I bought this car in April 2012. Right away the major complaint I had was gutless on hills (I bought it for gas & company reimbursement purposes) & I should have bought another Fit (a far superior car, especially for cities like San Francisco) but I was swayed by more $$$ from my then job. I'd say that the excessive oil problem started in 2014 but really, I can't say when I can only say now and always a pain! The check engine/check oil lights do not ever correspond with the actual "problem"; every time I add oil all of the lights go away. My car guy (35 years working on Hondas and Toyotas at a dealership- now out of his shop at home) said to check consumer complaints online and Viola! Here's the place I found.

Pros: Great to very good gas mileage and I drive a lot. Nice interior, good amount of space. Once you get going out of the awful 1st gear you can really cruise. Nav & Sirius radio a must. Pretty color. My dog loves it.

Cons: Massive oil consumption; I check level Every Week. #annoyingashell Gutless on any hill, in heat if you have the Airco on or if your trying to pass anyone from a light. My GF convinced it's a lemon and hates. Thank goodness for the dog.

Honda dealership said at first it didn't know why there was a loss of oil. Monitored the oil consumption over 3 months. Final said they checked their tech forum and found the 1st generation engine blocks had a defect. They said the 2nd generation fixed the issue. They replaced the engine block under an extended warranty i bought with the car. Now at 127,000 miles it is happening again and they are now saying i am outside my warranty and i will have to pay for the repair.

I now started finding online all these similar complaints. I am going back to the dealship and asking for another engine rebuild for free and lifetime warranty on it.

In December 2015 the MID showed "Check Emissions System." Took car to dealer to have them tell me that the car had no oil in it and that I shouldn't drive the car under those conditions. It had been around 5,000 Miles since my last oil change and the mechanic that does my oil rated the oil he used at 6,000 miles (synthetic), So I figured he was just a little off base with that. As time went on, the car started going through an entire tank of oil after fewer and fewer miles.

Fast forward to present day and the car currently burns about 1.5 quarts of oil in 1,000 miles. Local Honda dealer says to keep coming back every 1,000 miles to complete the "Oil Consumption Test" at least 2 more times before Honda will intervene, but it is not covered under any warranty anymore (86,000 miles) so I will have to cover the cost of the repair. My extended warranty provider, Honda Care, stated that if the problem is oil consumption, they will not cover it unless the dealer finds a defect in the engine (excluding the piston rings), but the cost of the "exploratory surgery" would come out of my pocket. They estimated the cost of the repairs to be between $2,000 and $3,000 out of pocket unless Honda intervenes, and the service adviser said that it only happened once or twice and the best deal they got was to split the cost with Honda (so $1,000 to $1,500 out of pocket).

On May 30, 2016, my sister and I were trying to go to Santee Park in San Diego and my car suddenly made this huge "clunk!" sound as we were driving past by El Cajon area. I stopped my car immediately and noticed that there were signs of oil change and engine emission system check signs on the LCD screen. I knew it was an oil consumption right off the bat because I just had my oil done just a few weeks ago. Very absurd and scary.

Honda should recall all insights 2013 and make sure none of us go into trouble on the freeway.

The car has an "oil life" indicator that tells you when to get an oil change. I was at around 20% oil life remaining, and a note reading "check emission system" came up on the display. I jiggled the gas cap, etc to no effect. On a whim I checked the oil dip stick. Dry. Nothing. I added three quarts and took the car for an oil change at the dealer, thinking to my self that I'd check the oil more regularly in the future.

After that oil change, less than 3000 miles later, with more than 50% remaining on the oil life indicator, the "check emission system" note returned and the dipstick was once again dry. 2.5 quarts later, I returned to the dealership. They said I needed to do an oil consumption test, bringing the car in every 1000 miles for 4000 miles. At the end of the first 1000 miles I brought in the car and it must have burned a lot of oil; they ordered pistons and rings to replace under the powertrain warranty. They've been easy to deal with, and I'm currently driving a loaner. Good thing too, as the pistons are apparently easy to gouge/scratch. They're on the second reorder as the first set arrived damaged, and the second set was damaged during installation. If the third set is OK, they'll have had the car three days.

They said the new pistons and rings are a revised design that should avoid a repeat of the problem. Meanwhile my wife has looked up trade-in value on the car. (It's my car...)

Extraordinary oil consumption considering low mileage. “Check emissions system” was noted by Honda’s vehicle computer. A vehicle burning oil is harmful to the environment; as well as is shorting the life of the engine and its high priced spark plugs.

Update from Nov 12, 2016: The required oil consummation test showed one quart oil per 2,000 miles. Dealer has requested permission from Honda to repair under warranty. I will wait one week for a response before hiring an attorney. We bought this vehicle thinking it would be good for the environment; but now it is polluting the air.

high oil consumption.

frequent emission check lights on.

suddenly lost acceleration limping ( very scary in the middle of the road) engine emission check came on + brake system check came on+ VSA system check came on. checked engine oil level, saw no oil, added 5 qt oil, and towed to Honda dealer. Dealer pretended as if this is unknown issue. suggested spark plug replacement bill $ 400, Suggested they will monitor oil consumption every 1000 miles and then suggest a cure.

will update if the the spark plug change temporarily soled the issue. Worried Honda owner now. these limping / stalling can cause serious accidents including deaths on road. Wondering how no law suit is issues against Honda by now for recalls???

I purchased my 2012 Insight used from a used car dealer back in September. I had done a lot of research before I purchased the car and was coming from a super reliable 2000 Civic. A few check engine codes came on in November and I had it fixed by my mechanic who told me that the problem was there was no oil which both of us thought was odd. The alerts just came on again about 2500 miles later so I checked the oil myself and noticed it was pretty much empty. I added oil again and again it came on about 2000k miles later. I have 83000 miles and only have had the car for a few months (no warranty). The codes I get are P128A, P128C, P1286, P2600, P2646, and P260 but mostly P128A. My bluetooth app history shows I have received at least one of the alerts mentioned on 11/30. 2/18, and 3/23. Currently have 84000+ miles. I've taken it to multiple dealers and eventually they suggested I call Honda since they couldn't guarantee Honda would help fix the problem even if I pay for the oil consumption test which they require for this type of problem.

I called Honda (800 999-1009) and was told multiple times that "at this time I wouldn't refer you to a dealership [for the oil consumption test], because your case will not be reviewed." Because I purchased the car recently and because it's over 60k, they won't review my case. I asked to speak to a supervisor but instead the person on the phone talked to them herself and they said the same thing (surprise surprise). I told them I had a 2000 Civic for 16 years (which I did) but apparently it only matters about my current car. I asked what would they recommend I do and they basically said I was screwed.This is a four year old car! My 2000 Civic is still running with not a single major problem since I got it. Feeling pretty frustrated and upset.

Update from May 24, 2016: After taking the car to multiple dealerships, I found one that was receptive to my problem. They couldn't guarantee Honda would help, but said they couldn't do anything unless an oil comsumption test was performed ($50). I agreed and did the test and later confirmed that I was losing ~1.5 qts per 1K miles. They told me the repair for this would be $3500 but they would talk to American Honda and see what they could do. A couple days later, they called me back saying Honda would pay for ~$2500 but I was still on the hook for ~$1000. I tried getting them to cover more but they wouldn't budge and honestly due to me purchasing the car used and having 85k miles, I knew I didn't have much leverage. I agreed to get the car fixed. They didn't cover any loaner car and it took about a week to fix. I believe they replaces the pistons and rings but nothing else as there was no further damage. I'm picking up the car later today or tomorrow and will report back if there are any further updates.

Overall, this has been an exhausting situation and I really wish I never bought this car, but at least I was able to get it fixed eventually for a somewhat reasonable price.

I have 2012 Honda Insight EX with about 71,000 miles and noticed it's burning oil pretty quick for the past six months but did not make a big deal of it until I checked my car's engine oil stick and it did not read any oil. Took it to the dealer and they did the oil consumption test. The reading was .9qt every 1000 miles on average. Honda offered to replace the piston, rings, and catalytic converter but I have to pay $500 deductible with no loner car offered while my car in service.

I just bought the car from Honda dealer as a certified car in 2014. Why should I pay $500 deductible? And why Honda doesn't replace the whole engine? And provide me with a loner!!

Should I take it to a different Honda dealer?

At about 50,000 I started to notice the car was burning oil, it consumed more oil as the oil got dirtier so I called American Honda. The woman who spoke with me was basically reading a script, told me it was "NORMAL" for my car to burn 1qt every 1,000 miles. I was like "this car only holds 3.5Qt " how is that even possible. I was very upset but the woman kept repeating the same thing and suggested I get an oil consumption test at my expense.

I wrote down my case # and called the dealership to find out about the oil consumption, they said they had to do the oil change and it was going to cost me $60. I had just had the service done so thought it was a huge hassle for me and to bring it in every 1000 miles, then what if my car didn't meet some criteria. So I drove the car for several months, contemplated trading it in or selling, but that would mean I would have basically pissed off 20k. I decided I had to keep the car and deal with this hassle.

So I called American Honda again and at this point my car already had 61,000 and told him its burning oil and that they sold me a junk engine and that it was all over the internet I could never trade this car in or sell it. This time their tune changed and I was urged to get my car in for oil consumption study asap so repairs could be covered under warranty, they had on record I had called to complain at 50,000, so thank God I did that.

My car could not even make it the 1000 miles, I had to take it to get read at like 880 I was so worried my engine would blow. This week my car is at the dealer and Honda is going to cover 99% of "rebuilding the engine" which is major frikin work. PLEASE call Honda to tell them about your problem. Good luck to all of us, they should really recall all these engines. I hope they don't botch my repair work.

The car was using a quart of oil every 1000 miles the dealer said it was caused by carbon buildup. I have honda care for 5yr 100,000 miles but carbon build up is not a defect so it is not covered. Honda said they would cover 75% and i had to pay 25% . After the work was completed i was told it was caused by a defect with the pistons and rings so the repair was made with upgraded pistons and rings. I was told by American Honda that because of the defect thats why they covered 75% and i said if it was a defect it should be covered by Honda Care but they kept saying it was not covered. So anyone considering a Honda or Honda Care forget it all you will get is a lot of aggravation.This is my last Honda.

Bought Honda Insight 1.3L Model in November 2012. It was good for the 1st three years until the check emission system alert appeared.

I was informed that I was the 5th car owner who suffered this kind of problem at the 94,000km mileage, whilst the other 4 car owners at 200,000 km mileage.

I am considering changing Honda Insight as this model is also no longer in production. The longer I keep this car, the re-sell value is going to drop further.

Hope Honda can improve this common problem for hybrid car produced under Honda.

Purchased my Honda Insight 2012 on 1-3-2012 thinking this would be a great car because it is Honda brand.

HOWEVER now this car is just 4 years old and I had a warning light appear EMISSION WARNING!. It was about time to change the oil. I change it every 3,000 miles.Took to the shop only 60% of oil left. I have only 48,000 miles on this car. Repair shop told to add oil every 1,000 miles myself. I do not have extended warranty. By reading other people reviews looks like I need to sell this car or add oil myself every 1,000 miles. That is not ACCEPTIBLT and HORRIBLE. I hope Honda going to do something about this issue.

I BOUGHT A 2012 HONDA INSIGHT ON OCTOBER 21,2015 (FROM THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP), ON NOVEMBER 6, 2015 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AND I TOOK IT TO THE TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SINCE I BOUGHT THE CAR FROM THEM AND THEY SAID THEY WOULD SEND THE CAR TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP TO CHECK IT AND THEY GAVE ME A RENTAL CAR FOR 3 DAYS. WHEN I WENT BACK FOR THE CAR THEY SAID, "WHEN THEY SERVICED THE CAR THEY DID NOT PUT ORIGINAL PARTS" AND THAT EVERYTHING WOULD BE FINE. ON DECEMBER 18, 2015 THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON AGAIN AND TOYOTA DEALERSHIP SENT THE CAR TO THE HONDA DEALERSHIP TO FIX THE CAR AND AGAIN I WAS PUT IN ANOTHER RENTAL CAR. THIS TIME HONDA SAYS THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON DUE TO A FILTER NOT BEING PLACED RIGHT. ON JANURARY 21,2016 I JUST WENT TO GO PICK UP THE CAR MANUAL FROM TOYOTA DEALERSHIP AND I ASKED THEM TO SHOW ME HOW TO CHECK MY OIL. WE WERE SHOCKED TO SEE THAT THERE WAS NOTHING OF OIL NOT EVEN ONE DROP. TOYOTA WAS SURPRISED TO SEE THAT THERE WAS NO OIL. THE CAR DID NOT EVEN WARN ME AS IT SHOULD HAVE. TOYOTA GAVE ME ANOTHER RENTAL CAR AND SENT THE CAR BACK TO HONDA TO GET CHECKED OUT. AT THIS POINT I MADE IT CLEAR THAT I DID NOT WANT THE CAR ANYMORE. WHEN I GOT THE CAR BACK 3 DAYS LATER THEY SAID I HAVE TO DRIVE THE CAR FOR ANOTHER 1,000 MILES THEN THEY WOULD CHECK THE OIL AGAIN. THIS CAR IS NOT WORTH IT ONCE YOU REACH 50,000 MILES YOU WILL HAVE MORE PROBLEMS BESIDES THE OIL, THEY SHOULD DO A RECALL FOR THIS VEHICLE BECAUSE AT THE END THE CONSUMER LOSES. I AM A WIDOW AND HAVE TWO KIDS LIVING OFF OF SOCIAL SECURITY AND I PUT $4,000 DOWN PAYMENT, IF I WANT TO GET ANOTHER CAR I HAVE TO COME UP WITH ANOTHER $1,500 IF I WANT MY PAYMENTS TO BE THE SAME. I WOULD NOT RECOMMEND THIS CAR VERY DISAPPOINTED, I WISHED I WOULD HAVE DONE MY RESEARCH BEFORE I BOUGHT THIS CAR.

The problem is as described by others. Driving a hybrid that requires a quart of oil every two tanks of gas or so. This car has been serviced religiously every 5000m. I am someone who takes care of my cars and drives them until it is no longer sensible to repair them. I am not sure yet whether I am willing to do a ring/piston job to get the rest of the life of the car.

Update from Mar 2, 2016: My Insight left me stranded on the highway after going in to "limp mode". After a 40 mile towing charge the car was left at the dealership. The vehicle threw DTC P1286 and O128A even though the oil level was normal (having just been changed). The car worked fine the whole time it was at the dealership and because they were unable to re-create the problem the dealership was unwilling to offer any solutions or a clear diagnosis. This is to my benefit in that they are not throwing my money at a problem that they don't understand but it does leave me with a car that is untrustworthy and likely to strand me again. The dealership begrudgingly allowed that the issue is likely related to oil consumption but were flummoxed by the fact that the car was full of oil when the $$#%!!!* hit the fan. It has passed the oil consumption test because it only uses a quart every 1,100 miles at the moment. They suggested I contact Honda to open a case, which I may or may not do as the car has 80000k on it and I need to be convinced that fixing the oil problem would get at least that many miles again without starting to use...seems doubtful and the dealership offers no reassurance. Bottom line, if you are buying an Insight(or CRV) now make sure you get an extended warranty that will cover this problem up to 100K, or look at some other hybrid instead

Update from Mar 16, 2016: Good news. After being stranded by the vehicle one more time under similar circumstances, both the dealership and Honda stepped up...big time. Long story short, they initially agreed to replaces pistons and rings because the plugs were fouled from the burning oil. Once the engine was apart, cylinder 2 was found to be scored, so they are now replacing the short block as well. Bottom line, I will pretty much have a new engine, all at no cost to me...including covering towing and rental costs. Hats off to Darling's Honda in Bangor, ME and Honda USA.

I loved my Honda Insight but suddenly I am having issues with it using/burning oil. A quart of oil per 1000 mi in my eyes doesn't seem normal although the Honda Dealers keeps telling me that it is. I am not a mechanic but I wonder with a car that runs both on fuel and electric using a quart of oil every 1000 miles seems ridiculous. It only holds 3 quarts to start with.

I first noticed a problem when my emissions light came on, I called the dealer right away and they told me to check my gas cap and drive a couple of days. I was at work at the time but before I left work that evening I thought I would check the oil and it didn't even register on the dip stick. That panicked me so I went across the street to an oil change shop. They checked the oil and it was not registering. He checked under the car for a leak and saw no evidence of an exterior leak. He then checked the exhaust pipe and it had a black sticky residue inside and he said that is were my oil is going. He added 2 quarts and it still showed about 1/2 qt low. I called the Honda Dealer in the morning and they said that I should bring it in. They changed the oil even though my car said I still had 40% oil usage left. They charged me for the oil change and told me to come back in 1000 miles to have the oil checked. I just had it checked yesterday and it was down a little more than a 1/2 qt low. The mechanic explained that it is within normal range to use 1 qt per 1000 miles. I questioned again how can that be on a car with 41000 miles on it. If that continues to be a problem I will be adding up to 7 quarts of oil per change- It only hold 3 quarts to start, that is INSANITY if you ask me. When I decided to buy a Honda I was told that they had the best resale value and they had a higher trade in value. Really! They are doing a check today to see what may be causing the usage. Thank God I bought the extended warranty. I can't afford to replace or rebuild an engine on a new car. Something needs to be done about this, to protect consumers.