HondaInsight2006Overview/honda/insight/2006/base/

2006 Honda Insight

Factory specifications, fluid capacities, torque values, EPA fuel economy and the federal safety record for the 2006 Insight.

Body PASSENGER CARTransmission Automatic (variable gear ratios)

The 2006 Honda Insight is classified as a passenger car, pairing an automatic transmission with variable gear ratios to an EPA-rated fuel economy cycle of 45 mpg city, 49 mpg highway, and 47 mpg combined, while specifying 2.6 quarts of 0W-20 API engine oil for service. Within the model’s 2000–2022 complaint history, this model year registers only two owner complaints—tied with 2004 for the lowest in the range and standing in sharp contrast to the 119 complaints logged for 2010. With just one recall on record and engine-related issues representing the sole top complaint area, the 2006 Insight occupies a notably stable position at the quiet end of the vehicle’s reliability spectrum.

Model year202220212020201920142013201220112006

Quick specs

Fluid capacities, tune-up values and fuel economy at a glance.

Engine oil capacity2.6 qtOEM · verified
Engine oil type0W-20 APIOEM · verified
Lug nut torque80 ft-lbsOEM · verified
EPA fuel economy45/49/47 mpgEPA · verified

Fitment & sizes

Replacement part sizes and factory part numbers — battery, bulbs, filters and belts.

From the factory this vehicle uses a BCI 51 · 270 CCA battery. Each part links to every other vehicle that shares it, so a part you already stock may fit more of your fleet than you'd expect.

Battery groupBCI 51 · 270 CCAOEM · verified
Tire sizeP165-65SR14OEM · verified
Wheel / rimN/A inOEM · verified

Full specifications

Engine, drivetrain, dimensions and economy.

Engine & drivetrain NHTSA vPIC

TransmissionAutomatic (variable gear ratios)

Dimensions & weight NHTSA vPIC

Overall length155.1 in
Overall width66.9 in
Overall height52.8 in
Wheelbase94.5 in
Curb weight1878 lb
Track (front / rear)57.1 / 52 in
Weight distribution (front / rear)57/43

Ratings & economy EPA / vPIC

EPA city / highway / combined45 / 49 / 47 mpg
DrivetrainFront-Wheel Drive
Recommended fuelRegular Gasoline

Performance & power Independent road tests

0–60 mph, quarter-mile, horsepower and torque from independent road tests.

Independent road tests for the Insight of this era, listed by trim and engine — this page spans more than one engine, so no single horsepower figure is shown.

10.5–11.2 sec0–60 mph (tested)quickest 10.50 sec — 2000 Hatchback
YearTrim / engine0–60¼ mileHPDrivetrain
2002Hatchback 1.0L I-3 + Elec11.10 sec18.30 sec73 hpFWD
2000Hatchback 1.0L I-3 + Elec10.50 sec17.90 sec73 hpFWD
2000Hatchback 1.0L I-3 + Elec10.60 sec18.00 sec73 hpFWD
2000Hatchback 1.0L I-3 + Elec11.20 sec18.30 sec73 hpFWD

Service quick specs OEM factory data

Capacities, torques and tune-up values from the factory service manual.

This engine holds 2.6 qt of 0W-20 API engine oil. Torque lug nuts to 80 ft-lbs, the oil drain plug to 29.0 ft-lbs. The firing order is 1-3-2. Note the cylinder-head bolts finish on a torque angle (torque-to-yield) — they stretch permanently and should be replaced, not reused, during any head service.

Lubricants & capacities

Engine Oil0W-20 · API
Engine Oil Capacity2.6 qt

Engine torques

Camshaft Bearing/Carrier Cap Bolts or Studs9 ft-lbs
Engine Flywheel Bolts33 ft-lbs
Intake Manifold to Engine Bolts16 ft-lbs
Exhaust Manifold to Cylinder Head Bolts15 ft-lbs
Engine Oil Pan Drain Plug29.0 ft-lbs
Oil Pump to Cylinder BLock Bolts/StudsBolts: 6 ft-lbs, Screws: 4 ft-lbs

Chassis torques

Lug Nuts80 ft-lbs
Automatic Transmission Drain Plug36.0 ft-lbs
Front Wheel Hub134 ft-lbs

Ignition

Cylinder Firing Order1-3-2
Curb Idle Speed (No Load)900 rpm
Curb Idle Speed Variance (No Load)50 rpm
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK, DENSO
Spark Plug Gap.039-.043 in
Spark Plug Torque17 ft-lbs
Spark Plug ManufacturerNGK
Spark Plug Gap0.039-0.043 in

Battery & A/C

RefrigerantR134a
Refrigerant Capacity1.10-1.21 lbs
Oil GroupPAG
Oil Type46
Oil Capacity4.33-5.00 oz
Standard BCI Group Number51
Standard BCI Cranking Performance270 cca

Service checks

Regulated Fuel System Pressure (Without Vacuum)40.0-47.0 psi
Regulated Fuel System Pressure (With Vacuum)30.0-38.0 psi
Engine Compression128 minimum PSI. 28 maximum variation PSI.
Engine Oil Pressure10 psi @ idle, 50 psi @ 3000 rpm psi
Intake Valve Lash0.078-0.009 in
Exhaust Valve Lash0.008-0.010 in

Brakes

Brake ApplicationWITH DISC BRAKES / WITH DRUM BRAKES
Torque Caliper to Bracket24 ft-lbs / 17 ft-lbs / 23 ft-lbs
Torque to Knuckle80 ft-lbs / 41 ft-lbs
Minimum Pad Thickness0.063 in
Minimum Shoe Thickness0.039 in
Brake ApplicationWITH DISC BRAKES / WITH DRUM BRAKES
Rotor Max Parallel Variation0.0006 in / 0.0012 in
Rotor Runout Limit0.004 in / 0.002 in

Multi-step torque procedures OEM · verified

Connecting Rod (Large End) Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
17 ft. lbs., Step 2: 907 ft. lbs
Crankshaft Pulley and/or Damper Bolts — tightening sequence 1 stages
114 ft. lbs., step 2: 9014 ft. lbs
Cylinder Head — tightening sequence 2 stages

Prep Bolts A:

18.7 ft. lbs.; Bolts 1-88.7 ft. lbs
129.0 ft. lbs.29 ft. lbs
290 degrees90 degrees
Main Bearings — tightening sequence 1 stages
118 ft. lbs., Step 2: 6018 ft. lbs

Factory maintenance schedule OEM · verified

Normal service, condensed from the factory interval matrix.

Under the factory schedule, replace the engine oil and filter every 7,500 mi; spark plugs at 105,000 mi; coolant at 120,000 mi. The big-interval services (at 120,000 mi for coolant, and the transmission fluid) are the ones owners most often skip — on a lower-mileage example, assume the original fluids are still in it and check them first.

Every 7,500 miEngine Oil (drain & refill) · Tire & Wheel Assembly (rotate)
Every 15,000 miBrake Line (inspect) · Brake System (inspect) · CV Joint Boot (inspect) · Engine Oil Filter (replace) · Exhaust System (Complete) (inspect) · Fuel Line (inspect)
Every 30,000 miAccessory Drive Belt (inspect) · Cabin Air Filter (replace) · Engine Air Filter Element (replace) · Transmission Assembly (drain & refill)
At 105,000 miEngine Valves (inspect valve lash) · Spark Plugs (replace) · Universal Vehicle Operation (inspect idle speed)
At 120,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)
At 180,000 miEngine Coolant System (drain, flush & refill)

Reliability & federal safety record

Owner-reported issues, recalls, investigations and service bulletins on record with NHTSA — an unfiltered look at what owners actually experience.

The 2006 Honda Insight sits at the tail end of the first generation (2000–2006), and the federal record shows a clear downward arc in complaint volume across this generation—from 39 complaints in 2000 to just 2 by 2004, where it remained flat through 2005 and 2006. TSBs followed the same trajectory, declining from a peak of 98 in 2001 to just 16 by 2006, suggesting Honda had largely sorted the platform's issues by mid-cycle. The 2006 model year carries only 2 total complaints (one Engine, one Air Bags) with zero crash or fire complaints, matching 2004 and 2005 as the quietest years in the generation; however, it does carry 1 recall—the first since 2002—though the data does not specify the root cause. Notably, the dramatic surge in complaints and recalls beginning in 2010 (119 complaints, 10 recalls) corresponds to a subsequent generation and should not be attributed to this vehicle. **Bottom line: the 2006 model year represents the most refined and least problematic point in the first-generation Insight's lifecycle, making it a pragmatically sound choice among used examples of this generation—provided the single open recall is addressed.**

1
Open recalls
NHTSA campaigns
16
Service bulletins
Manufacturer communications
1
ODI investigations
Office of Defects Investigation
2
Owner complaints
0 involved a crash · 0 a fire
NHTSA crash-test rating federal NCAP · out of 5 stars
Rollover★★★★★
Owner complaints by model year NHTSA · this generation & adjacent

Owner complaints filed with NHTSA, by component

All 2 complaints on record, top 2 components.

Engine1
Air Bags1

Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint database.

Recalls NHTSA · verified

Showing 1 of 1 campaigns on record for this vehicle.

06V270000Equipment:Other:Owners/Service/Other ManualReported 26/07/2006

ON CERTAIN PASSENGER VEHICLES AND MOTORCYCLES, THE OWNER'S MANUALS CONTAIN INCORRECT CONTACT INFORMATION FOR THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION'S (NHTSA) VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE. Remedy: HONDA WILL SEND A POSTCARD TO DEALERS AND OWNERS WITH THE CORRECT NHTSA VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE INFORMATION AND WITH INSTRUCTIONS TO INSERT THE CARD INTO THE "REPORTING SAFETY…

Technical service bulletins NHTSA · verified

Showing 5 of 16 bulletins on record with NHTSA.

BulletinDateComponentSummary
A07-0302021-01-23Equipment"Service Bulletin - There are several A/C leak detection tools available. -Refrigerant…
DLR MSG - Honda2014-08-06Air BagsDealer message - On Monday, June 23, 2014, American Honda announced three recalls for…
DLR MSG - Stop S2014-07-23Air BagsDealer message - On Monday, June 23, 2014, American Honda announced three recalls for…
SB-12-0482013-06-19Electrical SystemHONDA: INFORMATION ON REPLACEMENT AND REMOVAL OF JUNCTION BOARD FROM OLD IMA BATTERY AND…
SB-12-01-20122012-12-01StructureHONDA: PRODUCT UPDATE FOR A MANUFACTURING PROBLEM WITH THE ROOF MOLDING MAY ALLOW THE…

Common OBD-II trouble codes

The most common OBD-II codes for this vehicle's emissions system. These are standardized SAE J2012 definitions, not vehicle-specific fault reports.

P0420
Catalyst system efficiency below threshold — Bank 1
P0300
Random / multiple cylinder misfire detected
P0171
System too lean — Bank 1
P0455
Evaporative emission system leak detected — large leak
P0128
Coolant thermostat below regulating temperature
P0442
Evaporative emission system leak detected — small leak

VIN tools

Decode factory build data for a specific vehicle by VIN.

VIN
Decode a VIN to confirm the transmission and build data for a specific Insight. OEM
Build data
Plant, GVWR class, engine and body data for any 17-character VIN.
Recalls
Check open recall campaigns against a specific vehicle by VIN.

Vehicles with shared specs

Find every vehicle that shares this one's battery, bulbs, oil capacity, platform or parts.

Reference guides

Cross-vehicle references for the kinds of data on this page.

Frequently asked

How much oil does the 2006 Insight take?

2.6 qt of 0W-20 API, per the factory manual.

Does the 2006 Insight have open recalls?

NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign(s) for this model year. Check your specific vehicle by VIN.

What gas mileage does the Insight get?

EPA figures are 45 city / 49 highway / 47 combined mpg.