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2000 Honda Insight problems

The most common problem on the 2000 Honda Insight is electrical system, typically around 53,000 miles. Its complaint count is close to a typical Insight model year.

Typical yearClose to a typical year
Owner complaints
24
Recalls
1
Service bulletins
88
Worst area
Electrical
Fuel economy
53mpg

The worst 2000 Honda Insight problems

Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.

Problems by type

Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.

  • Electrical
    7
  • Lights
    5
  • Seat belts
    3
  • Airbags
    2
  • Engine
    2
  • Transmission
    2
  • Visibility
    2
  • Body
    1
  • Brakes
    1
  • Fuel system
    1
  • Tires
    1
  • Wheels
    1

Specific symptoms reported on the 2000 Honda Insight

Headlights 5

Recalls 1

Exterior lighting: headlightsReported February 24, 2004 · 440,000 vehicles affected
What is wrong
On certain passenger vehicles, the low-beam terminal on the head light wire harness can overheat and could cause the low beams to fail without warning.
Risk
An unexpected loss of low beams could result in a crash.
Remedy
Dealers will inspect the head light switch and coupler for signs of heat damage. If heat damage is present, the dealer will replace the switch and coupler. If no heat damage is present, the dealer will replace the head light switch and one mating pin in the coupler. Owner notification began on april 5, 2004. Owners should contact honda at 1‑800‑999‑1009.

Recall number 04V086000 · Recall details

See all 1 recalls for the 2000 Honda Insight

Technical service bulletins for the 2000 Honda Insight 88

Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.

See all 88 bulletins for the 2000 Honda Insight

2000 Honda Insight fuel economy

Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.

EngineDriveCityHighwayCombined
1.0L 3‑cyl HybridFWD496153

What 2000 Honda Insight owners say

Most recent owner complaints, unedited.

Filed Aug 13, 2015 · Lights · 156,000 miles · CA

Honda insight 2000 low beam lights failed while driving 55 MPH. A recall was issued for this problem, but honda is refusing to cover the cost of repair because my VIN did not show a recall. The honda insight 2000 is listed for this recall. I have owned many hondas in the past, but now am extremely disappointed in honda's customer service and will not be purchasing any honda products in the future.

Filed Apr 7, 2014 · Electrical, Lights · 274,150 miles · CA

The headlights went out while I was driving the 2000 insight. First, I noticed a burning smell. I pulled over and checked under the hood but found nothing. I got back in and the smell came back as I started driving. A few minutes later, the headlights got dim for a few seconds then went out. I stopped the car. The burning smell was coming from the left side of the steering wheel, where the headlight switch is. I tried the high beam and it worked. I drove the rest of the way with high beams on. I checked with honda and they said there had been a recall for this problem on the insight, but their records showed a repair had already been done, so they would charge me to repair it again. I think the repair in the recall may fix the problem for a while but does not prevent the problem from occurring again. Or they didn't do the recall procedure properly. Honda needs to fix this. It is dangerous and they should know about it.

Filed Dec 7, 2012 · Lights · 165,000 miles · WA

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 honda insight. While driving approximately 45 MPH with the headlights activated, the headlights suddenly failed. The high beam headlights were activated so that the contact could continue to his destination. The contact stated that the wiring for the headlight switch was previously replaced. The contact referenced the federal safety agency campaign id number: 04v086000 (exterior lighting:headlights) but was advised by the manufacturer that the VIN was not included in the recall. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the defect. The approximate failure mileage was 165,000.

Filed Dec 7, 2012 · Lights · 178,000 miles · WA

Tl* the contact owns a 2000 honda insight. The contact stated that while driving approximately 55 MPH with the low beam headlights in operation, the headlights suddenly failed to illuminate. The high beam headlights were activated in order to continue driving. There was a recall associated with the federal safety agency campaign id number 04v086000 (exterior lighting:headlights); however the contact's VIN was ineligible for repairs under the recall. The vehicle was neither diagnosed nor repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the problem. The approximate failure mileage was 178,000.

Filed Mar 17, 2010 · Electrical, Lights · 156,830 miles · OH

The "dim" headlights on my honda insight went out. The "brights" still work but no dims. I checked on line and there is a recall for my car for a faulty dim switch that will make the dims go out. When I called a dealer and gave him my VIN he said my car had already been "through" the recall and any additional repairs would cost several hundred dollars. I am not the original owner (second owner) and do not know if it was replaced or not and the dealer will not do anything except for full pay.

Filed Feb 14, 2010 · Electrical · 7,000 miles · KS

Check engine light on my 2000 honda insight went out at 7,000 miles and they told me I would have to live with it. They replaced the on board computer and now they say they can fix it but want $500.00. They have replaced the battery 2 times. The large one that powers the car. Despite many many tries they have not repaired this light. So I don't know if there is a problem with the engine or not. I took this to corperate and they said they would not pay for it?

Filed Jan 5, 2007 · Electrical · 50,000 miles · CA

Tl* - the contact's 2000 hybrid honda insight had a defective battery. While driving at night the vehicle lost power . During the last incident the car became stranded on a busy road in the dark without any lights. The dealer told him to come in so that they could repair the battery.

Filed Dec 11, 2006 · Visibility · 61,150 miles · AR

I drove my (always garaged) insight to work on a cold morning where the temperature was about 15 degrees when I reached my place of work at 7:20 a.m. I returned to my vehicle, in the parking lot at a little after 12:00 p.m. To find that the rear glass was completely shattered. This is the main rear glass that includes the window defroster and is only available through genuine honda parts. There is no aftermarket manufacturer of this glass. My parking lot has full time security with cameras in place. No exterior force, other than the environment, had any effect on the malfunction of the car's rear glass. The only thing I can imagine is that the sun heated the cold aluminum hatch at a much faster rate than it heated the glass. This caused the glass to burst and shatter. There was no impact mark like a rock or blunt object might create. But rather there was a fracture all along the perimeter of the glass. Upon contacting honda, and taking the vehicle to the dealer where all service in the past has been done, they declined, on behalf of honda USA, to take any responsibility for the defect in the automobile. Therefore, I had to use out of pocket and insurance to take care of this clearly defective part. I took pictures and documented the broken glass. Honda motor company USA should take responsibility for an unsafe and defective rear glass.

Filed Aug 23, 2006 · Electrical · 53,000 miles · NY

Prior to the incident date, the ima battery in my 2000 honda insight, has repeatedly lost its charge, rapidly (called a "recall event"). This causes an unexpected hesitation and lack of acceleration. On the incident date, I was entering a highway from an on ramp and couldn't accelerate at the rate that I was accustomed to, because the ima battery had quickly and unexpectedly discharged. This resulted in me blocking upcoming traffic and several drivers had to perform avoidance maneuvers. This sudden, unexpected loss of ima assist, is indicative of a failing/aging ima battery. Honda's computer monitoring system does not register/detect this as a mil code. It is only a matter of time until this unexpected loss of acceleration cause a loss of life. More information on this can be found on: http://www.insightcentral.net/forum/viewtopic.php?t=750 this forum is made of insight owners and I don't put a lot of stock in their explanations of what a recall event is. I can say definitively that 1). These recall events become more frequent as the ima battery ages and 2).they are dangerous, as outlined above. Honda will not replace the battery, even though it is under warranty, unless a mil is generated. This will only happen when the ima battery is heavily degraded. The recall events, however, occur with less than this level of degradation and honda's monitoring system ignores this dangerous situation.

Filed Oct 14, 2005 · Wheels · 1,200 miles · MA

Dt: the contact owns a 2000 honda insight. The car made very minimal noise. Had scheduled the car to be looked at. Prior to the accident the car had been in the shop with all four tires off the car. When the contact the car back there was new noise. Brought the car back to the dealer next day. The contact was told that wrong lugs:nuts were on the tires. They replaced them, and the contact took the car. 3,000 miles later, with less of a noise , made a turn and the car did not make the turn and stopped. The contact got out of the car and noticed the tire was still going down the road with the car in between other cars . Picked up the tire, made phone calls to get the car towed. When the contact asked the dealer what happened, the dealer told the contact that they originally thought the car had been vandalized. Because all of the tires were completely loose because the rims and post were made out of aluminum. The car was not safe to drive unless the rims and post were replaced. When calling honda, they told the contact that nothing was to be done, and that it wasn't their fault. The dealer did not feel responsible , even on a maintenance level to advise the contact of this even 3000 miles earlier when tires were off the car, and two new tires were put on. The rims cost $500 each. Making it a total of $2,000.

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Compare the 2000 Honda Insight

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Other model years

2000200120022003200420052006201020112012201320142019202020212022

Questions about the 2000 Honda Insight

Is the 2000 Honda Insight reliable?

Owners have filed 24 complaints about the 2000 Honda Insight, close to a typical Insight model year.

What is the most common problem with the 2000 Honda Insight?

Electrical system, with 7 complaints, typically around 53,000 miles. Next is lights (5).

How many recalls does the 2000 Honda Insight have?

1 recall, covering exterior lighting.

What year does the Honda Insight have the most electrical problems?

The Honda Insight model years with the most electrical complaints are 2019 (15 complaints) and 2022 (11 complaints).

What gas mileage does the 2000 Honda Insight get?

Official estimates for the 2000 Honda Insight range from 53 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.0L 3-cyl hybrid, FWD) gets 49 city and 61 highway.

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