2005 Honda Insight problems

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The Honda Insight (ホンダ・インサイト, Honda Insaito) is a hybrid electric vehicle that is manufactured and marketed by Honda. Its first generation was a two-door, two passenger liftback (1999–2006) and in its second generation was a four-door, five passenger liftback (2009–2014). In its third generation, it became a four-door sedan (2018–2022). It was Honda's first model with Integrated Motor Assist system and the most fuel efficient gasoline-powered car available in the U.S. without plug-in capability — for the length of its production run.

Honda introduced the second-generation Insight in Japan in February 2009 and in the United States on March 24, 2009. The Insight was the least expensive hybrid available in the US. In December 2010, Honda introduced a less expensive base model for the 2011 model year. The Insight was launched in April 2009 in the UK as the lowest priced hybrid on the market and became the best selling hybrid for the month.

The Insight ranked as the top-selling vehicle in Japan for the month of April 2009, a first for a hybrid model. During its first twelve months after first available in the Japanese market, the second-generation Insight sold 143,015 units around the world. In July 2014, Honda announced the end of production of the Insight for the 2015 model, together with the Honda FCX Clarity hydrogen fuel-cell car and the Honda Fit EV electric car.

At the 2018 North American International Auto Show, Honda announced the third-generation Honda Insight prototype, based on the tenth-generation Honda Civic sedan. Unlike the previous Insight, it was a traditional sedan, not a five-door liftback. The third-generation Insight went on sale later that year.

In April 2022, Honda announced that the Insight would be discontinued after the 2022 model year, with production ending in June. It has been replaced by a new Civic Hybrid.

2005 Honda Insight

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Common 2005 Honda Insight problems

The 2005 Honda Insight is known for engine noise, which is unfortunately a part of the vehicle.

From 2010 to 2014, drivers reported more and more problems with the Insight, mainly relating to the body and paintwork of the car, and issues with airbags not deploying in the event of a crash. This led to some recalls for the 2005 Honda Insight and other model years.

The 2012 Insight is considered the worst year for this model of car, with excessive oil consumption, engine failure, the engine jerking while accelerating, and stalling while driving being among the problems drivers reported. In 2013, some of the same issues were seen again, including the vehicle unexpectedly stalling. Drivers also reported occasional problems with spark plugs wearing out, and even spark plugs melting.

Troubleshooting for these issues includes getting the car checked out if it is consuming an unexpected quantity of oil, as high oil consumption can be due to faulty gaskets, higher engine temperature, or the wrong type of oil being used. A jerky acceleration may be caused by problems with the car's transmission, and it's also a good idea to take this into a garage to get it diagnosed. There are also a number of reasons why a car may stall while driving, including problems with the spark plugs, so it's a good idea to get the car checked out to establish exactly what's wrong. Increased fuel consumption, difficulty starting the car, and loss of power also indicate you might need to get your spark plugs checked.

It is essential to address these issues promptly to ensure the safety and longevity of the vehicle. Regular servicing and maintenance can also help prevent potential problems and prolong the battery life of hybrid vehicles.

2005 Honda Insight engine

What is the common problem Honda Insight?

Problem: It is common on the Honda Insight for the fuel cap release switch to fail. The fuel cap release switch is located at the right hand side of the drivers side footwell and the problem is caused by corrosion, or failure of the release spring.

Is the Honda Insight a reliable car?

The probability of a repair being a severe or major issue is 16% for the Honda Insight, compared to an average of 9% for alternative fuel vehicles and 12% for all vehicle models. The average total annual cost for unscheduled repairs and maintenance across all model years of a vehicle.

Why did the Honda Insight fail?

Blame fuel economy, battery problems or company indecision — at the end of the day, Honda failed to give consumers a lasting reason to stick with its Insight model.

How many miles will a Honda Insight last?

You can expect a standard Honda Insight to last around 150,000-200,000 miles.

2005 Honda Insight car problems categorized by type of issue

After analyzing all complaints sent to the NHTSA and researching popular Honda Insight problems, we found that the most common problems with these 2023 model year vehicles are:

  • Tires problems
  • Suspension problems

The graph below shows statistics for all 2005 Honda Insight vehicle components and the number of complaints received.

2005 Honda Insight complaints

The NHTSA has received 2 complaints about various vehicle components related to the 2005 Honda Insight.

2007-01-12

TIRES PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2006-12-01
  • VIN: 5FNRL38895B
  • Components: TIRES
  • Summary: TL* - THE CONTACT STATED THAT HE HEARS A HUMMING IN HIS DRIVER & PASSENGER REAR RUN FLAT TIRES OF HIS 2005 HONDA ODYSSEY WITH AN ODOMETER READING 30,000 MILES. HE HAS TAKEN THE VEHICLE TO THE HONDA DEALER. ALTHOUGH THEY CAN HEAR THE HUMMING, THEY TOLD THE CONTACT THERE IS NOTHING THEY CAN DO. *NM
2006-07-14

SUSPENSION PROBLEM

  • Date Of Incident: 2006-07-10
  • VIN: JHMZE13795S
  • Components: SUSPENSION
  • Summary: DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50 MPH ON NORMAL ROAD CONDITIONS ABNORMAL NOISE WAS OBSERVED IN THE REAR AXLE. UPON INSPECTION, EXCESIVE WEAR WAS OBSERVED IN THE REAR TIRES. A VEHICLE OF THE SAME MAKE AND MODEL BUT A YEAR OLDER OWNED BY THE CONTACT EXPERIENCED THE SAME PROBLEMS IN THE REAR AXLE. NEW TIRES WERE INSTALLED IN THE REAR AND THE DEALERSHIP PERFORMED ALIGNMENT AT NO COST.
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Additional sources

More sources of information about 2005 Honda Insight problems:

Common problems with 1st and 2nd Gen Insights. | Honda Insight ...
Common problems with 1st and 2nd Gen Insights. | Honda Insight ...
https://www.insightcentral.net/threads/common-problems-with-1st-and-2nd-gen-insights.29353/

Oct 7, 2013 ... I'm looking for a high mpg car for commuting 50 miles a day 7 days a week and came across the Insight. I did some basic searching on common ...

Buying a used 2000-2006 Honda Insight: What problems to watch ...
Buying a used 2000-2006 Honda Insight: What problems to watch ...
https://ecomodder.com/forum/showthread.php/buying-used-2000-2006-honda-insight-what-problems-18892.html

Sep 21, 2011 ... Corroded drivetrain-to-chassis ground straps; Weak 12 volt battery problems; Manual transmission problems; CVT judder; Missing original ...

2005 Honda Insight Problems and Complaints - 3 Issues
2005 Honda Insight Problems and Complaints - 3 Issues
https://repairpal.com/2005-honda-insight/problems

Problem with your 2005 Honda Insight? Our list of 3 known complaints reported by owners can help you fix your 2005 Honda Insight.

CVT reliability | Honda Insight Forum
CVT reliability | Honda Insight Forum
https://www.insightcentral.net/threads/cvt-reliability.14435/

Apr 12, 2009 ... If your CVT had problems at, say, 120,000 miles you were in for an expensive fix. Buyer beware of used Gen 1 CVTs unless they are post 2005 or ...

2010 Honda Insight Common Problems: Expert Q&A
2010 Honda Insight Common Problems: Expert Q&A
https://www.justanswer.com/honda/jh5ss-2010-honda-insight-off-when.html

May 30, 2022 ... I have a 2010 Honda Insight only at take off, when I accelerate to go, it shakes real bad for a few seconds and then - Answered by a ...

Other years of Honda Insight

honda insight 2006 photo
Insight 2006
Honda

2

1

19

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
honda insight 2010 photo
Insight 2010
Honda

118

10

0

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
honda insight 2011 photo
Insight 2011
Honda

40

10

22

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
honda insight 2012 photo
Insight 2012
Honda

58

8

15

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
honda insight 2013 photo
Insight 2013
Honda

44

6

27

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1
honda insight 2014 photo
Insight 2014
Honda

5

3

22

  • 5
  • 4
  • 3
  • 2
  • 1

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2005 Honda Insight photo