There are 2 owner-reported engine complaints for the 2001 Honda Insightin NHTSA's database. These are unverified consumer reports and may not reflect confirmed defects.
MONDAY MORNING I HAD AN APPOINTMENT TO BRING MY CAT TO THE VET. I PUT HER IN A PET CARRIER AND PUT THE CARRIER IN MY 2001 HONDA INSIGHT WITH THE PET DOOR FACING FORWARD. I GOT ON THE 101 N. IN LOS ANGELES AND HAD DRIVEN ONLY A FEW MILES WHEN I SMELLED A STRONG CHEMICAL ODOR. THINKING THE SMELL WAS COMING PERHAPS FROM ANOTHER VEHICLE I CONTINUED. THEN MY DOOR OPEN LIGHT CAME ON AND THE CAR FILLED WITH A THICK SMOKE. I LOOKED BEHIND ME AND SAW FLAMES COMING FROM BELOW AND BEHIND THE CAT CARRIER. I QUICKLY PULLED ACROSS THE HIGHWAY LUCKILY THERE WAS AN EXIT WITH A VERY SHORT EXIT RAMP. I STOPPED THE CAR AND OPENED MY DOOR AND THREW MY PURSE OUT OF THE CAR, OPENED THE DOOR TO THE PET CARRIER AND REMOVED MY CAT. BY THIS TIME THE FLAMES AND SMOKE HAD INCREASED. I TRIED TO OPEN THE BACK HATCHBACK HOPING TO SMOTHER THE FLAMES WITH A COAT BUT THE DOOR COULD NOT BE OPENED AND THE INTENSITY OF THE FIRE HAD ESCALATED. I MOVED AWAY FROM THE CAR AND YELLED FOR HELP. I WAS ABLE TO CALL 911 AND THE FIRE AND POLICE ARRIVED IN A FEW MOMENTS. I TOOK MANY PICTURES WITH MY CELL PHONE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT PUT OUT THE FIRE WHICH COMPLETELY MELTED THE HOOD OF THE CAR. THIS CAR HAS NEVER BEEN INVOLVED IN AN ACCIDENT AND MY HUSBAND AND I ARE THE ONLY OWNERS. WE HAVE ALL SERVICE RECORDS AND HAVE REPLACED RECALLED ITEMS INCLUDING THE BATTERY AND THE OXYGEN SENSOR. THE CAR HAS BEEN TOWED TO OUR MECHANIC. *TR
DT*: THE CONTACT STATED WHILE DRIVING 50MPH, AND SHIFTING TO 3RD GEAR THE MANUAL TRANSMISSION SLIPPED INTO 1ST GEAR WITHOUT WARNING WHICH CAUSED THE ENGINE TO STALL. THE ENGINE DID NOT RESTART AND WAS TOWED TO THE CONTACT'S HOME. THE CONTACT INSPECTED THE VEHICLE AND DETERMINED THE ENGINE NEEDED REPLACED. THE DEALER AND MANUFACTURER WERE NOT ALERTED.
Complaints are unverified consumer reports submitted to NHTSA. A high complaint count may reflect vehicle popularity, not defect severity. Data sourced from NHTSA public records.
Data synced from NHTSA on Apr 26, 2026