Used car guide

2011 Honda Insight: common problems and MOT failures

What MOT testers find on the Honda Insight first registered in 2011: we looked at the 5,128 MOTs these cars had during 2023–2025. Plus known faults and what to look at before you buy one.

5,128MOTs of 2011 cars, done in 2023–2025
70%pass first time (all 2011 cars: 62%)
8,800typical miles a year
3.7×the usual rate for headlights

What goes wrong more than usual on a 2011 Honda Insight?

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

  • Headlights3.7× usual
    Honda Insight
    18% All 2011 cars
    4.9%

    Failed outright at MOT: 5.8%, against 3.1% 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.

  • Wipers1.7× usual
    Honda Insight
    5.3% All 2011 cars
    3.2%

    Failed outright at MOT: 3.5%, against 2.1% of all 2011 cars. The rest were advisories or minor defects.

    Rough price £15–£60 our estimate

    At the viewing: Test the wipers and washers on every speed.

Better than most

Coil springs: 2.4% here, against 9.2% of all 2011 cars. Engine oil leaks: 2% here, against 7.5% of all 2011 cars.

Petrol or diesel: does it make a difference?

The same figures for each fuel on its own. Check which one the car you're looking at is: it's on the logbook and in its MOT history.

FuelPass first timeStands outMOTs
Petrol73%Headlights 3.1×, Rust around suspension or steering mountings 2.6×1,316
Hybrid67%Headlights 4.1×, Wipers 1.8×2,131
Electric69%Headlights 3.6×867

Common 2011 Honda Insight MOT failures and advisories

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
    33% of testsRough price £10–£80

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

  • 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
    27% 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.

  • Suspension
    26% 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.

  • Wipers, windscreen and mirrors
    9% of testsRough price £15–£250

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

  • Rust and bodywork
    4% of testsRough price £150–£1,000

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

Questions to ask the seller before buying a 2011 Honda Insight

Ask before you travel to see it. A seller who knows the car will have answers, and receipts.

  1. Any recent work on the headlights? (Flagged at MOT 3.7× as often on the 2011 Honda Insight as on other cars the same age.)
  2. Any recent work on the wipers? (Flagged at MOT 1.7× as often on the 2011 Honda Insight as on other cars the same age.)
  3. Can I see the service history and receipts for any big jobs?

Looking at a Honda Insight?

Check the actual car: its own MOT history, mileage and what to ask the seller. Free, no sign-up.

Other years

Every year of the Honda Insight compared

YearMOT testsMost flagged
2014810Tyres 22%
20131,324Tyres 25%
20123,731Tyres 28%
20108,324Lights and electrics 34%
20096,218Lights and electrics 34%
2002–Too few tests
2001147Suspension 41%
2000–Too few tests

Where this comes from: the DVSA's anonymised results for every MOT test done in Great Britain during 2023–2025, counting the MOTs of Honda Insight cars first registered in 2011. "Flagged" includes advisories, so it isn't the same as a fail rate. How we score