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2010 Honda Insight problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
17%
9 of 53 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2010 Honda Insight. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 17% of relevant complaints.

Better than 91% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 66 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 8%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2010 Honda Insight have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 9 of 53 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Honda Insight concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (17%). For comparison, the 2011 scores 50%. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.

Drivetrain complaints
9
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
119
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
10
21 crashes · 11 injuries

Complaints by component

AIR BAGS57 · 48%
SERVICE BRAKES17 · 14%
STRUCTURE15 · 13%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL8 · 7%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING7 · 6%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7 · 6%

The years either side

2010
17%
9 of 119
2011
50%
6 of 41
2012
79%
38 of 59
2013
95%
35 of 45
2014
too few complaints
2015
no data
2016
no data
2017
no data
2018
no data
2019
21%
18 of 98
2020
23%
7 of 31
2021
14%
3 of 25
2022
13%
4 of 32
2023
no data

Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.

What owners reported

SUSPENSION,POWER TRAIN,WHEELS07/17/2016CRASH
MY HONDA 2010 INSIGHT - VEHICLE ROLLS BACK AFTER RELEASING BRAKE GOING UP HILL. THIS INTERMITTENTLY HAPPENED SINCE BUYING VEHICLE LAST YEAR AROUND 2/30/2015. LAST YEAR AROUND THE MONTH OF JUNE - A ROLL-BACK CAUSED VEHICLE TO ROLL-BACK ON A CURB ON RIGHT SIDE AND REAR TIRE HIT CURB PRETTY HARD. I CONFIRMED LATER THE…
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC),ENGINE,FUEL/P02/04/2016
WHEN I STOP OR TAKE OFF MY CAR EXCELERATES ON ITS OWN. OR IT JERKS. I AM AFRAID IT WILL HIT SOMEONE OR MAKE ME GO OUT INTO THE TRAFFIC. ALSO MY AIRBAG LIGHT COMES ON WHEN I PUT A LARGE OBJECT IN THE SEAT NOT A PERSON.
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL,SERVICE BRAKES,ENGINE03/04/2015
I WAS DRIVING ON AN ROAD WITH NO TRAFFIC AND CAME UPON A RED LIGHT. AS I APPLIED THE BRAKES, I EXPERIENCED AN ACCELERATION SURGE WHILE BRAKING. I COULD FEEL THE BRAKES WORKING BUT THE ENGINE BEGAN TO REV UP AND WAS TRYING TO OVERPOWER THE BRAKES. IN DESPERATION I PUSHED THE SHIFTER INTO NEUTRAL (N). THE ENGINE CONTINUE…

Three of 9 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2010 Honda Insight (10)

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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 …
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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 2…
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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…

This does not say whether a particular car has an open, unrepaired recall. That depends on the VIN.

Before you buy a 2010 Honda Insight

Questions people ask about the 2010 Honda Insight

Does the 2010 Honda Insight have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 9 of 53 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2010 Honda Insight concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (17%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2010 Honda Insight?

NHTSA lists 10 recall campaigns on the 2010 Honda Insight. Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.

Which Honda Insight years are better?

Among the Honda Insight years we track, the 2022 (13%) and the 2021 (14%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2010 (17%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2010 Honda Insight?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2010 Honda Insight shows no elevated engine or transmission pattern in owner complaints, which is a good starting point. It is still one car with its own history, so get an independent pre-purchase inspection and a vehicle history report before you commit.

Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.

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Experimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.