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2020 Honda Insight problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
23%
7 of 31 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2020 Honda Insight. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 23% of relevant complaints.

Better than 82% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2020 Honda Insight have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 7 of 31 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Honda Insight concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (23%). For comparison, the 2019 scores 21% and the 2021 scores 14%. 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
7
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
31
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
6
3 crashes · 2 injuries

Complaints by component

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE12 · 39%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM7 · 23%
POWER TRAIN5 · 16%
SERVICE BRAKES4 · 13%
ENGINE4 · 13%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER3 · 10%

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,WHEELS03/05/2023CRASH1 INJURED
I believe the tire, wheel or suspension system failed while driving on the highway, causing me to hit my head on the driver's window and lose cosciousness. I skidded into a concrete barrier on the right side of the highway and was found unconscious at the scene. The damage to the passenger side body of the vehicle is …
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE12/10/2022
Driving down highway at highway speed and car shot 52 failure codes. Car lost power and crawled to side of road. Nearly got rear ended multiple times trying to remove vehicle from roadway. Engine permanent codes U0111 U012D U0110 U12A5 U1206 U1205 Anti lock brakes permanent codes U040168 CAN Gateway Permanent co…
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,ENGINE08/06/2022
I WAS DRIVING AT 65-70 MPH ON A FREEWAY, AND ALL OF A SUDDEN THE CAR SPEED DROPPED EVEN MY FOOT IS ON THE GAS PEDAL, THE CAR SLOW DOWN TO 40MPH WHEN DECIDED TO PULL OVER TO THE SHOULDER, BARELY ENOUGH TIME TO GET OUT OF DANGER. THE CAR ENGINE SHOT DOWN BY ITS SELF, I COULD NOT MOVE THE VEHICLE TO THE FAR RIGHT ASS I …

Three of 7 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2020 Honda Insight (6)

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:PROPULSION SYSTEM:DC/DC CONVERTER
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020 CR-V Hybrid, Accord Hybrid, and 2020-2021 Insight vehicles. The DC-DC converter may shut down and prevent the …
FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura NSX, 2019 Acura RDX, RLX and RLX Sport Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R…
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:BODY CONTROL MODULE:SOFTWARE
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, and 2019-2020 Insight vehicles. A software error may cause intermittent or c…

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

Before you buy a 2020 Honda Insight

Questions people ask about the 2020 Honda Insight

Does the 2020 Honda Insight have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 7 of 31 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2020 Honda Insight concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (23%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2020 Honda Insight?

NHTSA lists 6 recall campaigns on the 2020 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%), the 2021 (14%) and the 2010 (17%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2020 (23%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2020 Honda Insight?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2020 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.