HondaInsight2019Overview/honda/insight/2019/base/

2019 Honda Insight

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2019 Insight.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

The 2019 Honda Insight is a passenger car with an automatic transmission that uses variable gear ratios, and it achieves EPA-estimated fuel economy of 55 mpg city, 49 highway, and 52 combined. In the model’s complaint history spanning 2000 to 2022, the 2019 Insight’s 97 owner complaints and 8 recalls place it closer to the highest-complaint year of 2010 (119 complaints) than the lowest of 2004 (2 complaints), indicating a mixed reliability standing for this model year.

Model year202220212020201920142013201220112010

Quick specs

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

Engine oil capacity3.5 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20OEM · verified
Lug nut torque80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy55/49/52 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

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

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 51R Must use a AGM VRLA battery. 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 51R Must use a AGM VRLA battery.OEM · verified
Tire size215/55R16 93VOEM · verified
Wheel / rim7 inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length183.5 in
Overall width74 in
Overall height55.5 in
Wheelbase106.3 in
Curb weight3047 lb
Track (front / rear)61 / 61.8 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)61/39

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined55 / 49 / 52 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Passenger volume98 cu ft
Cargo volume15 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.

7.3–7.7 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 7.30 sec — 2019 EX Sedan
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2019EX Sedan 1.5L I-4 + Elec 1.2-kWh7.30 sec15.80 sec151 hpFWD
2019Touring Sedan 1.5L I-4 + Elec 1.2-kWh7.40 sec15.90 sec151 hpFWD
2019Touring Sedan 1.5L I-4 + Elec 1.2-kWh7.60 sec16.10 sec151 hpFWD
2019Touring Sedan 1.5L I-4 + Elec 1.2-kWh7.70 sec16.00 sec151 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

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

This engine holds 3.5 qt of 0W-20 engine oil, Dot 3 brake fluid. Torque lug nuts to 80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 30.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-4-2.

Lubricants & capacities

Automatic Transmission FluidHonda CVT Fluid
Automatic Transmission Fluid Capacity2.3 qt
Brake FluidDot 3
Engine CoolantHonda Type 2 antifreeze/coolant
Engine Coolant Capacity4.9
Engine Oil0W-20
Engine Oil Capacity3.5 qt

Engine torques

Oxygen (O2S) Sensor Bolt(s)33.0 ft-lbs
Knock Sense (KS) Bolt(s)16.0 ft-lbs
Flex or Driveplate Bolts55.0 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts18 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts24 ft-lbs Use a new gasket. ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug30.0 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts80 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub181.0

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-4-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)1100 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerHonda
Spark Plug Gap.039-.043 in
Spark Plug Torque16 ft-lbs
Ignition Timing8 degrees
Ignition Timing Acceptable Variance2 degrees

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR1234yf
Refrigerant Capacity0.871 - 0.981 lbs
Oil GroupPOE
Oil TypeND-11
Oil Capacity4.00 -4.50 oz
Standard BCI Group Number51R Must use a AGM VRLA battery.

Service checks

Fuel Pump Pressure Minimum46.0
Fuel Pump Pressure Maximum54.0
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)46.0-54.0 psi
Engine Compression400

Brakes

ABS Sensor TorqueFront: 6.0; Rear: 6.0
Minimum Pad ThicknessFront: 0.063; Rear: 0.079 in
Vented Rotor Minimum Thickness for ReplacementFront: .827; Rear: .315
Variation from Parallelism Thickness Variation.0006
Maximum Rotor Runout.0016

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 1 stages
122 ft. lbs., Step 2: Turn 120°.22 ft. lbs

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 2019 Honda Insight shows the highest complaint volume (97) and recall count (8) in its generation's federal record, a notable spike compared to the subsequent years where complaints dropped to 30 (2020), 24 (2021), and 29 (2022). Recalls similarly trended downward from 8 in 2019 to 6, 3, and 3 in the following model years, while NHTSA investigations remained constant at 3 across all four years. The 2019 model's top complaint areas were Fuel System, Gasoline (14 complaints), Forward Collision Avoidance (10 complaints), and Air Bags (7 complaints), with 12 crash-related complaints and 1 fire-related complaint on record. Technical Service Bulletins (TSBs) ranged from 46-50 during 2019-2020, declining to 13 by 2022. This arc suggests the 2019 model year experienced the steepest initial quality or design issues, which Honda appears to have progressively addressed through engineering updates and warranty adjustments in later years. The data indicates that while 2019 falls at the peak of the complaint and recall curve for this generation, subsequent model years show meaningful improvement across multiple metrics—a pattern that may reflect refinements rather than fundamental design flaws. Given the downward trajectory in complaints and recalls after 2019, a well-maintained 2019 Insight could represent reasonable value, but buyers should prioritize vehicles with documentation of the applicable recalls and TSBs having been completed.

8
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
46
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
3
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
97
Owner complaints
12 involved a crash · 1 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Overall★★★★★
Frontal★★★★★
Side★★★★★
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 97 complaints on record, top 8 components.

Fuel System, Gasoline14
Forward Collision Avoidance10
Unknown Or Other8
Air Bags7
Fuel/Propulsion System7
Service Brakes5
Engine5
Electrical System4

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 2 of 8 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

20V314000Fuel System, Gasoline:Delivery:Fuel PumpReported 28/05/2020

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2019 Acura NSX, 2019 Acura RDX, RLX and RLX Sport Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Accord, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R and HR-V, 2019-2020 Insight and 2019 Fit… Remedy: Honda will notify owners and dealers will replace the fuel pump assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 22, 2020. Owners may contact Honda customer service at…

20V771000Electrical System:Body Control Module:SoftwareReported 10/12/2020

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Accord Sedan, Accord Hybrid, and 2019-2020 Insight vehicles. A software error may cause intermittent or continuous disruptions in communication between the… Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the BCM software, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin February 22, 2021. Owners may contact Honda customer service at…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 46 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
A21-0682023-10-25Vehicle Speed ControlService Bulletin - The ACC system error message comes on while driving when outside…
A21080A2023-10-17Forward Collision AvoidanceService News - If an Adaptive Cruise Control System Problem comes back on when the…
ATI&032720239042023-03-27Parking BrakeDealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for any & all…
ATI&031020239042023-03-10Parking BrakeDealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for any & all…
ATI&022320239032023-02-23Parking BrakeDealer Message - American Honda Motor Co., Inc. (AHM) is searching for any & all…

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 2019 Insight take?

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

Does the 2019 Insight have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 8 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Insight get?

EPA figures are 55 city / 49 highway / 52 combined mpg.