Used car guide

2011 Honda Insight: common problems and what to check

What gets flagged at MOT on 2011 Honda Insights, from 1,674 tests in 2025, plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

1,674MOT tests in 2025
67%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 61%)
8,500typical miles a year
3.5×the usual rate for headlights

What stands out

Parts flagged at MOT more often on 2011 Honda Insights than on all cars registered in 2011.

  • Headlights3.5× usual
    Honda Insight
    20.1% All 2011 cars
    5.8%

    Failed outright at MOT: 6.1%, against 3.2% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £40–£400 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check both headlights on dipped and full beam, and look for cloudy or cracked lenses.

  • Body structure rust or damage2.3× usual
    Honda Insight
    2.1% All 2011 cars
    0.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.3%, against 0.2% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Look underneath and along the sills for flaky rust or fresh underseal hiding it.

  • Chassis rust or damage2.2× usual
    Honda Insight
    2.2% All 2011 cars
    1%

    Failed outright at MOT: 0.2%, against 0.2% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £150–£1,000 our estimate

    At the viewing: Check the sills, wheel arches and underneath for rust, and look along the panels for uneven gaps or paint.

Better than most

Engine oil leaks: 2.2% here, against 8.9% of all 2011 cars. Coil springs: 3.8% here, against 10.3% of all 2011 cars.

By area

The share of 2011 Honda Insight MOT tests where testers flagged each area, as a fail or an advisory. Rough prices are typical independent-garage costs.

  • Lights and electrics
    36% of testsRough price £10–£80

    At the viewing: Ask a friend to check every light, including brake lights and indicators, while you operate them.

  • Suspension
    30% of testsRough price £120–£400

    At the viewing: Listen for knocks over speed bumps, and look behind each front wheel for a snapped coil spring.

  • Tyres
    30% of testsRough price £70–£150

    At the viewing: Check the tread on all four tyres, including the inside edges, and look for cracks or bulges.

  • Brakes
    29% of testsRough price £150–£350

    At the viewing: Look for a lip on the disc edges and feel for judder or pulling when braking firmly from about 40mph.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    10% of testsRough price £15–£250

    At the viewing: Check for chips in the driver's view, and test the wipers and washers.

  • Exhaust and emissions
    5% of testsRough price £100–£1,200

    At the viewing: Look for black soot in the tailpipe, listen for blowing from the exhaust and check for engine or DPF warning lights.

Looking at a Honda Insight?

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Other years

YearMOT testsMost flagged
20121,215Lights and electrics 29%
20102,729Suspension 36%
20092,052Lights and electrics 39%

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test in Great Britain in 2025, counting tests of 2011 Honda Insights registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score