2021 Honda Insight Driver assistance Problems

On two (2) occasions, the "collision mitigation braking system" braked with no reason. It has happened on a quiet and straight line residential street with no other moving vehicle, pedestrian, animal, or any other obstruction in view. After one second or so of braking, it returned to normal. It is available for inspection. I have not spoken to the local Honda dealer about it, and there were no adverser repercussions. There were no prior warnings of any system malfunction.

NHTSA ID

11675632

Incident

Jul 22, 2025

On at least two occasions the automatic emergency braking system has activated with nothing in front of the vehicle. Several instances when cresting a steep rise in the road the forward collision warning system has activated the "BRAKE" warning light.

NHTSA ID

11637606

Incident

Jun 21, 2023

Car emergency braking system engaged while there was nothing in front of the car. The automatic brakes were applied and the brake indicator flashed on the driver screen with no warning.

NHTSA ID

11594370

Incident

Jun 14, 2024

This has been happening with my two honda cads. I currently have Honda 2023 CRV and 2021 Honda Insight. the Collison Mitigation Braking System brakes really hard for no reason

NHTSA ID

11544903

Incident

Sep 2, 2023

I previously reported this issue to NHTSA and was given the case number [XXX]. Here is my recent letter to Honda. RE: Case #[XXX] (I was informed that this case was closed) Although I did not agree that the adaptive cruise control issue was resolved, Honda closed the referenced case. I am writing to confirm that the issue is not resolved. I rarely drive the Insight but did so yesterday on a two lanes in each direction, limited access highway. Here are my experiences: On multiple occasions while driving at 60 mph in the right hand lane with ACC controlling the distance to the vehicle in front of me, the vehicle in front moved to the exit lane clearing the path in front of me. As the exiting vehicle slowed in the exit lane, the ACC applied the Insight's brakes, quickly reducing my speed to 30 mph in the driving lane. This sudden slow down exposed me to possible rear end collisions by following vehicles that were surprised by Insight's slowing in the driving lane. Once while driving at 70 mph in the passing lane with the ACC controlling the distance to the vehicle in front of me, the leading vehicle moved to the right lane, clearing the lane in front of me. When the Insight approached the vehicle that had moved to the driving lane and was then going at a slower speed, the Insight applied its brakes, quickly slowing the Insight to 40-50 mph. Again this sudden slowdown exposed me to a rear end collision by the vehicle behind me that was also going 70 mph. This is the same issue that I reported earlier. Despite the Honda dealer where I bought the vehicle servicing the ACC system under warranty, this unsafe issue still exists. It seems that the ACC is not "unlocking" from a leading vehicle when it moves to the right despite the path directly forward being clear. Please advise as to Honda's next step in resolving this safety issue. Thanks [XXX] INFORMATION Redacted PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).

NHTSA ID

11515959

Incident

Apr 6, 2023

Intermittently the car’s forward collision warning will flash and occasionally start applying the brake without any other vehicles or obstacles in front of me.

NHTSA ID

11502908

Incident

Jan 14, 2023

Several times since purchasing this vehicle the blindspot warning has lighted when no vehicles are present. It has lighted while driving next to the k rail center barrier, driving in the middle lane of a 3 lane highway, also at night when no cars are around on a 2 lane road. It has also lighted while driving in the rain with no vehicles around.

NHTSA ID

11493465

Incident

Nov 14, 2022

The recent NHTSA disclosure of issues with Honda's driver-assistance technologies causes me to write about the troubling performance of adaptive cruise control on my 2021 Insight. When following another vehicle on controlled access highways, the system works fine. However if the vehicle in front enters an exit lane and slows, my car is slowed to the point that the brakes are fully applied, causing vehicles behind me slam on their brakes or swerve to avoid rear-ending me. The ACC does not "let go" of the car in front of me.

NHTSA ID

11470044

Incident

May 31, 2022

I have had 6 times where the collision warning has slammed on the brakes when there is no vehicles on the road in front of me. This is very dangerous when vehicles are behind you. I'm afraid that this car is going to cause a reck and get me and my wife hurt. A device that is supposed to help you has the ability to get you hurt. The dealer said that they were unable to get it to do it, and that if I was afraid of it that I could turn it off. Dosen't that defeat the purpose of getting it in the first place. I think Honda is just trying to sweep it under the table. Who knows how many other vehicles they have out there with this problem.

NHTSA ID

11461413

Incident

Apr 19, 2022

WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE ON 1/23/21. ON 2/4/21, I WAS DRIVING IN DOBSON, NC, WHEN THE POWER CONTROL UNIT (PCU) MALFUNCTIONED, LEADING TO LOSS OF POWER STEERING AND BRAKES. WHEN I STARTED THE CAR, THE WARNING LIGHTS CAME ON. I TURNED THE CAR OFF AND THEN RESTARTED IT WITHOUT WARNING LIGHTS. I THEN BACKED OUT OF THE DRIVE AND STARTED ON MY WAY. AS I WAS DESCENDING A HILL, THE TRANSMISSION SHUT OFF. I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO A STOP WITH SOME BRAKING. THE CAR WAS TOWED TO FLOW HONDA IN WINSTON-SALEM, NC, WHERE THEY REPLACED THE PCU. WE PICKED UP THE CAR ON 2/9/21. MY WIFE WAS ABLE TO DRIVE IT FROM WINSTON-SALEM TO DURHAM, NC WITHOUT INCIDENT. SHE THEN DROVE ON I-40 TOWARDS OUR HOME IN RALEIGH, NC. WHILE TRAVELING ON I-40 AT 65 MPH, THE PCU MALFUNCTIONED AGAIN, AND THE TRANSMISSION STOPPED WORKING. SHE WAS UNABLE TO ACCELERATE, AND THE POWER STEERING AND POWER BRAKING WOULD NOT FUNCTION. SHE WAS ABLE TO COAST OVER TO THE RIGHT LANE FROM TWO LANES OVER AND THEN COASTED TO THE EXIT TO SAFETY. WHEN THE TOW TRUCK CAME TO RETRIEVE THE VEHICLE, THE CAR STARTED BUT WOULD NOT GET OUT OF PARK (IT COULD SHIFT INTO NEUTRAL BUT WOULD REVERT TO PARK WHEN MY FOOT WAS TAKEN OFF THE BRAKE). THE CAR WAS TOWED TO CROWN HONDA OF DURHAM, WHERE WE PURCHASED THE VEHICLE.

NHTSA ID

11395655

Incident

Feb 4, 2021

Mileage

400 mi