Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Driver's Airbag Inflator for 2007-11 CR-V and Other Listed Years and Models.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2012 Honda Insight airbags problems
moderate Owners of the 2012 Honda Insight have filed 11 NHTSA complaints about the airbags at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Complaints
11
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2010 Insight | 55 |
| 2011 Insight | 27 |
| 2012 Insight (this page) | 11 |
| 2013 Insight | 7 |
| 2014 Insight | 3 |
What stands out
Among the 7 model years of Honda Insight in our records for airbags problems, this one ranks #3 by owner-complaint volume.
No new NHTSA airbags complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passenger's airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's Airbag Inflator for 2010-12 Accord and Other Listed Years and Models (Expires September 30, 2028)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - American Honda is conducting an inspection of certain vehicles that have previously had the passenger's airbag inflator replaced as part of the Takata Passsenger's Airbag Inflator recall. If you completed the repair described by this service bulletin on or before May 10, 2019, make sure to use the Warranty Claim Information provided below.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passenger's airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
Owners of 2012 Honda Insights caught in the Takata airbag recall (NHTSA 16V061000) faced a prolonged and frustrating parts shortage. Honda issued recall notices starting in March 2016 promising parts would be available in mid- to summer 2016, but the replacement airbags never arrived on schedule. By September 2016 and beyond, owners reported waiting over three months post-notification without any callback from dealers or parts availability. One owner over an hour from the nearest Honda dealer specifically mentioned being unwilling to drive farther than 30 minutes from home out of safety concern while the recall sat unrepaired. Dealers offered no loaner vehicles, and repeated calls to both dealer service departments and Honda corporate yielded no results. Multiple owners reduced vehicle use during the wait; one noted trying to drive it "as little as possible." No actual airbag failures are documented in these complaints—the risk is the unaddressed recall condition itself.
Same Honda Insight airbags reports on nearby years: 2010 · 2011
Failure modes owners describe
Takata Airbag Recall – Parts Supply Delay
Owners received recall notices (primarily NHTSA campaign 16V061000) for Takata airbags but replacement parts were unavailable for extended periods. Honda promised parts availability in mid- to summer 2016, but delivery did not materialize within reasonable timeframes. Owners reported waiting more than 3 months post-notification and over 60 days beyond VIN posting without parts becoming available.
When: Recall notices issued March–April 2016; parts promised summer 2016 but not delivered by September 2016 or later
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning indicator light on; Unable to schedule recall repair due to parts unavailability; Owners reducing vehicle use out of safety concern while awaiting recall
Codes mentioned: NHTSA campaign 16V061000 (Takata airbags)
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement airbag parts required per recall; no parts available during complaint period. One owner mentioned visiting dealer for service but parts not in stock.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA campaign 16V061000 (Takata airbag recall); Honda issued recall notices with promised mid-summer availability; manufacturer confirmed parts unavailable and acknowledged excessive delay (per VIN tool verification in complaints #4 and #5)
Poor Dealer Communication and Customer Service
Owners reported that Honda dealers and corporate communication were unresponsive to recall scheduling inquiries. One dealer did not offer loaner vehicles during extended repair wait. Multiple attempts to contact dealers and Honda corporate yielded no results or callback within reasonable timeframes.
When: During recall repair period, 2016
Symptoms owners cite: Dealer failed to call back within 3+ months of initial contact; No loaner car offered despite extended wait; Multiple calls to dealer and Honda corporate without resolution
Repairs/costs cited: Dealer service coordination issues; no parts available to facilitate repair.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: NHTSA campaign 16V061000; Honda corporate notified but did not provide timely scheduling or customer support alternatives
Synthesized from 11 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 6 most recent
Takata recall - dealership has not replaced the airbag yet.
Takata recall - dealership has not replaced the airbag yet.
Takata recall - dealership has not replaced the airbag yet.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Honda insight. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v061000 (air bags); however, the part to do the repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2012 Honda insight. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v061000 (air bags). The parts to do the repair were unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was notified. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not available.
Takata airbag...got my recall notice in april and still haven't been able to get this fixed. Calls to dealer and Honda corporate yield no results.2012
Had airbags trouble with your 2012 Honda Insight?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2012 Honda Insight?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 11 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $1,100 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Mileage data is limited for this issue. Owners report failures across a wide range, suggesting cause is more about driving conditions and maintenance than mileage alone.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2012/Honda/Insight.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.