Whether you own a brand-new Honda Insight or a used model, there is a good chance that you may encounter some problems. If so, you should know what they are and how to deal with them.
Excessive Oil Consumption
Having excessive oil consumption in your car is not a new problem. According to Honda’s owner’s manual, oil should be changed every 7,500 to 10,000 miles. However, this is not always true. Some engines burn oil, and this may be a sign of a malfunctioning fuel pump.
The good news is that American Honda has stepped up and extended its warranty for engine oil consumption. This warranty is valid for eight years or 100,000 miles and covers the cost of the repair. Depending on the repair, it can be as little as a few hundred dollars, or as much as thousands of dollars.
In addition to extending the warranty, American Honda also offers an assortment of oil change options. Hare Honda strives to find the best solution for your specific vehicle.
The other big news is that the company has found a way to test oil consumption. By placing a syringe into the intake, the dealership can determine how much oil your car is consuming. The result is a numerical value, which they call an “oil flow chart.”
One consumer claims that his car has the same problem, and he was told by his dealer to bring it in after 1,000 miles. Afterward, the dealer discovered that the oil level was very low. He added some oil, but he had to do it again seven days later.
Cracked Fuel Pump
Almost 1.4 million Honda and Acura vehicles have been recalled in the United States and Canada because of a defect with the fuel pump. The faulty pumps could result in an engine stall or loss of power.
A defect with the fuel pump may also cause a check engine light to turn on. A low-pressure pump may be the culprit. Alternatively, a defective impeller could be the issue. A cracked impeller could lead to a malfunctioning pump.
A fuel pump’s main function is to move gasoline from the gas tank to the engine. However, a failure with the pump can lead to an engine stall, an unexpected stall, and even a crash. The pump can also malfunction because it does not have enough lubrication.
In January, Honda announced a fuel pump recall, but it did not reveal how many cars were affected. Eventually, the company increased its investigation in Europe and around the world, and now, they have announced nearly 40,000 models will be recalled.
The problem is that a fuel pump can have a cracked impeller. This is not a huge deal, but the company is now looking into replacing the fuel pump, free of charge.
Faulty Airbags
Thousands of Honda vehicles are among the 51 million vehicles in the world being recalled due to faulty Takata airbags. They’re being recalled because the inflators could rupture during a crash, spraying metal fragments inside the vehicle. These metal fragments can harm passengers and drivers, and can even cause death.
The NHTSA estimates that the 2001-2003 model year Honda vehicles have a 50 percent chance of having a faulty inflator. Honda has not yet announced any new models for which it will replace airbags.
As part of the recall, Honda is urging owners to take their older vehicles into the dealership to have the fuel pump assembly replaced. If parts are unavailable, the dealership can disable the airbags.
There have been 30 injuries linked to faulty Takata airbags in Honda vehicles. The most recent was a woman killed in a 2005 Civic that shot out shrapnel.
Honda has recalled more than two million vehicles in the U.S. and has said it will add another 21 million to the list. The Japanese automaker has also recalled vehicles in China and Japan. It has a 54 percent recall completion rate, but the company’s overall repair rate is only 25 percent.
Chewed Electrical Wires
Several complaints have been made by Honda Insight owners about their electrical system, specifically related to chewed wires. The problem appears to be widespread, and it affects vehicles from the 2012 through 2015 model years.
According to the suit, Honda’s rodent-attracting wiring coating is defective. It’s also not safe. The wires can be chewed through and cause electrical fires, as well as death. They can also attract small animals.
One of the plaintiffs in the suit, Greg Delaney, owns a Honda dealership. He claims that his customers were not warned about the wire coating’s attraction to rodents. They instead had to pay for repairs out of pocket.
Another plaintiff, Leo Horowitz, bought a new Honda Accord in April 2018. He went to his local dealer for service. He noticed that a few months later, the dealership had replaced the wires again. This time, the wires were not covered with special tape. They were exposed, and there were pieces of black protective casing visible below them.
While repairing the damaged wires, the mechanic found a rabbit living inside the engine. He towed the car 80 miles to the dealership, where it stayed for five hours before being repaired.
Uncomfortable Seats
Having spent a fair amount of time in the Honda Insight, I’ve come to the conclusion that these seats are not very comfortable. The seat is functionally designed, but it’s a little stiff in the middle thoracic area.
The Honda Insight also has a large trunk. The 416L trunk is well positioned in the rear of the car, with ample room for items of average weight. The front and rear seats can fold down from the trunk, allowing for a sizable amount of cargo space. However, I’ve never found a way to close the lid of the trunk without the use of a hand.
The Insight has a few other features to brag about, such as its 8.0-inch touchscreen and available built-in navigation system. The Insight also features standard forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking.
The Insight also boasts a very smooth ride, along with well-judged weight distribution. It’s also a good choice for rear-facing car seats, as it offers a larger-than-average amount of legroom.
The Honda Insight is also a great family sedan, offering a spacious interior, an easy-to-use infotainment system, and a smooth hybrid powertrain.
The Battery Light
Having a problem with your Honda Insight’s battery? What should you do? Luckily, there are some common reasons why your battery light may be on and some possible fixes.
Having trouble with your electrical system can affect your radio, climate control, and even the headlights. You don’t want to have complete power loss, which increases the risk of an accident. It is also wise to check with a certified automotive technician to ensure that your car is safe to drive.
If your car’s battery is low on juice, it won’t be able to start the engine. It will also have a hard time playing your radio or charging your phone.
The best way to check if your battery is working properly is to push and hold the POWER button for three seconds. This should turn off the battery light. If not, it is likely your battery needs a replacement.
There are several things to consider when it comes to replacing your Honda Insight’s battery. The first thing you need to do is to determine whether the battery is defective or just bad. If it is a damaged battery, then it should be replaced, which is covered by the manufacturer’s warranty.
Transmission Performance
Whether you have a brand new or used Honda Insight, there are a few things to keep an eye out for. These small problems may not be visible to the naked eye, but they can make a big impact on the vehicle’s performance.
The transmission is the heart of the car and plays a key role in delivering power to the wheels. It is a complex system with many moving parts. However, it can also be the source of odd noises, grinding when shifting gears, and a plethora of other problems. Changing the transmission fluid is an easy and inexpensive fix.
The transmission in the Insight is a hybrid transaxle based on the Accord hybrids. This unit uses an Atkinson-cycle engine and two AC motors to drive the wheels through the direct drive. This is a relatively simple system, but it requires a complex control strategy to do it well.
It also has an auto-stop feature that turns the engine off when the engine is resting. This will save you fuel and helps with efficiency.
Advantages and Disadvantages of the Honda Insight
Among the advantages of the Honda Insight is the five-star overall safety rating, which the car earned from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. It also comes with standard advanced safety systems such as forward collision warning and automatic emergency braking. It is also an environmentally friendly car. The Insight is an efficient midsize hybrid that offers a comfortable ride and good fuel economy.
The Honda Insight is a two-motor hybrid, which means that the gasoline engine is switched off when it is not needed. The electric motor recharges the battery through regenerative braking and acts as a generator during deceleration. The Insight achieves up to 55 miles per gallon of gas in the city and up to 49 mpg on the highway.
The Honda Insight is designed for efficiency and comfort, with a low center of gravity and an ultra-flat design. Its body is made up of stamped aluminum panels to form a rigid platform for the drivetrain.
The Insight’s IMA is an ultra-lightweight hybrid system that is 28 percent lighter than the Civic Hybrid. It includes a 1.3-liter SOHC i-VTEC 4-cylinder engine and an electric motor that produces a combined 98 horsepower at 5800 rpm. Insight’s IMA battery pack is located below the cargo floor between the rear wheels. Its nominal system voltage is 100.8 volts, and its nominal capacity is 5.75-ampere hours.
Dennis Watkinson is a founder of the Honda Car Review platform. He devoted his whole life to repairing Honda cars. Now Denis shares his experience and knowledge, thanks to which maintenance and use of Honda automobiles can be a pleasure.