Honda Insight Complaints

519 consumer complaints on file.

#10296694December 22, 2009
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2001 HONDA INSIGHT. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH SHE SMELLED A CHEMICAL ODOR, AND SAW FLAMES BEHIND HER. SHE PULLED OVER AND ATTEMPTED TO PUT OUT OF THE FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT WAS ABLE TO EXTINGUISH THE FLAMES. THE ENTIRE INTERIOR OF THE VEHICLE WAS DESTROYED. . THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO A LOCAL REPAIR FACILITY, AND WAS IN THE PROCESS OF BEING INSPECTED. THE DEALER WAS CONTACTED AND THEY WILL SEND SOMEONE OUT TO TAKE PICTURES OF THE VEHICLE DAMAGE. SHE SPECULATED THAT BATTERY FAILURE CAUSED THE FIRE. NO REPAIRS WERE MADE. THE FAILURE AND CURRENT MILEAGES WERE 100000.
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10293334November 24, 2009
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING
MONDAY MORNING I HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING MY CAT TO THE VET. I PUT HER IN A PET CARRIER AND PUT THE CARRIER IN MY 2001 HONDA INSIGHT WITH THE PET DOOR FACING FORWARD. I GOT ON THE 101 N. IN LOS ANGELES AND HAD DRIVEN ONLY A FEW MILES WHEN I SMELLED A STRONG CHEMICAL ODOR. THINKING THE SMELL WAS COMING PERHAPS FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE I CONTINUED. THEN MY DOOR OPEN LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR FILLED WITH A THICK SMOKE. I LOOKED BEHIND ME AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM BELOW AND BEHIND THE CAT CARRIER. I QUICKLY PULLED ACROSS THE HIGHWAY LUCKILY THERE WAS AN EXIT WITH A VERY SHORT EXIT RAMP. I STOPPED THE CAR AND OPENED MY DOOR AND THREW MY PURSE OUT OF THE CAR, OPENED THE DOOR TO THE PET CARRIER AND REMOVED MY CAT. BY THIS TIME THE FLAMES AND SMOKE HAD INCREASED. I TRIED TO OPEN THE BACK HATCHBACK HOPING TO SMOTHER THE FLAMES WITH A COAT BUT THE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED AND THE INTENSITY OF THE FIRE HAD ESCALATED. I MOVED AWAY FROM THE CAR AND YELLED FOR HELP. I WAS ABLE TO CALL 911 AND THE FIRE AND POLICE ARRIVED IN A FEW MOMENTS. I TOOK MANY PICTURES WITH MY CELL PHONE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT THE FIRE WHICH COMPLETELY MELTED THE HOOD OF THE CAR. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND MY HUSBAND AND I ARE THE ONLY OWNERS. WE HAVE ALL SERVICE RECORDS AND HAVE REPLACED RECALLED ITEMS INCLUDING THE BATTERY AND THE OXYGEN SENSOR. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
Yes
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10247598November 3, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING
TL*THE CONTACT OWNS A 2002 HONDA INSIGHT. WHILE DRIVING APPROXIMATELY 50 MPH AT NIGHT, THE HIGH BEAMS WERE ACTIVATED. WHEN THE CONTACT ATTEMPTED TO ACTIVATE THE LOW BEAM LIGHTS, THEY COMPLETELY DIMMED. THE VEHICLE WAS RETURNED TO HER RESIDENCE AND HER HUSBAND REPLACED THE BULBS AND CHECKED THE RELAY. HER HUSBAND THOUGHT THAT THE RELAYS NEEDED TO BE REPLACED; HOWEVER, WHEN THE DEALER INSPECTED THE VEHICLE, THEY STATED THAT THE RELAYS WERE NOT DEFECTIVE. THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE HAS NOT BEEN DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED AND THEY STATED THAT THERE WAS A RECALL; HOWEVER, HER VEHICLE WAS NOT INCLUDED. THEY ALSO STATED THAT THEY WOULD REIMBURSE HER IF ANOTHER RECALL WAS OPENED AND WAS RELATED TO HER VIN. THE CURRENT MILEAGE WAS 104,565 AND FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 104,321. UPDATED 11-25-08 *BF THE SWTICH ON THE STEERING COLUMN WAS REPLACED. UPDATED 11/26/08. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10231255June 17, 2008
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
WHEN MEASURED WITH A TRIFIELD METER, THE ELECTROMAGNETIC FIELD (EMF) IMPACTING THE DRIVER AND PASSENGER ARE DANGEROUSLY HIGH. THE DRIVER IS RECEIVING UP TO 135 MILLIGAUSS (MG) AT THE HIP, AND UP TO 100 MG IN THE UPPER TORSO AND HEAD AREA. (UNDER 10 MG IS CONSIDERED SAFE.) SEE HTTP://CONSUMERAFFAIRS.COM/AUTOMOTIVE/HONDA_INSIGHT.HTML. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217001February 5, 2008
EXTERIOR LIGHTING:HEADLIGHTS:SWITCH
WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY MY LOW BEAMS WENT OUT... SMOKE WAS COMING OUT FROM THE STEERING WHEEL... CONDUCTED RESEARCH AND FOUND THIS RECALL: ID 04V086000 FROM FEB, 24 2004. CALLED HONDA AND THEY MENTIONED THAT THERE IS NO PROBLEM WITH THIS ISSUE. THIS IS THE SECOND TIME IT HAPPENS TO ME. FIRST TIME I TOOK IT TO A REGULAR MECHANIC THAT REPLACED THE SWITCH... THIS TIME I AM ALSO PAYING FOR IT. I THINK THERE IS SOMETHING WRONG WITH THE HARNESS... *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10217002February 5, 2008
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CAR STARTED JUDDERING AND LOOSING POWER. I TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER BECAUSE THERE WAS A "JUDDER RECALL". AFTER GETTING THE CAR BACK, TRANSMISSION IS NOT WORKING CORRECTLY. CONTACTED AMERICAN HONDA AND THEY MENTIONED TO ME THAT THE FLYWHEEL HAD GREASE AND HAD TO BE REPLACED. AMERICAN HONDA DENIED MY CLAIM TO GET THIS COVERED. CVT TRANSMISSION IS SKIPPING, JUDDERING AND FAILS TO DELIVER POWER CORRECTLY. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10215563January 21, 2008
STRUCTURE:BODY:DOOR
BOTH DOORS ON OUR 2000 THE HONDA ODYSSEY GET STUCK AND POSE A SAFETY THREAT. *TR
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10198329August 2, 2007
AIR BAGS
I HAVE A 2006 HONDA INSIGHT. WE ARE DUE WITH OUR FIRST CHILD IN SEPTEMBER 2007. WE WILL NEED THE VEHICLE TO TRANSPORT OUR CHILD TO AND FROM DAYCARE. OUR DEALER HAS REFUSED TO DISABLE THE AIRBAG TO MAKE THE CAR SAFER FOR AN INFANT IN A CARSEAT. I WOULD LIKE ADVISE/AUTHORIZATION ON HOW TO PROCEED TO MAKE OUR CAR SAFE FOR OUR SOON TO BE BORN INFANT. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10178554January 12, 2007
TIRES
TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HEARS A HUMMING IN HIS DRIVER & PASSENGER REAR RUN FLAT TIRES OF HIS 2005 HONDA ODYSSEY WITH AN ODOMETER READING 30,000 MILES. HE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE HONDA DEALER. ALTHOUGH THEY CAN HEAR THE HUMMING, THEY TOLD THE CONTACT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *NM
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10177939January 5, 2007
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
TL* - THE CONTACT'S 2000 HYBRID HONDA INSIGHT HAD A DEFECTIVE BATTERY. WHILE DRIVING AT NIGHT THE VEHICLE LOST POWER . DURING THE LAST INCIDENT THE CAR BECAME STRANDED ON A BUSY ROAD IN THE DARK WITHOUT ANY LIGHTS. THE DEALER TOLD HIM TO COME IN SO THAT THEY COULD REPAIR THE BATTERY.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10175877December 11, 2006
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
I DROVE MY (ALWAYS GARAGED) INSIGHT TO WORK ON A COLD MORNING WHERE THE TEMPERATURE WAS ABOUT 15 DEGREES WHEN I REACHED MY PLACE OF WORK AT 7:20 A.M. I RETURNED TO MY VEHICLE, IN THE PARKING LOT AT A LITTLE AFTER 12:00 P.M. TO FIND THAT THE REAR GLASS WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED. THIS IS THE MAIN REAR GLASS THAT INCLUDES THE WINDOW DEFROSTER AND IS ONLY AVAILABLE THROUGH GENUINE HONDA PARTS. THERE IS NO AFTERMARKET MANUFACTURER OF THIS GLASS. MY PARKING LOT HAS FULL TIME SECURITY WITH CAMERAS IN PLACE. NO EXTERIOR FORCE, OTHER THAN THE ENVIRONMENT, HAD ANY EFFECT ON THE MALFUNCTION OF THE CAR'S REAR GLASS. THE ONLY THING I CAN IMAGINE IS THAT THE SUN HEATED THE COLD ALUMINUM HATCH AT A MUCH FASTER RATE THAN IT HEATED THE GLASS. THIS CAUSED THE GLASS TO BURST AND SHATTER. THERE WAS NO IMPACT MARK LIKE A ROCK OR BLUNT OBJECT MIGHT CREATE. BUT RATHER THERE WAS A FRACTURE ALL ALONG THE PERIMETER OF THE GLASS. UPON CONTACTING HONDA, AND TAKING THE VEHICLE TO THE DEALER WHERE ALL SERVICE IN THE PAST HAS BEEN DONE, THEY DECLINED, ON BEHALF OF HONDA USA, TO TAKE ANY RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE DEFECT IN THE AUTOMOBILE. THEREFORE, I HAD TO USE OUT OF POCKET AND INSURANCE TO TAKE CARE OF THIS CLEARLY DEFECTIVE PART. I TOOK PICTURES AND DOCUMENTED THE BROKEN GLASS. HONDA MOTOR COMPANY USA SHOULD TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR AN UNSAFE AND DEFECTIVE REAR GLASS. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10166287August 23, 2006
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:12V/24V/48V BATTERY
PRIOR TO THE INCIDENT DATE, THE IMA BATTERY IN MY 2000 HONDA INSIGHT, HAS REPEATEDLY LOST ITS CHARGE, RAPIDLY (CALLED A "RECALL EVENT"). THIS CAUSES AN UNEXPECTED HESITATION AND LACK OF ACCELERATION. ON THE INCIDENT DATE, I WAS ENTERING A HIGHWAY FROM AN ON RAMP AND COULDN'T ACCELERATE AT THE RATE THAT I WAS ACCUSTOMED TO, BECAUSE THE IMA BATTERY HAD QUICKLY AND UNEXPECTEDLY DISCHARGED. THIS RESULTED IN ME BLOCKING UPCOMING TRAFFIC AND SEVERAL DRIVERS HAD TO PERFORM AVOIDANCE MANEUVERS. THIS SUDDEN, UNEXPECTED LOSS OF IMA ASSIST, IS INDICATIVE OF A FAILING/AGING IMA BATTERY. HONDA'S COMPUTER MONITORING SYSTEM DOES NOT REGISTER/DETECT THIS AS A MIL CODE. IT IS ONLY A MATTER OF TIME UNTIL THIS UNEXPECTED LOSS OF ACCELERATION CAUSE A LOSS OF LIFE. MORE INFORMATION ON THIS CAN BE FOUND ON: HTTP://WWW.INSIGHTCENTRAL.NET/FORUM/VIEWTOPIC.PHP?T=750 THIS FORUM IS MADE OF INSIGHT OWNERS AND I DON'T PUT A LOT OF STOCK IN THEIR EXPLANATIONS OF WHAT A RECALL EVENT IS. I CAN SAY DEFINITIVELY THAT 1). THESE RECALL EVENTS BECOME MORE FREQUENT AS THE IMA BATTERY AGES AND 2).THEY ARE DANGEROUS, AS OUTLINED ABOVE. HONDA WILL NOT REPLACE THE BATTERY, EVEN THOUGH IT IS UNDER WARRANTY, UNLESS A MIL IS GENERATED. THIS WILL ONLY HAPPEN WHEN THE IMA BATTERY IS HEAVILY DEGRADED. THE RECALL EVENTS, HOWEVER, OCCUR WITH LESS THAN THIS LEVEL OF DEGRADATION AND HONDA'S MONITORING SYSTEM IGNORES THIS DANGEROUS SITUATION. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10162404July 14, 2006
SUSPENSION:REAR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS ABNORMAL NOISE WAS OBSERVED IN THE REAR AXLE. UPON INSPECTION, EXCESIVE WEAR WAS OBSERVED IN THE REAR TIRES. A VEHICLE OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL BUT A YEAR OLDER OWNED BY THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS IN THE REAR AXLE. NEW TIRES WERE INSTALLED IN THE REAR AND THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED ALIGNMENT AT NO COST.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10160000June 16, 2006
POWER TRAIN:MANUAL TRANSMISSION, ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50MPH, AND SHIFTING TO 3RD GEAR THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO 1ST GEAR WITHOUT WARNING WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE ENGINE DID NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT ALERTED.
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10139700October 14, 2005
WHEELS
DT: THE CONTACT OWNS A 2000 HONDA INSIGHT. THE CAR MADE VERY MINIMAL NOISE. HAD SCHEDULED THE CAR TO BE LOOKED AT. PRIOR TO THE ACCIDENT THE CAR HAD BEEN IN THE SHOP WITH ALL FOUR TIRES OFF THE CAR. WHEN THE CONTACT THE CAR BACK THERE WAS NEW NOISE. BROUGHT THE CAR BACK TO THE DEALER NEXT DAY. THE CONTACT WAS TOLD THAT WRONG LUGS:NUTS WERE ON THE TIRES. THEY REPLACED THEM, AND THE CONTACT TOOK THE CAR. 3,000 MILES LATER, WITH LESS OF A NOISE , MADE A TURN AND THE CAR DID NOT MAKE THE TURN AND STOPPED. THE CONTACT GOT OUT OF THE CAR AND NOTICED THE TIRE WAS STILL GOING DOWN THE ROAD WITH THE CAR IN BETWEEN OTHER CARS . PICKED UP THE TIRE, MADE PHONE CALLS TO GET THE CAR TOWED. WHEN THE CONTACT ASKED THE DEALER WHAT HAPPENED, THE DEALER TOLD THE CONTACT THAT THEY ORIGINALLY THOUGHT THE CAR HAD BEEN VANDALIZED. BECAUSE ALL OF THE TIRES WERE COMPLETELY LOOSE BECAUSE THE RIMS AND POST WERE MADE OUT OF ALUMINUM. THE CAR WAS NOT SAFE TO DRIVE UNLESS THE RIMS AND POST WERE REPLACED. WHEN CALLING HONDA, THEY TOLD THE CONTACT THAT NOTHING WAS TO BE DONE, AND THAT IT WASN'T THEIR FAULT. THE DEALER DID NOT FEEL RESPONSIBLE , EVEN ON A MAINTENANCE LEVEL TO ADVISE THE CONTACT OF THIS EVEN 3000 MILES EARLIER WHEN TIRES WERE OFF THE CAR, AND TWO NEW TIRES WERE PUT ON. THE RIMS COST $500 EACH. MAKING IT A TOTAL OF $2,000. *AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10104451December 24, 2004
VISIBILITY:GLASS, SIDE/REAR
THE REAR HATCH WINDOW OF THE INSIGHT "SELF-DESTRUCTED" WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS PARKED IN THE GARAGE OVERNIGHT. THE WEATHER HAD BEEN EXTREMELY COLD (IN THE TEENS), THE CAR HAD BEEN PARKED OUTSIDE ALL DAY WHILE AT WORK, AND THE REAR DEFROSTER HAD BEEN USED ON THE COMMUTE HOME. THE FOLLOWING MORNING, THE WINDOW WAS FOUND STILL BE IN PLACE BUT WAS BROKEN AROUND THE ENTIRE PERIMETER AND THE WINDOW ITSELF WAS COMPLETELY SHATTERED BEING HELD IN PLACE BY THE LAMINATE. THROUGH SOME ONLINE RESEARCH, I TRACKED DOWN ANOTHER INSIGHT OWNER WHO HAD REPORTED THE EXACT SAME PROBLEM ON "YAHOO! GROUPS" TWO WEEKS EARLIER. I CONTACTED HIM AND FOUND THAT HIS WINDOW HAD "SELF-DESTRUCTED" IN THE EXACT SAME MANNER AFTER BEING PARKED OUTSIDE IN COLD WEATHER. I BROUGHT MY CAR TO THE LOCAL HONDA DEALERSHIP ALONG WITH THE RESULTS OF MY RESEARCH AND THEY CONTACTED HONDA AMERICA. HONDA AMERICA TOLD THE DEALER THERE WERE NO PROBLEMS WITH THE WINDOW THAT THEY WERE AWARE OF AND THAT THEY CONSIDER IT NORMAL DAMAGE THAT WILL HAVE TO BE PAID FOR (MY INSURANCE IS COVERING IT). AS THE INSIGHT IS A RATHER LIMITED PRODUCTION VEHICLE, THE REPAIR PARTS WILL TAKE A FEW DAYS TO OBTAIN. FOR THIS REASON, THE CURRENT DAMAGED PART (WINDOW) IS STILL AVAILABLE SHOULD AN INVESTIGATION BE WARRANTED. I CONSIDER THIS A POTENTIAL SAFETY ISSUE AS THERE IS THE POSSIBILITY FOR THE WINDOW TO SPONTANEOUSLY BREAK WHILE THE CAR IS BEING DRIVEN. LUCKILY MYSELF AND THE OTHER OWNER HAD OUR VEHICLES PARKED AT THE TIME SO WE DID NOT HAVE ANY MOVING VEHICLE ISSUES. THIS WOULD APPEAR TO BE A CONCERN FOR PEOPLE WITH INSIGHT'S IN COLD WEATHER CLIMATES.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10101700December 21, 2004
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:RETRACTOR
THE PASSENGER'S SIDE SEAT BELT RETRACTOR FAILED. AS A RESULT THE SEAT BELT COULD NOT BE USED. *AK *SC THE CONSUMER STATED THIS WAS THE SECOND TIME IN A FIVE MONTH PERIOD THE RETRACTOR FAILED. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10098794November 13, 2004
POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION
CVT TRANSMISSION FAILING AT 51,000. VEHICLE BEGAN SMALL RANDOM SHUDDERS IN THE 40,000'S... (LIKE WHEN YOU PURCHASE CHEAP GASOLINE). THREE DAYS AGO MAJOR PROLONGED SHUDDERING AT ACCELERATION BEGAN, SO THAT EVEN THOUGH I HAD MY FOOT ON THE ACCELERATOR THE VEHICLE DID NOT MOVE FORWARD IN ITS USUAL MANNER. LUCKILY VEHICLES BEHIND ME WERE OBSERVING DISTANCE. DEALERSHIP DIAGNOSTIC ON 11/12/2004 REVEALED TRANSMISSION PROBLEMS. NO ACTION YET TAKEN. *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10079404July 15, 2004
SEAT BELTS:FRONT:BUCKLE ASSEMBLY
THE FRONT PASSENGER SEAT BELT MECHANISM FAILED AND WOULD NOT RELEASE. THE DEALER WAS NOTIFIED. *AK *SC *JB
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0
#10080679July 9, 2004
ENGINE AND ENGINE COOLING:ENGINE
(1) AT 5000 MILES, WE HAD THE OIL CHANGED IN OUR 2003 HONDA INSIGHT AT RON NORRIS HONDA IN TITUSVILLE, FL. (2) AFTER 20 MILES, THE OIL PRESSURE LIGHT CAME ON AND WE HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO THE DEALER. THE DEALER CONCLUDED THAT THE OIL FILTER HAD NOT SEALED TO THE ENGINE PROPERLY AND ALL FO THE OIL HAD LEAKED OUT. THE ENGINE WAS DAMAGED. (3) THE DEALER REPLACED THE ENGINE AND PURCHASED AN EXTENDED WARRANTY FOR THE CAR. THE DEALER WOULD PROBABLY BE INTERESTED IN THE NHTSA'S INVESTIGATION ON SIMILAR EVENTS ON CRVS.*AK
Crash:
No
Fire:
No
Injuries:
0
Deaths:
0

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