Low-beam headlights failed w/o warning or external cause. Worked one day but not the next morning. No obvious fuse or relay is the cause. Found that there was an inadequately designed switch that ws prone to failure by googling the failure, which hwas covered by a recall. Honda's website VIN search said there were no recalls for this car. Local dealer says recal was satisfied in 2010. Seems there is still an inadequately designed switch that can result in complete and sudden failure of the low beam headlights.
The worst 2001 Honda Insight problems
Ranked by number of owner complaints. Mileage and cost come from what owners wrote.
- Lights4
- Electrical2
- Engine2
- Transmission2
- Airbags1
Problems by type
Tap a problem to see which part fails, at what mileage and in which other years.
- Lights4
- Electrical2
- Engine2
- Transmission2
- Airbags1
- Body1
- Brakes1
- Driver assistance1
- Steering1
- Tires1
Recalls 2
Exterior lighting: headlights
- 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
Air bags: frontal
- What is wrong
- On certain passenger vehicles, some of the passenger air bag modules were not properly welded and may not deploy in a collision.
- Risk
- The seat occupant may not be properly protected in the event of a collision, increasing the risk of personal injury.
- Remedy
- Dealers will replace the passenger air bag module. Owner notification began august 2, 2002. Owners who take their vehicles to an authorized dealer on an agreed upon service date and do not receive the free remedy within a reasonable time should contact honda at 1‑800‑999‑1009 or acura at 1‑800‑382‑2238.
Recall number 02V196000 · Recall details
See all 2 recalls for the 2001 Honda Insight
Defect investigations
Pedestrian alert sounds
the federal safety agency received a petition on or about July 18, 2022, requesting that Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) 141 be applied to all electric and hybrid vehicles operating in the United States. The petition can be reviewed at under ODI Number 11486072. FMVSS 141 establishes performance requirements for pedestrian alert sounds for motor vehicles. The standard applies to hybrid and electric vehicles that have a gross vehicle weight rating of 4,536 KG or less or are defined as low-speed vehicles. The standard became fully applicable to all such vehicles manufactured on or after March 1, 2021.On January 27, 2023, the federal safety agency opened Defect Petition (DP) 22-005 to evaluate the subject matter described in the petition. On June 24, 2023 and as supplemented on June 25, 2023, the petitioner notified the federal safety agency he was withdrawing his petition. The petitioner indicated that, based on his review of data, there is no justification for asserting potential benefits that could be derived from actions sought by my petition. Based on the petitioner's withdrawal, DP22-005 is closed. Closure of this DP does not represent a determination by the federal safety agency regarding the subject matter of the petition.
DP22005
Technical service bulletins for the 2001 Honda Insight 94
Bulletins tell dealers how to fix known problems. A warranty extension means the manufacturer pays for that repair for longer.
- "Service Bulletin
- Service news article
- Dealer message
- Dealer message
- Honda: troubleshooting of diagnostic trouble codes (DTC) P1456 and P1457. dealers are to run evap function...
- Honda service campaign: warranty extension: insight ima battery module. csc was received. nj updated 3/8/13.
- Honda: product update for a manufacturing problem with the roof molding may allow the roof molding to come...
- Honda service campaign: 2001 insight with CVT. there is a software update. rm
- Honda: battery system light comes on with trouble codes stored. rm models 2000-2004 insight. updted 5/14/13.
- Honda: hybrid batteries CAN be affected and damaged by excessively high temperatures.
2001 Honda Insight fuel economy
Official EPA estimates in miles per gallon (MPGe for electric). Ranges cover trims that share the same engine.
| Engine | Drive | City | Highway | Combined |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1.0L 3‑cyl Hybrid | FWD | 45-48 | 49-60 | 47-53 |
What 2001 Honda Insight owners say
Most recent owner complaints, unedited.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 honda insight. The contact stated that the low beam headlights failed to operate properly. The vehicle was repaired under the federal safety agency campaign number: 04v086000 (exterior lighting) but the failure recurred. The vehicle was not diagnosed or repaired. The manufacturer was made aware of the failure. The failure mileage was 250,000.
Both my low beams failed simultaneously while driving, but high beams still work. I confirmed that there is no power being sent to the low beams. This vehicle had a recall for 2000-2002 model years for exact issue. American honda, and the local honda dealer tell me my VIN# is off by 1 month (within same model year associated with recall), so it's not under "recall." they told me further diagnosis and repair would be at my expense. Report receipt date: feb 24, 2004 the federal safety agency campaign number: 04v086000 component(s): exterior lighting summary: 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. Consequence: an unexpected loss of low beams could result in a crash. Http://www-odi.the federal safety agency.dot.gov/acms/cs/jaxrs/download/doc/acm2982889/rcdnn-04v086-3477.pdf.
Headlights go off. Fixed once on recall. Now same problem. Same heat damaged switch & they wont repair.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 honda insight. While examining the vehicle the contact noticed that the check engine light had appeared on the dashboard. The vehicle was taken to the dealership where the contact was informed that the airbag needed to be replaced. There were no prior warnings.the current and failure mileages were 55000.
Tl* the contact owns a 2001 honda insight. While driving 55 MPH she smelled a chemical odor, and saw flames behind her. She pulled over and attempted to put out of the fire. The fire department was able to extinguish the flames. The entire interior of the vehicle was destroyed. . The vehicle was towed to a local repair facility, and was in the process of being inspected. The dealer was contacted and they will send someone out to take pictures of the vehicle damage. She speculated that battery failure caused the fire. No repairs were made. The failure and current mileages were 100000.
Monday morning I had an appointment to bring my cat to the vet. I put her in a pet carrier and put the carrier in my 2001 honda insight with the pet door facing forward. I got on the 101 n. In los angeles and had driven only a few miles when I smelled a strong chemical odor. Thinking the smell was coming perhaps from another vehicle I continued. Then my door open light came on and the car filled with a thick smoke. I looked behind me and saw flames coming from below and behind the cat carrier. I quickly pulled across the highway luckily there was an exit with a very short exit ramp. I stopped the car and opened my door and threw my purse out of the car, opened the door to the pet carrier and removed my cat. By this time the flames and smoke had increased. I tried to open the back hatchback hoping to smother the flames with a coat but the door could not be opened and the intensity of the fire had escalated. I moved away from the car and yelled for help. I was able to call 911 and the fire and police arrived in a few moments. I took many pictures with my cell phone. The fire department put out the fire which completely melted the hood of the car. This car has never been involved in an accident and my husband and I are the only owners. We have all service records and have replaced recalled items including the battery and the oxygen sensor. The car has been towed to our mechanic.
Both doors on our 2000 the honda odyssey get stuck and pose a safety threat.
Dt*: the contact stated while driving 50mph, and shifting to 3rd gear the manual transmission slipped into 1st gear without warning which caused the engine to stall. The engine did not restart and was towed to the contact's home. The contact inspected the vehicle and determined the engine needed replaced. The dealer and manufacturer were not alerted.
Cvt transmission failing at 51,000. Vehicle began small random shudders in the 40,000's... (like when you purchase cheap gasoline). Three days ago major prolonged shuddering at acceleration began, so that even though I had my foot on the accelerator the vehicle did not move forward in its usual manner. Luckily vehicles behind me were observing distance. Dealership diagnostic on 11/12/2004 revealed transmission problems. No action yet taken.
Compare the 2001 Honda Insight
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Other model years
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Questions about the 2001 Honda Insight
Is the 2001 Honda Insight reliable?
Owners have filed 15 complaints about the 2001 Honda Insight, fewer than a typical Insight model year.
What is the 2001 Honda Insight year score?
The 2001 Honda Insight scores 84 out of 100 (good). The score compares it with the other model years of the Honda Insight: 75 is a typical year, 50 means twice the usual complaints, and serious complaints and recalls lower it.
What is the most common problem with the 2001 Honda Insight?
Lights, with 4 complaints. Next is electrical (2).
How many recalls does the 2001 Honda Insight have?
2 recalls, covering exterior lighting and air bags.
Was there a recall on the 2001 Honda Insight lights?
Yes, 1 recall: 04V086000. Check your VIN to see if your car still needs the free repair.
What gas mileage does the 2001 Honda Insight get?
Official estimates for the 2001 Honda Insight range from 47 to 53 mpg combined. The most efficient version (1.0L 3-cyl hybrid, FWD) gets 45-48 city and 49-60 highway.
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