Honda Insight Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Honda Insight car check
Is the Honda Insight reliable? We analysed 163,630 real MOT tests across 10,310 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Honda Insight? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Honda Insight is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm, windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Honda Insight.
Honda Insight Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Honda Insight. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Honda Insight MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Honda Insight to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Honda Insight Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Honda Insight fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Honda Insight Common Faults & Problems
These are the most common serious faults found on Honda Insight models during MOT testing — flagged as dangerous or major failures that need immediate attention.
Honda Insight Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Honda Insight owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Honda Insight MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Honda Insight year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 100 | 79.0% | 59,838 | 81,380 | 105,496 |
| 2020 | 148 | 79.7% | 64,072 | 80,939 | 117,553 |
| 2019 | 163 | 74.8% | 61,060 | 76,736 | 96,889 |
| 2018 | 78 | 70.5% | 47,179 | 52,133 | 64,005 |
| 2017 | 80 | 82.5% | 65,646 | 89,177 | 179,529 |
| 2016 | 261 | 77.4% | 68,444 | 121,844 | 164,554 |
| 2015 | 265 | 75.5% | 70,894 | 109,432 | 155,828 |
| 2014 | 3,442 | 84.0% | 33,519 | 62,080 | 108,045 |
| 2013 | 6,928 | 83.2% | 39,949 | 73,443 | 120,558 |
| 2012 | 23,287 | 82.0% | 45,149 | 79,407 | 129,647 |
| 2011 | 32,667 | 80.9% | 46,948 | 81,390 | 132,196 |
| 2010 | 52,282 | 80.7% | 43,660 | 73,356 | 114,174 |
| 2009 | 38,615 | 80.7% | 43,956 | 73,256 | 109,499 |
| 2008 | 128 | 76.6% | 44,659 | 67,090 | 97,458 |
| 2005 | 99 | 88.9% | 64,278 | 89,353 | 115,213 |
| 2004 | 74 | 77.0% | 83,092 | 115,010 | 179,243 |
| 2003 | 141 | 85.1% | 39,314 | 71,753 | 108,845 |
| 2002 | 987 | 79.9% | 56,901 | 96,469 | 140,010 |
| 2001 | 1,955 | 78.2% | 62,700 | 103,048 | 148,445 |
| 2000 | 1,402 | 79.2% | 64,433 | 98,280 | 143,728 |
How Long Does a Honda Insight Last?
Based on 10,310 Honda Insight vehicles on UK roads.
Honda Insight Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Honda Insight MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Honda Insight
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
88.9% MOT pass rate from 99 tests
70.5% MOT pass rate from 78 tests
The best year to buy a used Honda Insight is 2005, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 88.9% across 99 tests. The 2018 model year has the lowest pass rate at 70.5% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Honda Insight Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Honda Insight THIS CAR | 81.0% | 163,630 | 76,220 mi | 17 yrs |
| Honda Civic | 73.7% | 9,391,580 | 74,987 mi | 34 yrs |
| Honda Jazz | 81% | 5,740,892 | 48,635 mi | 24 yrs |
| Honda Cr-v | 78.5% | 4,177,643 | 80,499 mi | 29 yrs |
| BMW 318 | 86.4% | 63,980 | 51,409 mi | 10 yrs |
Compared to the Honda Civic (73.7% pass rate) and the Honda Jazz (81.0% pass rate), the Honda Insight sits in the middle of the pack on MOT reliability.
Found a Honda Insight you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Honda InsightShould you buy a used Honda Insight?
The Honda Insight has an overall MOT pass rate of 81.0% across 163,630 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Honda Insight are tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm (1,289 recorded failures), windscreen wiper does not clear the windscreen effectively (898), and brake pad(s) less than 1.5 mm thick (883). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
On the safety side, the most frequently flagged dangerous fault is tyre tread depth below requirements of 1.6mm. Dangerous faults cause an immediate MOT failure and mean the vehicle is not roadworthy until repaired. If you're viewing a Honda Insight with an expired or recently passed MOT, ask the seller whether any dangerous faults were found and fixed during the last test.
A typical Honda Insight owner drives around 7,331 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Honda Insight models stay on UK roads for around 17 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.