This Honda Insight Looks Pristine. So Why Did It End Up In the Junkyard—And Where Does It Go From Here?
‘We’re gonna put this up on a special website.’
A junkyard owner showed off a 2019 Honda Insight that ended up on his lot despite looking pristine. Auto Parts City (@autopartscity) posted footage of the car in a viral TikTok that’s accrued more than 45,000 views on the popular social media application. As he explores the vehicle’s problems further, however, he reveals that despite its otherwise pleasant curb appeal, all is not well under the hood.
The TikToker begins his video with a recording of the Honda sedan. From the get go, he comments on the car’s aesthetics. “If you saw this thing sitting in traffic, how many of you think it’s a Honda Civic?” the social media user asks. Next, the clip transitions to a shot of the stationary vehicle from a different angle.
Its profile shows off the ride’s longer wheelbase, suggesting that it may actually be another popular vehicle from the Japanese automaker’s lineup. “And how many of you think it’s a Honda Accord? Well this one surely had me fooled. Because this is a 2019 Honda Insight,” he tells his viewers.
High Mileage Honda Insight
Afterward, the clip then transitions to a shot of the vehicle’s engine bay. “This thing is the Honda version of the Toyota Prius,” he says before bringing the camera lens closer to the car’s internals. “Right here you got a four cylinder 1.5 liter gas engine. And over here you have an electric motor,” he tells viewers. As is the case in many hybrids and EVs, an orange wiring harness covers some of the components connected to the electric motor, which is mounted inside of a case perpendicular to the hybrid vehicle’s ICE engine.
Following this he comments on the car’s aesthetics. He couldn’t believe the vehicle was in such good shape but still managed to end up getting scrapped. “So why did this thing end up at the junkyard? Cause it looks pretty nice, right?” he asks viewers.
A lone sticker situated on the upper left portion of the Insight’s rear windshield holds the answer. “Well this 2019 Honda Insight was used as an Uber car. And it currently has 309,000 miles on it,” the TikToker says. As he shares this information, he peeks inside of the ride’s cabin to show off its odometer, which indeed shows a total mileage of 309,680.
Honda discontinued the Insight in 2022.
Hybrid Battery Woes
And despite the fact it appears to be in good shape, the vehicle unfortunately won’t move. “However, it doesn’t go anymore, it’s a brick,” he relates, before reading an error code off of the vehicle’s dash that’s displayed in Spanish. According to Google translate, the first message reads: “Problem in adaptive cruise control system. Check with your dealer.” Following this, a second message shows up on the dash, too. This is translated to: “Collision Braking System Problem. Check with your dealer.” Following this, there’s yet another error message which indicates malfunctions pertaining to the Insight’s power delivery system. “Problem in the power system. The power may decrease. Check with your dealer,” the translation indicates.
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Other warnings indicate that the Insight’s lane assist functionality isn’t functioning properly either.
However, all of these issues are presumably tied to one warning dialogue in particular. “High battery charge voltage too low. The vehicle cannot start,” it reads. After the smorgasbord of on-dash bad news is shared with viewers, the TikToker gives some background on the driver who decided to junk the Insight. “So the guy who junked this car told me that he took it to two independent shops,” he shared. According to the Insight owner, these service techs “couldn’t even work on it. They just refused to work on it.”
$5,000 Fix
Following this, the man brought the Insight to a Honda dealership, but was shocked by the amount of money the garage wanted to fix it. “[They were] quoting him over $5,000 to get this thing running again,” @autopartscity stated.
Further inspection of the car reveals that while its exterior appears spotless, its interior is anything but. The front passenger seat is filthy. And the cubby area beneath the climate control section is littered with crumbs and unsightly buildup.
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“Something with the Hybrid system throwing a bunch of battery codes, it won’t drive anymore. So what you’re looking at is a Honda Insight brick. We’re gonna put this one up for sale on a special website for dealers only. And I’m willing to bet you that this Honda Insight ends up somewhere overseas,” he says to close out his video.
Honda Insight Hybrid Battery Repair Options
Depending on the nature of the problem with one’s Hybrid battery system, there are several reasons why error codes could pop up. This YouTuber says they found an “easy fix” to the Hybrid battery” not receiving enough charge to power up. In their clip, they work on a 2010 Honda hybrid battery system and speculate that the cause of the problem is linked to a blown fuse.
They show folks where to locate the specific fuse box linked to the car’s hybrid battery system, and within a few minutes, they’re able to swap out the tiny, inexpensive component on the wrecked car. After firing up the engine, they saw that the hybrid system was indeed charging. After a short time lapse, the vehicle’s battery appears to have retained this charge. The YouTuber shared his relief upon seeing this, as he initially believed there was a problem with the car’s hybrid battery unit. However, the fuse swap suggests that this wasn’t the case.
Other hybrid drivers, like folks on this Hyundai Forums thread, also suggest that battery system fixes on fuel-efficient vehicles can be as simple as a fuse swap. Moreover, they stated that “computer reset[s]” can also help to ameliorate these issues as well.
Like the YouTuber demonstrates in his video, scanning one’s vehicle to obtain specific error codes can help narrow down a problem.
Hybrid Battery’s Bad: Just Junk It?
One of the biggest financial gut punches a hybrid car owner can receive is the news that there may be something wrong with their car’s battery system. In just parts alone, used battery packs retail for around $1,000 online. Which doesn’t include the cost of labor and installation. However, if one’s vehicle is in otherwise full working condition, a battery swap isn’t the end of the world.
More third-party mechanic shops that specialize in battery servicing/replacements are popping up over the country. The International Council on Clean Transportation and NBC report that hybrid vehicle sales exploded in 2024. Both Hybrid-electric and fully electric vehicles accounted for 20% of total car sales throughout the year. Furthermore, the ICCT writes that approximately 1.3 million hybrid vehicles alone were purchased in 2024. So it makes sense that businesses looking to capitalize on folks wanting to extend the longevity of their hybrids are being established. Like this Greentec Auto location in Streamwood, Illinois, which sells a new Insight battery for $2,499. Furthermore, the business also sells a Lithium upgrade unit that comes with a 36-month warranty for $2,899 when they trade in their old battery.
InsideEVs has reached out to Auto Parts City for via email for further comment.
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