HondaInsight2010Overview/honda/insight/2010/base/

2010 Honda Insight

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2010 Insight.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (AV-S7)

The 2010 Honda Insight is a passenger car specification that pairs an automatic (AV-S7) transmission with a powertrain requiring 3.4 quarts of 0W-20 API engine oil and returning EPA ratings of 40/43/41 mpg. Across the nameplate’s 2000–2022 complaint record, this model year represents the highest data point with 119 owner complaints—well above the 2004 low of two—while air bags rank as the top complaint area amid 10 recalls. That volume makes the 2010 the most reported model year in the covered span, a standing that signals an atypical concentration of owner-documented issues relative to the broader model history.

Model year202220212020201920142013201220112010

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity3.4 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy40/43/41 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 151R · 340 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 151R · 340 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP175-65R15OEM · verified
Wheel / rimN/A inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (AV-S7)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length172.4 in
Overall width66.5 in
Overall height56.3 in
Wheelbase100.8 in
Curb weight2723 lb
Track (front / rear)59.1 / 58.3 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)58/42

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined40 / 43 / 41 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume85 cu ft
Cargo volume16 cu ft
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Insight of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

10.3–11.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 10.30 sec — 2010 EX Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2010EX Hatchback 1.3L I-4 + Elec 13-kW10.30 sec17.90 sec98 hpFWD
2010EX Hatchback 1.3L I-4 + Elec 13-kW10.40 sec17.80 sec98 hpFWD
2010EX w/Nav Hatchback 1.3L I-4 + Elec 13-kW10.40 sec17.80 sec98 hpFWD
2010EX Hatchback 1.3L I-4 + Elec 13-kW10.60 sec18.00 sec98 hpFWD
2010EX w/Nav Hatchback 1.3L I-4 + Elec 13-kW10.80 sec98 hpFWD
2010EX w/Nav Hatchback 1.3L I-4 + Elec 13-kW10.90 sec18.20 sec98 hpFWD
2010EX w/Nav Hatchback 1.3L I-4 + Elec 13-kW11.20 sec18.30 sec98 hpFWD
2012EX w/Nav Hatchback 1.3L I-4 + Elec 13-kW10.60 sec17.90 sec98 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 3.4 qt of 0W-20 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Oil0W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity3.4 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs8mm Bolts: 16 ft-lbs, 6mm Bolts: 9 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts33 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts17 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts23 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/Studs7 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts80 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub133 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)750 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Ignition Timing10 degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance2 degrees
Ignition Timing Reference RPMIdle rpm

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity.98-1.10 lbs
Oil TypePAG 46
Oil Capacity2.66-3.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number151R
Standard BCI Cranking Performance340 cca

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)38.0-46.0 psi
Engine Compression142 Minimum PSI. 28 Maximum PSI.
Engine Oil Pressure10 psi @ idle, 50 psi @ 3000 rpm psi
Intake Valve Lash0.006-0.007 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.009-0.011 in

Brakes

Torque Caliper to Bracket25 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle80 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.063 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.0016 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness From0.827 in
Rotor Nominal Thickness To0.827 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
17 ft. lbs., Step 2: 907 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
127 ft. lbs., 9027 ft. lbs
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118 ft. lbs., Step 2: 4018 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

At 160,000 miUniversal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2010 Honda Insight marks the first model year of its generation, and the federal data reflects the typical launch-year pattern: complaints (119) and recalls (10) are at their highest for the generation, significantly exceeding the 40–59 complaints and 6–10 recalls seen in subsequent years (20112013). This spike aligns with early production teething issues, particularly in airbag systems (47 complaints) and structural concerns, which dominate the complaint profile. While recalls remain elevated through 2011–2012, complaints drop sharply by 2011 (40), suggesting Honda addressed many first-year flaws in later builds. The 2010’s crash-related complaints (21) are also notably higher than later years, though no fire incidents were reported. Given this trend—where early adopters bear the brunt of unresolved issues—buyers should approach a 2010 Insight with caution, prioritizing a meticulously documented service history to mitigate risks tied to its launch-year vulnerabilities.

10
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
71
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
119
Owner complaints
21 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 119 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Air Bags47
Structure13
Exterior Lighting5
Visibility4
Suspension3
Electrical System3
Steering2
Air Bags,Seat Belts2

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 10 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

18V661000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 27/09/2018

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer…

18V268000Air Bags:Frontal:Passenger Side:Inflator ModuleReported 26/04/2018

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 71 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
A18-0662026-06-30Air BagsService Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's…
A18-0482026-02-28Air BagsService Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Driver's Airbag…
A21120B2023-06-13Electrical SystemService News - The navigation clock and date are incorrect. This is due to a limited GPS…
A21120B2022-01-29Electrical SystemServiceNews Article - The clock shows the incorrect time. This issue is due to a limited…
APaS022620219022021-02-26Service BrakesDealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for certain 2011-2016…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Insight. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2010 Insight take?

3.4 qt of 0W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2010 Insight have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 10 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Insight get?

EPA figures are 40 city / 43 highway / 41 combined mpg.