general problems of the 2010 Honda Insight

2010 Honda Insight. Consumer writes in regards to vehicle acceleration issues. Consumer sent additional correspondence. The consumer stated as he was braking, he experienced an acceleration surge. He could feel the brakes working, but the engine began to rev up trying to over power the brakes. In desperation, he pushed the shifter into neutral. The engine continued to rev for a moment, then returned to normal. The dealer upgraded the software. However, they were unable to find anything wrong with the vehicle. The incident happened a second time, as the consumer was driving.

The car was traveling at a very slow speed (<10 mph) in a parking lot with the driver attempting to maneuver the car into a parking space. The driver was applying no pressure on the gas pedal; the car was in deceleration. When the driver stepped on the brake pedal to stop, the engine accelerated and the car lurched forward unexpectedly. As a result, the car went over the parking barrier into the base of a parking light causing significant front end damage to the car ($6,000). The driver has experienced a few other situations where the car acted in a similar manner. We believe this unexpected acceleration issue poses a serious safety hazard. We are working with the local Honda service department to isolate and fix the problem.

Honda Insight hybrid - unpredictable acceleration combined with locking of the brakes caused the car to move forward at an accelerated rate with no control, twice in a short time span. First incident was Dec. 2011, second in Jan. 2012. This did not happen in previous 1 1/2 yrs. I owned the car. I had an accident the first time going very slowly up a hill at 10:am with clear roads. The light was red and I braked to slow down and when crawling, slightly released the brake to roll forward, but the car accelerated 6 feet from a small truck in front of me. I felt like I was being pushed from behind. I pumped but the brakes were locked. Car went forward very slow uphill. I tapped the truck. My damage was a small chip in my plastic plate cover. His fender fell down. We reported the accident and will impact my insurance. I then decided to get snow tires. Second time was in front of a college, in rush hour traffic, slowing down for a red light. There were kids, cars all around etc. , everyone slowing down, coming to a stop. There was snow and ice on the road. I had new snow tires, I brake, the car slowed down, I released the brake a little, instead of maintaining the slower speed, the car accelerated. I brake again quickly, but I was on ice and the brakes locked. I slid as if being pushed. I turned into a small snow bank just in front of the sidewalk and the car stopped. I took it to the dealer who checked for 3 wks. They said no problems. Suggested the floor mats? several other 2010 Insight owners had similar problems all who said the dealership could find nothing wrong. If it was the floor mats it would have been happening all the time! I asked the dealership to buy the Insight back from me. I took a $10,000. Loss. I am so relieved it's worth it. Note: I'm in canada so I had to put your address in order for my complaint to go through. All car problems in na sb together.

In January 2012, my car the 2010 Insight, "unpredictably accelerated, then at the same time, the brakes locked". This caused the car to move forward at an accelerated rate with no driver control. It happened twice in a short time span but did not happen in the previous 1 1/2 yrs that I've owned the car. I had an accident the first time. It impacted my insurance. The second time I was lucky. I do not want to risk a third time. I'm an experienced careful driver and these incidents were not normal. I have driven trucks, vans, cars, automatic and standard in every type of canadian weather. This happened twice in the same way causing a loss of control. I was going 1 mile per hour the first time, while slowing down for a light. I felt like someone was pushing me and I went very slowly uphill into the rear end of the vehicle stopped at the red light. The second time again I was slowing down for a light, going 2 miles per hour on a flat surface. I had to go off the road and hit a snow bank to stop. I detailed the incidents and escalated to Honda canada and my dealership. I gave the dealership the car to test. I want to trade it for a civic. They tried to blame the problem on the floor mats which is not logical since the problem did not occur every time I braked. After keeping my car for 2 weeks they replied, completely ignoring the locked brake aspect, and told me they could not find a problem with the acceleration system. So. Their official documented reply ignores the primary problem, deals with the secondary problem and denies there is any problem. I have to persist. I don't want to die or hurt or kill anyone. A recall is warranted. I am reporting the entire matter here, because after they replied saying there is no problem, I searched online where I found other similar complaints. Note: I live in canada. I used your state and zip code as there was no other option.