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Honda Insight reliability by build year

Coverage 2000-20142 named generationsHatchbackHYBRID ELECTRIC / ELECTRICITY / UNKNOWN / PETROL
At a glance

Honda Insight built around 2010: fails its MOT less often than average

Honda Insights built around 2010 fail their MOT less often than similar cars the same age. An independent inspection matters more than the wider numbers on cars this old.

Check a Honda Insight by number plate

Key figure

26% of MOT tests on Honda Insights built around 2010 ended in a fail (retests included), against 32% for similar cars the same age.

Most common issue

The most common MOT issue on Honda Insights built around 2010 involves the tyres.

Before you view it

What to check before viewing

The Honda Insight's most common MOT issues, turned into things to ask about or look for.

Brake discs

High priority

Ask for the date and mileage of the last disc replacement; visually check for a deep wear lip and rust pitting on each disc.

Tyres

Worth checking

Check tread depth across the full width on all four; uneven wear suggests alignment or suspension issues.

Suspension bushes and joints

Worth checking

Listen for knocks over speed bumps and ask about recent control-arm or anti-roll-bar work.

Lighting

Worth checking

Inspect the lighting carefully and ask the seller for repair history.

Vehicle-specific check

Worth checking

Check the car’s number plate on MOT Wise to see its own MOT history and any recalls for its build years.

By build year

How build years differ

Use the build-year guide below to separate newer build years from older ones.

Find your Insight's generation

Each card below is a different generation. Select your year and we'll highlight the match.

Z

ZE2 (2nd gen) (2009-2014)

Not enough tests to rate
HYBRID ELECTRICELECTRICITYUNKNOWNPETROL

22.4% fail rate, built around 2014 (11 years old)

Likely between 18.4% and 27.0%

Fails about as often as the average car this age (about 1 in 4 MOTs, 24.8%)

From 361 MOT tests at this ageView details →

Not sure which one you're looking at?

Match your build year to its generation, then see the fail rates for those build years of the Honda Insight.

See every build year for the Honda Insight

By age

Honda Insight fail rate by age

This chart combines every Honda Insight ever sold. It's good for the big picture. For one generation, scroll up to the build-year cards.

Below typicalAbove typicalHigh (28% or more)Highest fail rate
Age / builtFail rateMOT tests
10 yearsbuilt around 2015
10415.4%
11 yearsbuilt around 2014
36122.4%
12 yearsbuilt around 2013
76621.8%
13 yearsbuilt around 2012
1,67523.0%
14 yearsbuilt around 2011
2,31925.4%
15 yearsbuilt around 2010
2,79225.8%
16 yearsbuilt around 2009
1,22927.3%

Fail rate is the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests. How we count fail rates Build years are worked out from age, so they are approximate. Tests counted are 2025 MOTs. Highest fail rate at 16 years old.

All generations of this model

What goes wrong most often on 15-year-old Honda Insights

These issues come from 15-year-old Honda Insights, every generation combined.

All generations of this modelEnough data

Most common advisories and fails

In order of the share of MOT tests that recorded each one

  1. 1
    Advisory

    Tyre worn close to the legal limit or worn on the edge

    19.4%
    Advisory: 812Fail: 62 (7% of the times it was found)
  2. 2
    Advisory

    Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened

    16.0%
    Advisory: 655Fail: 20 (3% of the times it was found)
  3. 3
    Advisory

    Tyre slightly damaged, cracking or perishing

    13.8%
    Advisory: 527Fail: 82 (13% of the times it was found)
  4. 4
    Advisory

    Suspension arm pin or bush worn, but not moving too much

    12.2%
    Advisory: 436Fail: 108 (20% of the times it was found)
  5. 5
    Advisory

    Headlamp lens partly covered, but light output not badly reduced

    12.2%
    Advisory: 452Fail: 56 (11% of the times it was found)

Based on 3,277 MOT tests on 15-year-old Honda Insights, every generation combined.

All generations of this model

Issues that often appear together

The pairs seen most often when an MOT on 15-year-old Honda Insights notes problems with more than one part of the car.

Issues that often appear together on this model

All generations of this modelPlenty of data
  1. Brakes + Suspension29%
  2. Suspension + Tyres26%
  3. Brakes + Tyres25%
  4. Lighting + Suspension25%

Both were noted at the same test. That doesn't mean one caused the other.

Across 1,844 MOT tests on Honda Insight cars built around 2010 (15 years old) where more than one part of the car was noted.

Still registered

How many are still registered, and recalls

How many of these are still registered in the UK, and what's been recalled across the model.

How many are still registered

Not enough registration data to show this for the Honda Insight.

The share still registered can reflect demand, the cost of repairs, exports, write-offs and how owners use the car. It isn't proof of how long the car lasts mechanically.

Recall context

8 recalls in all

7 of the 8 Honda Insight recalls cover cars built in these years.

  • 4 Critical
  • 3 more

Top concerns

  • Passenger airbag may fail to deploy correctly
  • Driver's airbag may fail to deploy correctly
  • Drivers airbag may rupture if deployed

For the exact car, check GOV.UK's recall checker with the number plate.

Like-for-like

Other hatchbacks to compare

Other hatchbacks to compare

  1. 1

    Toyota IQ

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    22.3%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    4.7%
    Dangerous
    4.4%

    Lower fail rate: 22.3%, against 26.4% for the Honda Insight, both built around 2010.

    6,492 MOT tests on cars built around 2010

  2. 2

    Renault Modus

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    32.4%

    No clear edge over the Honda Insight on these figures.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    1,603 MOT tests on cars built around 2010

  3. 3

    Volkswagen Beetle

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    32.8%
    Still registered at 10 years
    97.1%

    No clear edge over the Honda Insight on these figures.

    Some figures could not be compared for these two cars. So this comparison uses the fail rate and recalls only.

    2,591 MOT tests on cars built around 2010

  4. 4

    Nissan Micra

    Same body type, tested at the same age

    Fail rate
    29.9%
    Fail, no pass in 3 days
    4.8%
    Dangerous
    5.5%
    Still registered at 10 years
    96%

    Fewer dangerous faults: 5.5%, against 7.1% for the Honda Insight.

    23,011 MOT tests on cars built around 2010

Fail rate
= the share of MOT tests that ended in a fail. Retests count as tests.
Fail, no pass in 3 days
= the share of MOT tests that failed and still hadn't passed 3 days later. A fail that passed a retest within 3 days, even the same day, isn't counted.
Dangerous
= the share of MOT tests where the tester marked a fault as dangerous. It is against the law to drive the car until it is fixed.
Still registered at 10 years
= the share of cars still registered (taxed or declared off the road) 10 years after they were first registered.

Common questions

Frequently asked questions

Built around 2010 (15 years old), the Honda Insight across all generations combined fails MOTs noticeably less often than typical for this age. This is based on 3,277 15-year-old MOT tests from DVSA data. Each retest counts as a test.

These figures come from DVSA's MOT records. Across every Honda Insight ever sold: 10,728 tests. The main figures are for cars built around 2010 (15 years old): 3,277 tests. They are a guide, not a guarantee. Always inspect the car or have a mechanic check it.