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2021 Honda Insight problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls

NO ELEVATED SIGNAL
14%
3 of 21 relevant owner complaints are about the engine, transmission or fuel system

No elevated drivetrain complaint concentration in the available NHTSA records for the 2021 Honda Insight. Engine, transmission and fuel system account for 14% of relevant complaints.

Better than 94% of the 1,789 model years we track (2010–2023).

Excludes 4 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 12%).

NHTSA data checked October 3, 2026
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Does the 2021 Honda Insight have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 3 of 21 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Honda Insight concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (14%). For comparison, the 2020 scores 23% and the 2022 scores 13%. 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
3
engine, transmission, fuel
Total complaints
25
this model year
Fires reported
0
owner-reported
Recall campaigns
3
1 crashes · 1 injuries

Complaints by component

FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE8 · 32%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER6 · 24%
SERVICE BRAKES4 · 16%
AIR BAGS3 · 12%
SEATS3 · 12%
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM3 · 12%

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

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM01/23/2026
Went in for a typical servicing. They noted that the downstream O2 sensor was damaged by rodents. The vehicle, with around 14k has always been stored in a weather tight garage, never stored outside. There has been no rodents in the building since I owned it from 1999. This is a presumptuous statement I refuted, but…
ENGINE11/24/2025
Under certain circumstances, the portion of the PCU that controls charging of the 12 volt accessory battery malfunctions, sending the PCU into a "fail safe" mode, preventing battery charging and activating warning displays for the driver. This has caused my vehicle to stall while driving, potentially increasing the ris…
POWER TRAIN,ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,VEHICLE SPEED CONT02/10/2021
WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 1/23/21. ON 2/4/21, I WAS DRIVING IN DOBSON, NC, WHEN THE POWER CONTROL UNIT (PCU) MALFUNCTIONED, LEADING TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IT WITHOUT WARNING LIGHTS. I THEN BACKED OUT OF THE DRIV…

Three of 3 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows more, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.

Recall campaigns on the 2021 Honda Insight (3)

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 …
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Ty…
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022…

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

Before you buy a 2021 Honda Insight

Questions people ask about the 2021 Honda Insight

Does the 2021 Honda Insight have engine or transmission problems?

Not as a pattern, going by owner complaints. 3 of 21 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2021 Honda Insight concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (14%). It describes the model year, not any one car, so an inspection still matters.

Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2021 Honda Insight?

NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns on the 2021 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%) has a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2021 (14%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.

Should I buy a 2021 Honda Insight?

That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2021 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.