Honda Insight VIN Number Check

A free NHTSA vPIC decode tells you which Honda Insight you are looking at. Then check its model year against 24 NHTSA recall campaigns and what owners have reported.

VIN prefixJHM19X

Free decode plus the NHTSA recalls for its model year. 17 characters, no I, O or Q.

Honda Insight

About the Honda Insight

Honda sold the Insight in the US for model years 2000–2022, across three generations. Gen 1 first (2000–2006), then Gen 2 (2010–2014), and the Gen 3 took over for 2019–2022. Across those years NHTSA lists 24 vehicle recall campaigns and 515 owner complaints. Complaints pile up on the Gen 2. Its 2010 and 2012 model years alone account for 178 of them, with owners bringing up air bags most often and engine and cooling after that. EPA rates the Gen 1 at 47–53 mpg combined, while the Gen 3, whose lineup includes hybrid versions, gets 48–52 mpg. A free VIN decode gives you NHTSA vPIC’s record for the car (model year, engine, plant) and the NHTSA recalls for its model year. It won’t show theft, flood or lemon-law history.

US model years2000–2022

GenerationsGen 1 · Gen 2 · Gen 3

NHTSA recall campaigns24

Owner complaints515 at NHTSA

Honda Insight photographed at a US vehicle auction — Auction lot photo, for illustration

Generations

Honda Insight generations

Three generations since the 2000 model year. The Gen 2 (2010–2014) has the most owner complaints, the Gen 3 (2019–2022) the most recall campaigns (11).

3 / 3

Gen 3

2019–20223rd generation

Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons

20002005201020152020

2019–2022· Generation 3 of 3

Gen 3 · 3rd generation

EPA classMidsize Cars

EPA combined mpg48–52

NHTSA recalls11

Engines (EPA)

1.5 L 4-cyl (hybrid) · 2019–2022

Drive & transmission (EPA)

FWD
CVT (2019–2022)

Known issues to check

Forward collision avoidance (64)Electrical system (33)Fuel system (29)

Mentions in 186 NHTSA complaints.

Sample VIN pattern · Gen 319XZE4F5?KE······NHTSA vPIC decodes it as a 2019 Honda Insight EX, built in Greenburg, Indiana

Check an Insight VIN

Sources: EPA · NHTSA · vPIC

NHTSA campaign data

Which Insight model years each recall covers

NHTSA data

NHTSA has 24 campaigns on file for Insight model years 2000–2022, and the 2010 and 2011 show up in the most (10 each). Move the line to your model year to see which apply.

Pick a row

What to ask

Source: NHTSA recall database, vehicle campaigns only; row text is NHTSA’s summary. A listed year does not mean every car is covered, so check the VIN.

Canada rows: Transport Canada recalls database. Transport Canada recalls that match an NHTSA campaign are folded into that row by VinNumber.net; rows with the Canadian flag have no NHTSA match. Contains information licensed under the Open Government Licence – Canada · Transport Canada.

Owner reports · NHTSA complaints

What Honda Insight owners report

Owner summaries + NHTSA data

Between them, the 2010 and 2019 hold 217 of the 515 complaints, or 42%. Tap any bar or generation.

515NHTSA complaints, 2000–2022

43mention a crash

5mention a fire

30injuries reported

Owner complaints by model yearGen 3: 186 complaints · most for the 2019 (98)

Top complaint areas · Gen 3

Mentions in 186 complaints, 2019–2022.

Forward collision avoidance64

Electrical system33

Fuel system29

Brakes24

Engine and cooling14

Air bags12

Crashes 16Fires 1Injuries 11

2019–2022 (Gen 3)

NHTSA data summary

Forward collision avoidance leads the list with 64 mentions, yet no earlier Insight generation has it among its six most-mentioned areas. Its first model year, the 2019, drew more complaints than any other (98 of 186).

What Insight owners report across recent generations

Owner summary

2019–2022 (3rd generation, ZE4)

Complaint counts are modest and CarComplaints has few reports, so the data is thin. The 2019 draws the most NHTSA complaints, and owners most often describe the automatic emergency braking activating with nothing ahead, a backup camera that stops working and fuel pump recalls. CarComplaints lists a creaking dashboard, an infotainment system that crashes and sensors that cause sudden braking for 2019. Honda ended the Insight after 2022. Recalls cover the low pressure fuel pump, which may fail, a backup camera display fault and body control module software. [1] [2]

2010–2014 (2nd generation, ZE2)

The 2010 draws the most NHTSA complaints, and about half mention air bag recalls or air bags that did not deploy in crashes. Owners of the 2012 most often describe heavy oil consumption, sometimes leading to the engine dying in traffic. CarComplaints shows a clear pattern of excessive oil consumption for 2011 through 2013, along with peeling paint and a side curtain air bag failure for 2010, engine failure for 2012 and melted exhaust valves for 2013. Honda ended this Insight after 2014. Recalls cover front air bag inflators, including replacements installed under earlier recalls. [3] [4] [5] [6] [7]

What to check before buying

Run the VIN through the NHTSA recall lookup, including the air bag inflator and fuel pump recalls.
On a 2010 to 2014 car, ask how much oil it uses between changes and for engine repair records.
On the drive, back up to test the camera, watch for sudden braking with nothing ahead and listen for engine misfires.

Sources (7) and method

Sources:

Counts: NHTSA complaints file, records to October 1, 2026, one count per complaint; areas are NHTSA component groups.

Owner summary updated September 25, 2026.

Owner complaints · by model year

Insight complaint breakdown by model year

NHTSA data

Every Insight version is counted together. Tap a year to see its top systems.

515complaints, 2000–2022

43mention a crash

5mention a fire

30injuries reported

2complaints report a death

Most complaints: 2010 (119), 2019 (98), 2012 (59)

2010 · 119 complaints

Crashes 21 · fires 0 · injuries 11 · complaints reporting a death 2

Air bags57

Service brakes17

Structure15

Vehicle speed control8

Electrical system7

Systems as NHTSA names them; a complaint can list several. Source: NHTSA complaints data, records to October 1, 2026.

EPA fuel economy & emissions

Insight CO₂, smog rating and yearly fuel cost

EPA data

EPA lists 32 Insight versions for model years 2000–2022. The lowest tailpipe CO₂ is 168 g/mi (2003). Pick a model year and powertrain to see each version.

Gen 12000–2006

47–53 mpg · CO₂ 168–189 g/mi

Gen 22010–2014

40–41 mpg · CO₂ 216–222 g/mi

Gen 32019–2022

48–52 mpg · CO₂ 170–184 g/mi

Model year2022

52combined MPG

170CO₂ grams per mile (tailpipe)

$1,300EPA yearly fuel cost

7/10Smog rating

1 = worst · 10 = cleanest

9/10Greenhouse gas rating

California LEV-III SULEV30 · Federal Tier 3 Bin 30Emission standard

Best (lowest) CO₂ by model year

Hybrid

Annual fuel cost is EPA’s estimate at its current fuel-price assumptions (15,000 miles a year, 55% city driving), so older years are priced at today’s fuel prices. Smog rating and emission standard can differ by sales area (federal vs. California); both are shown. Greenhouse-gas ratings start with the 2013 model year. Source: fueleconomy.gov.

Compare rivals

Insight vs Toyota Prius vs Toyota Corolla

NHTSA + EPA data

Take 2000–2006. NHTSA lists 3 recall campaigns for the Insight, against 10 for the Toyota Prius and 13 for the Toyota Corolla. Pick a range to compare.

Honda InsightGen 3

Model years 2019–2022

NHTSA recall campaigns: 11
NHTSA owner complaints: 186
EPA combined mpg: 48–52
Engines (EPA): 4-cyl 1.5 L
Also listed: hybrid
Drive (EPA): FWD
NHTSA crash rating: 5★ overall (2022)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Forward collision avoidance 64
Electrical system 33
Fuel system 29

Toyota Prius

Model years 2019–2022

NHTSA recall campaigns: 5
NHTSA owner complaints: 116
EPA combined mpg: 46–56
Engines (EPA): 4-cyl 1.5, 1.8 L
Also listed: hybrid, plug-in hybrid
Drive (EPA): AWD/4WD, FWD
NHTSA crash rating: 5★ overall (2022)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Brakes 25
Electrical system 22
Engine and cooling 14

Toyota Corolla

Model years 2019–2022

NHTSA recall campaigns: 10
NHTSA owner complaints: 802
EPA combined mpg: 30–52
Engines (EPA): 4-cyl 1.8, 2.0 L
Also listed: hybrid
Drive (EPA): FWD
NHTSA crash rating: 5★ overall (2022)

Most-reported complaint areas (NHTSA)

Engine and cooling 202
Powertrain (transmission, driveline) 131
Air bags 111

NHTSA recalls (vehicle campaigns for all powertrain versions; equipment and tire campaigns left out), complaints (not sales-adjusted) and 5-Star overall ratings for the latest year rated for all three; EPA mpg, engines and drive. Rivals: same EPA class, picked by VinNumber.net.

Honda Insight VIN number location

Where to find the VIN on an Insight

Tap a spot. Every location should show the same 17 characters.

White Honda Insight (third generation) sedan, front three-quarter view, with the VIN locations marked

Photo: Hans Haase, CC BY-SA 3.0, cropped

Illustration: VinNumber.net

Photo: Kevauto, CC BY-SA 4.0; edited and VIN pins added by VinNumber.net

The Insight's VIN sits at the base of the driver's side windshield, with a door jamb sticker as the primary secondary location. As a hybrid, some Insight generations carry a secondary battery-tray label under the rear seat. The Gen 3 generation starts with the 2019 model year; the VIN’s 10th character (K for 2019) shows which side of that line a car falls on.

Windshield plateRead it through the glass at the base of the driver's side windshield.
Source: 49 CFR 565.13(f) (NHTSA): VIN inside the passenger compartment, readable through the glazing next to the left windshield pillar
Door jamb labelOpen the driver's door: the certification label on the B-pillar lists the VIN.
Source: 49 CFR 567.4 (NHTSA): certification label with VIN at the driver door hinge pillar, latch post or door edge

The title, registration and insurance card show the VIN as well. All locations should match.

FAQ

Common Honda Insight VIN questions

Which Honda Insight model years have the most owner complaints?

The 2010 leads with 119, ahead of the 2019 (98) and 2012 (59). Those first two alone make up 42% of the 515 Insight complaints filed with NHTSA, not adjusted for sales.

How many recalls has the Honda Insight had?

NHTSA’s recall records show 24 vehicle campaigns for model years 2000–2022, leaving out equipment and tire campaigns. By generation, Gen 3 leads with 11. Then come the Gen 2 (10) and Gen 1 (3), and a campaign can span two generations.

Which Honda Insight recalls are high risk?

16V-061, 16V-346 and 17V-030 cover air bag inflators that can rupture. 17V-545, 18V-042, 18V-268, 18V-661, 19V-378, 19V-500 and 19V-502 cover air bag inflator modules and how they deploy. Each should show as closed on a VIN check.

Which Insight generation am I looking at?

By US model year, the Gen 1 is 2000–2006 and the Gen 2 2010–2014. Gen 3 spans 2019–2022. Read the year off the VIN’s 10th character (K is 2019).

What fuel economy does the Honda Insight get?

It varies. EPA rates the 2019–2022 Gen 3 at 48–52 mpg combined, depending on engine and drive, up from 47–53 mpg for the 2000–2006 Gen 1 (fueleconomy.gov).

How does the Honda Insight compare with the Toyota Prius and Toyota Corolla on recalls?

For 2019–2022 models the Insight has 11 NHTSA recall campaigns. The Toyota Prius has 5, the Toyota Corolla 10. Complaints run 186, 116 and 802 in that order, with no sales adjustment.

What crash rating does the Honda Insight have?

NHTSA’s 5-Star Safety Ratings give the 2022 Insight 5 stars overall. One version, FWD, is rated.

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