints for the 2021 HONDA INSIGHT.
Should I buy a 2021 HONDA INSIGHT?
Based on NHTSA data, the 2021 HONDA INSIGHT is generally recommended. It has 22 complaints, 2 recalls, and a excellent (5/5) safety rating. Always have a pre-purchase inspection done by a qualified mechanic.
What components fail most on the 2021 HONDA INSIGHT?
The components with the most failures on the 2021 HONDA INSIGHT are: 1. FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE (7 complaints), 2. SERVICE BRAKES (2 complaints), 3. UNKNOWN OR OTHER (2 complaints), 4. FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (1 complaints), 5. SEATS (1 complaints). FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE is the single most-reported problem area with 7 complaints.
What should I know before buying a 2021 HONDA INSIGHT?
Be aware of recalls and ensure all safety features are functioning properly. Regular maintenance is crucial to prevent issues. The 2021 HONDA INSIGHT has 22 NHTSA complaints and 2 recalls on record. NHTSA rates it excellent (5/5).
How reliable is the 2021 HONDA INSIGHT?
The 2021 HONDA INSIGHT receives a reliability score of 5/100, indicating below-average reliability. This is based on 22 owner complaints, 2 recalls, and 0 crash/fire reports in the NHTSA database. Key known issues include Seat Weight Sensor Circuit Board and DC/DC Converter.
What are the known issues with the 2021 HONDA INSIGHT?
Known issues with the 2021 HONDA INSIGHT include: Seat Weight Sensor Circuit Board, DC/DC Converter, Forward Collision Avoidance System, Service Brakes. These are based on patterns found across 22 NHTSA complaints. 2 of these patterns resulted in formal recalls.
What are the most common safety issues with the 2021 Honda Insight?
Common issues include forward collision avoidance system malfunctions and service brake failures.
Are there any recalls for the 2021 Honda Insight?
Yes, there are recalls for seat weight sensor circuit boards and DC/DC converter issues.
Can the infotainment system affect safety features in the 2021 Honda Insight?
Yes, issues with the infotainment system can affect key safety features like the forward collision avoidance system.
Buyer Advice
Our recommendation: Be aware of recalls and ensure all safety features are functioning properly. Regular maintenance is crucial to prevent issues.
NHTSA Data Summary for 2021 Honda Insight
This safety report is based on a comprehensive analysis of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) for the 2021 Honda Insight. The data includes 22 consumer complaints filed by vehicle owners, 2 manufacturer-initiated safety recalls, and safety rating assessments associated with this vehicle.
The NHTSA has assigned the 2021 Honda Insight an overall safety rating of 5 out of 5 stars, with a frontal crash rating of 5 stars, a side crash rating of 5 stars, and a rollover rating of 5 stars. These ratings are determined through controlled crash testing conducted by the NHTSA.
All data presented in this report is sourced from public NHTSA databases. Our AI analysis identifies patterns across complaint narratives, correlates them with recall history, and produces the safety assessment above. This analysis is updated as new complaints and recalls are filed with the NHTSA.
Consumers are encouraged to report vehicle safety problems to the NHTSA at nhtsa.gov. If your vehicle is subject to a recall, contact your dealer to schedule the free repair.
Disclaimer: This analysis is AI-generated from NHTSA public data and does not constitute professional automotive or safety advice. Always verify recall status at NHTSA.gov and consult a qualified mechanic.
Analysis last updated: 2026-05-16