2010 Honda Insight

Reliability, what owners report, and what it costs to keep.

65/100

Be careful

AVOIR's read: the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit.

What owners actually report

Owners have filed 119 complaints with NHTSA about the 2010 Honda Insight, and it carries 10 recalls. These are owner allegations rather than confirmed defects, but the pattern of what people complain about is the most useful signal a used buyer has.

Complaints by area, from NHTSA records for this model-year
Area	Complaints	Share
Air bags	47	39%
Structure	13	11%
Exterior lighting	5	4%
Visibility	4	3%
Suspension	3	3%
Electrical system	3	3%
Steering	2	2%
Air bags	2	2%
Service brakes	2	2%
Vehicle speed control	2	2%

In owners' own words

Verbatim from NHTSA complaint records, trimmed for length.

I've been told that my car is unsafe to drive and unable to pass inspection because the rear subframe is corroded at the suspension mounting points which might cause the rear suspension to fail.
NHTSA complaint: Structure

When the vehicle was recently brought in for annual PA state inspection, I was informed by the inspector that there was so much corrosion where the rear trailing arms attach to the subframe that the rear wheel on either
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

Rear trailing arm attachment points on both sides completely rusted out. Won't pass inspection as being unsafe with possibility of one or both rear wheels collapsing if a pothole is hit. Car is registered in Pennsylvan
NHTSA complaint: Suspension

Both sides of the car have rust. The similar issue happen to the HONDA CRV's 2007 through 2011 model, which have a recall already.
NHTSA complaint: Structure

UNKNOWN. Rear frame on both sides are extremely rusted. Car purchased in Ohio in 2009 and appears the salt as eroded the car.
NHTSA complaint: Structure

Corrosion of the body at the rear when exposed to normal driving conditions. The issue was validated by service center.
NHTSA complaint: Structure

The contact is a police officer with the Florida Highway Patrol. The deceased owned a 2010 Honda Insight. The vehicle was at a stop sign attempting to traverse an intersection. The deceased struck the left front of anoth
NHTSA complaint: Air bags

THE STEERING WHEEL DOESN'T COME BACK TO CENTER AT ALL. AND THIS HAS HAPPENED TO OTHERS AS YOU CAN CHECK IN THIS LINK: HTTPS://WWW.INSIGHTCENTRAL.NET/THREADS/STEERING-HANDLING.21905/ SO IF YOU LEAVE IT IN A DEGREE IT
NHTSA complaint: Steering

Recalls on record

NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns for the 2010 Honda Insight. Recalls are free to have fixed at a franchised dealer regardless of who owns the car now, but only if they were never done, so check the VIN of the specific car rather than trusting the model.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module 18V661000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississipp

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-21

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module 18V268000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air b

Risk: An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda

Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module 19V500000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped wi

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138.

Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module 19V502000

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-201

Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.

Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-21

The seven scores

Reliability raw	54	average
Longevity est.	70	good
Maintenance	86	excellent
Depreciation	65	good
Performance	37	below average
Efficiency	64	average

How it compares in its class

Percentile ranks against other compact cars in the catalog.

Reliability: better than 4% of compact cars
Longevity: better than 14% of compact cars
Running costs: better than 69% of compact cars
Value retention: better than 64% of compact cars

Which of these numbers are measured

What stands behind each score for this car:

Reliability 54: from NHTSA recalls and complaints. This one is a raw count: we do not have a sales figure for this model, so a high-volume car looks worse here than it should.
Longevity 70: an estimate from powertrain and brand record. No 200,000-mile population exists for a 2010 car yet, so this is a prior, not evidence.
Maintenance 86: repair-cost data where we have it for this model, otherwise a mechanical-complexity estimate from engine size, cylinder count and drivetrain.
Safety: no score. NHTSA crash testing thins out for older vehicles and we would rather show nothing than guess.

Common questions

What goes wrong with the 2010 Honda Insight?

Owners have filed 119 complaints with NHTSA for this model-year, and air bags is the most reported area with 47 of them (39%). There are 10 recalls on record. Check any specific car against its VIN before buying.

Is the 2010 Honda Insight reliable?

AVOIR scores its reliability 54/100 (average) from NHTSA recall campaigns and complaint density. That figure is a raw complaint count, not yet adjusted for sales volume, so a high-volume model scores worse than it deserves.

How long will a 2010 Honda Insight last?

AVOIR scores its longevity 70/100, but that figure is an estimate built from the powertrain and the brand's record, not a measurement. A 2010 car has no 200,000-mile population to observe yet, so treat it as a prior rather than evidence.

Should I buy a 2010 Honda Insight?

AVOIR's read: be careful, because the numbers are mixed and the complaint record is worth reading before you commit. Its overall ownership score is 65/100. Condition, mileage and service history still matter more than any score, so get a pre-purchase inspection on the specific car.

Sources: NHTSA recalls and complaints, EPA fuel economy, IIHS awards, and live market listings. A score describes a model-year, not the individual car in front of you. Get a pre-purchase inspection.