Honda Insight jerking problems

Filed Feb 5, 2025 · Brakes, Driver assistance · TX

I was driving down the highway, with no one in front of me, and my car alerted BRAKE and brought my car from 70 to an almost complete stop. This jerked myself and my passenger and caused a heat mark from the seat belt on my collar bone. It has done it multiple times since then. I'm terrified to be in traffic and for it to do this. This is most definitely putting my safety at risk, and the safety of others. I have not taken it to the dealership yet.

Filed Aug 12, 2023 · Brakes, Driver assistance · CT · crash

I drove into my friends driveway with my foot on the brake to drop her off. All of a sudden my car lurched forward damaging my friends garage door and the foundation of her house. I had zero control of the car at that point. I plan on notifying Honda. There were no warning lights, or messages prior to this disaster.

Filed Oct 5, 2022 · Engine · 82,000 miles · NE

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Insight. The contact stated while driving 25 MPH, the vehicle jerked forward. The contact stated that the check engine, emissions, and ABS warning lights were illuminated. The contact was able to park near a gas station. The vehicle was not drivable. The contact towed the vehicle to the local dealer, where it was diagnosed with needing an oil consumption test to completed. The dealer informed the contact that the pistons needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer had been informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 82,000.

Filed Feb 4, 2016 · Driver assistance, Engine · 20,000 miles · OH

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.

Filed Aug 19, 2015 · Acceleration, Engine · 25,400 miles · OH

This is an update to odi # 10628879, created in aug. 2014. Insight hybrid is stopped at intersection--auto idle stop. Suddenly engine races wildly, tachometer registers greater than 3,000 r/min. Usually occurs within the first 5 minutes of driving and first 3-5 miles of driving. If I my foot would slip off the brake the car would lurch forward, creating a risk of a collision with the car in front of it. The honda dealer speculated that the weathertech floor mat under the accelerator might be causing the problem, and an independent repair shop agreed with this hypothesis. I chopped off a large piece of the floor mat from under the accelerator. The problem did not recur for several months, but recently has resumed. So the floor mat is not the cause. Because the racing still occurs unexpectedly from time to time, I am concerned that this is a dangerous condition. But honda cannot fix it because they can't diagnose it.

Filed Jun 11, 2015 · Acceleration, Body · 16,121 miles · OR · crash

I was driving in a line of slow moving traffic on a two line lane main street keeping a constant speed of 22 MPH when suddenly my car lurched forward accelerating rapidly making a high pitched screaming sound. As the car gained speed I swerved into the other lane to avoid crashing into the car in front of me. Meanwhile I stomped on the foot brakes, pulled on the emergency brake and shifted into park trying to stop the car. Barely missing a head on collusion, the car jumped over the sidewalk, took down a steel sign, scraped over concrete barriers as it continued now at a speed of approximately 55 MPH. It stopped only after I crashed it into the front window of a cafe. I'm concerned that this hybrid has a serious defect causing it to suddenly accelerate.

Filed Aug 27, 2014 · Acceleration, Engine · 25,400 miles · OH

Insight hybrid stopped at intersection--auto idle stop. Suddenly engine raced wildly, tachometer registered greater than 3000 r/min. My foot was firmly on brake, and I stopped the racing by shifting out of gear. It felt as if the car might lurch forward from a stop and cause a collision in the intersection. Happened again same day. Dealer said don't operate car in econ mode in city driving, even though that's why I bought a hybrid. Said floor mat might have interfered with accelerator--not true. Dealer not really sure of cause. I will get a second opinion. Do not feel safe until a plausible cause is determined. If the econ mode can cause uncontrolled engine racing then honda should give customers a warning.

Filed Feb 18, 2013 · Acceleration, Brakes · 18,744 miles · AZ · crash

The car was traveling at a very slow speed (<10 MPH) in a parking lot with the driver attempting to maneuver the car into a parking space. The driver was applying no pressure on the gas pedal; the car was in deceleration. When the driver stepped on the brake pedal to stop, the engine accelerated and the car lurched forward unexpectedly. As a result, the car went over the parking barrier into the base of a parking light causing significant front end damage to the car ($6,000). The driver has experienced a few other situations where the car acted in a similar manner. We believe this unexpected acceleration issue poses a serious safety hazard. We are working with the local honda service department to isolate and fix the problem.

Filed Jul 12, 2012 · Acceleration, Airbags · 25,000 miles · AZ · crash

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 honda insight. The contact stated that while pulling into a parking space, the vehicle jerked forward and suddenly accelerated. The vehicle crashed into a building and the air bag did not deploy. No one was injured and the front of the vehicle was damaged. The police were not notified. The insurance company was notified. The manufacturer was notified and stated that they would need to inspect the black box for further information. The failure mileage was 25,000. Updated 7/31/12 *cn updated 08/01/12

Filed Aug 5, 2011 · Electrical, Engine · 18,800 miles · CA

Tl* the contact owns a 2010 honda insight. The contact stated that the vehicle would hesitate when the accelerator pedal was depressed. After hesitating, the vehicle would jerk forward. The contact also stated that while driving, the tacometer would display erratic readings as low as 1,000 and as high as 6,500. As a result, the vehicle would accelerate and decelerate uncontrollably. The vehicle was towed to an authorized dealer, where they were unable to duplicate the failure. The contact also stated that the vehicle was experiencing an electrical failure because it would routinely need to be jump started. The battery and cables were replaced on several occasions, but the failure continued. The failure mileage was 18,800 and the current mileage was 19,000.