Honda Insight (2012)

1,421 real MOT outcomes analysed • 84% first-time pass rate

2012 Honda Insight

CarHunch analysed 1,421 real MOT records for the 2012 Honda Insight. This breakdown of actual test outcomes — pass rates, defect profiles, mileage data — isn't published anywhere else.

Below average reliability 4% above UK average
84%
pass MOT first time
UK average: ~80%
79,727
typical mileage
52,873–112,333 middle half
37.9%
ever had a dangerous defect
recorded at any MOT
2.9
avg MOT failures per car
over 16.2 tests on record

What to check before buying a 2012 Honda Insight

Practical pre-purchase checks for this age and model.

  • 📋 Check the full MOT history. Look for recurring advisories — slow-building issues like corrosion or brake wear patterns show up years before they become failures. Enter the reg below for a full AI analysis.
  • 🔍 Inspect for corrosion in person. Brake pipes, sills, subframes, and chassis legs. Surface rust is normal at this age; structural rust is a serious problem that's expensive to fix and can fail an MOT.
  • 🛞 Check tyres and brakes. The most common advisory items at this age. Budget for replacement if they're near the limit — factor this into your offer price.
  • ⚠️ 37.9% of these vehicles have had a dangerous defect recorded. Enter the reg below — the full MOT history will show exactly what was flagged and whether it was resolved.
  • 📄 Run an HPI check. The MOT history won't show outstanding finance, insurance write-offs, or stolen status — an HPI check will.

Before you buy a Honda Insight

MOT history is one piece of the puzzle. These checks can reveal what CarHunch can't.

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Pass Rate by Fuel Type

Fuel type Vehicles Pass rate Avg failures
Hybrid Electric (Clean) (54%) 763 83.6% 3.12
Petrol (20%) 279 83.9% 2.67
Electric (13%) 188 84.5% 2.61
Other (13%) 186 85.5% 2.65
Fuel Cells (0%) 3 76% 4.33
LPG (0%) 1 87.5% 2
Diesel (0%) 1 84.6% 2

Mileage Distribution

Most 2012 Honda Insight vehicles sit in the blue band. If the car you're looking at is outside it, it's either unusually low or high mileage for its age.

52,873
low mileage
79,727
typical
112,333
high mileage

Half of all 2012 Honda Insight vehicles fall between 52,873 and 112,333 miles.

2012 Honda Insight — Still on the Road

Strong survival — 1,166 vehicles still getting MOTs in 2025, 85% of the peak.

147 1,166 2014 2025

Based on vehicles from this manufacture year that had at least one MOT test in each calendar year. Data from 2014–2025.

MOT History Averages

16.2
Avg MOT tests per vehicle
2.9
Avg failures per vehicle
13.7
Avg advisories per vehicle

Most Common MOT Issues — 2012 Honda Insight

Based on actual MOT test records for this model. Percentage shows how often each item appears across all vehicles in this cohort.

  • 44.1%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 42.2%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to legal limit/worn on edge
  • 36%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin
  • 30.3%
    Under-trays fitted obscuring some underside components
  • 30%
    Rear Brake disc worn, pitted or scored, but not seriously weakened
  • 27%
    Offside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 26.9%
    Nearside Front Tyre worn close to the legal limit
  • 25.1%
    Front Brake pad(s) wearing thin

Data covers a 3-year window centred on 2012. Counts include advisories and failures.

Found a specific Honda Insight?

Enter the reg to see its individual MOT history, AI Hunches, and how it compares to this cohort.

UK

Other model years — Honda Insight:

2000 2001 2009 2010 2011 2013 2014