Family hatchback · 2000–2021 cars
Honda Insight reliability
The Honda Insight fails 29.1% of first MOT tests, 22% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage, based on 29,893 DVSA MOT tests from 2022 to 2024.
Checking a Honda Insight before you buy?
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- 29.1%
- first-time MOT fail rate (all cars: 28.4%)
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- 22% fewer
- fails than cars of the same age and mileage
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- 29,893
- MOT tests analysed, 2022 to 2024
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
- 10,700
- typical miles a year, from MOT readings
MOT fail rate by age
How the Honda Insight ages
Each point is the share of Honda Insights of that age that failed their MOT first time, against all cars of the same age.
| Age at MOT (years) | Honda Insight | All cars |
|---|---|---|
| 7 | 27.5% | 22.1% |
| 8 | 20.9% | 25.5% |
| 9 | 21.3% | 28.8% |
| 10 | 25.3% | 31.8% |
| 11 | 28.3% | 34.6% |
| 12 | 29% | 37.3% |
| 13 | 31.1% | 39.5% |
| 14 | 33.6% | 41.1% |
| 15 | 33.5% | 42.3% |
By year
The best and worst Honda Insight years
2013 cars come out best and 2010 cars worst, once age and mileage are taken into account.
| First registered | Tests | Fail rate | Against same-age cars | Typical mileage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2014 | 975 | 21.1% | 26% fewer fails | 92,291 |
| 2013 Insight | 1,707 | 23.7% | 25% fewer fails | 103,248 |
| 2012 Insight | 4,398 | 26.5% | 24% fewer fails | 111,472 |
| 2011 Insight | 5,865 | 28.2% | 24% fewer fails | 108,915 |
| 2010 Insight | 9,313 | 30.8% | 20% fewer fails | 99,890 |
| 2009 Insight | 6,819 | 31.8% | 21% fewer fails | 101,450 |
| 2001 | 209 | 33% | 23% fewer fails | 143,322 |
Common problems
What fails most on a Honda Insight
Failures by area, against cars of the same age and mileage.
Fail rate by area
- Lights and electrics15.5%8% below avg
- Suspension6.7%53% below avg
- Brakes6.2%33% below avg
- Tyres5.8%21% below avg
- Windscreen, wipers and mirrors4.9%15% below avg
- Body, chassis and structure1.8%64% below avg
- Steering1.3%56% below avg
- Seat belts and airbags0.9%39% below avg
- Exhaust, emissions and leaks0.8%83% below avg
Average for cars of the same age and mileage
Top MOT failures
- 1
Position lamp not working 4.69% of tests
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen 2.7% of tests
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 3
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm 2.19% of tests
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 4
Dipped beam headlamp not working 2.13% of tests
A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.
- 5
Tyre tread below 1.6mm 1.74% of tests
Tread below 1.6mm is illegal and reduces grip in wet conditions, so the tyre must be replaced.
- 6
Registration plate lamp not working 1.59% of tests
A dark number plate lamp makes the plate hard to read at night, which is illegal and must be fixed.
- 7
Headlamp beam pattern obviously incorrect 1.47% of tests
A wrongly shaped beam can dazzle other drivers and reduce your own view of the road, so the lamps need correcting.
- 8
Anti-roll bar linkage dust cover unsealed 1.42% of tests
A damaged dust cover lets dirt into the linkage joint, speeding wear and possibly needing a future repair.
Most common advisories
Not a fail yet, but worth pricing in: these show up on a Honda Insight's MOT certificate most often.
- Tyre worn close to legal limit11.54%
- Brake disc pitted or scored10.41%
- Brake pads wearing thin8.26%
- Tyre slightly damaged or cracking8.22%
- Headlamp lens has a coating5.24%
- Shock absorber light oil misting3.53%
Before you buy
What to check on a used Honda Insight
- 1
Position lamp not working
A failed position lamp makes the car harder to see in poor light and is illegal, so it must be repaired.
- 2
Wiper blade not clearing windscreen
Wipers that do not clear the windscreen reduce visibility in rain, which is a safety risk, so replace them.
- 3
Brake pads worn below 1.5mm
Pads worn below 1.5mm lose stopping power and can damage discs, so replacement is needed before the car is driven.
- 4
Dipped beam headlamp not working
A failed dipped beam makes it hard to see and be seen at night, so the lamp needs fixing before driving.
- 5
Every MOT since new
Look for the faults above coming back year after year: it shows how the car has been looked after.
- 6
The mileage record
A typical Honda Insight covers about 10,700 miles a year. A big gap or a drop between MOTs is a warning sign.
- 7
Finance, stolen and write-off
The records the MOT can't show. A Full Check (£9.99) covers all three before you hand over any money.
Fuel types tested
- Hybrid43.6%
- Petrol25.9%
- Electric15.6%
- Other14.7%
- Diesel0.2%
- LPG0%
Most common colours
Silver, Black, Blue, White, Red
Average engine size: 1.3 litres.
Compare
How the Honda Insight compares with its rivals
| Model | Fail rate | Against same-age cars |
|---|---|---|
| Honda Insight | 29.1% | 22% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Mitsubishi Lancer | 33.2% | 15% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Volkswagen Bora | 41.4% | 7% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age |
| SEAT Toledo | 30% | 6% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Hyundai Coupe | 48% | 18% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Citroën DS4 | 42.3% | 33% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
| Fiat Tipo | 26.1% | 52% more MOT fails than the average car its age |
Every family hatchback ranked in the family hatchback reliability index, or all Honda models.
Questions
Honda Insight questions, answered
Is the Honda Insight reliable?
On MOT results, the Honda Insight is better than average: it fails 29.1% of first MOT tests, 22% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age and mileage. It ranks 8 of 65 family hatchback models in our index.
What fails most on a Honda Insight MOT?
The most common MOT failures on the Honda Insight are position lamp not working (4.69% of tests), wiper blade not clearing windscreen (2.7% of tests), brake pads worn below 1.5mm (2.19% of tests). By area, lights and electrics fails 15.5% of its tests.
Which Honda Insight year is the most reliable?
Among years with 1,000+ tests, 2013 cars do best (25% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age) and 2010 cars do worst (20% fewer MOT fails than the average car its age).
How many miles does a Honda Insight do a year?
A typical Honda Insight covers about 10,700 miles a year, from the mileage recorded at its MOTs. Check the car you're looking at against that with a free mileage check.
How do I check a Honda Insight before I buy it?
Enter its registration for a free check of its MOT history, mileage, ULEZ status and tax. Before you pay, a Full Check (£9.99) shows outstanding finance, stolen and write-off records.
Source: DVSA anonymised MOT test results, 2022 to 2024, class 4 vehicles aged 3 to 25, normal tests only. How we compare like with like: our methodology.
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