Man Finds 'Pretty Nice' 2019 Honda Insight at Junk Yard. Then He Sees the Codes

• Honda

If you take good care of a car, it can last you well over 200,000 miles.

A few decades ago, most vehicles weren’t built to hold up that long, but modern cars, especially those designed for heavy use, can rack up miles before being retired to the junkyard.

For everyday drivers, it might take a decade or two to hit that milestone. But for rideshare drivers, who put in far more hours on the road, those miles add up quickly.

A recent TikTok video from Car Salvage Auto Parts City (@autopartscity) gives viewers a rare look at what happens when one of those workhorses reaches the end of its life. The clip has racked up nearly 90,000 views.

A Closer Look at the Car

In the video, the man behind the TikTok shows off a sleek vehicle and asks viewers to guess what it is. “If you saw this thing sitting in traffic, how many of you think it’s a Honda Civic, and how many of you think it’s a Honda Accord?” he says.

The answer is neither. It’s actually a 2019 Honda Insight, Honda’s hybrid sedan often compared to the Toyota Prius.

Gallery: 2019 Honda Insight: First Drive

He opens the hood and describes what’s under there: a four-cylinder, 1.5-liter gas engine paired with an electric motor. At first glance, the car looks fine. So why did it wind up in the scrapyard?

The reason comes down to mileage. This particular Insight was used for Uber, which explains the high miles on it: over 309,000 miles.

That’s not the problem, however. As the TikToker puts it bluntly, “it doesn’t go anymore, it’s a brick.”

What Exactly is Wrong With the Honda Insight?

He pans the camera over to the dashboard, reading a series of warning messages in Spanish:

• Problema en sistema de control — Problem in control system
• Problema en sistema de frenada — Problem in braking system
• Problema en sistema de alimentación — Problem in power supply system
• Problema en sistema de frenada de colisión — Problem in collision braking system
• Problema en el sistema de mitigación de salida de carretera — Problem in road departure mitigation system
• Alto voltaje de carga de batería demasiado baja — High-voltage battery charge too low

In other words, just about every major system in the car is in trouble.

According to the TikToker, the owner had already taken it to two independent shops that refused to work on it. When they finally brought it to a Honda dealership, the quote came back at more than $5,000 in repairs.

Considering the high mileage, the owner decided it wasn’t worth the investment. “Something with the hybrid system throwing a bunch of battery codes,” the TikToker explains. “It won’t drive anymore, so what you’re looking at is a Honda Insight brick.”

He finishes by saying the car will likely be sold on a dealer-only site and, in his words, he’s willing to bet it ends up “somewhere overseas.”

How Long Do Uber Cars Really Last?

Uber drivers shared on Reddit that they rack up around 70,000 miles a year. That means within three or four years, many are already approaching the end of their car’s lifespan.

Some manage to keep them going longer, but hybrid models like the Insight add another complication: when the battery goes, the repair bill can be enough to total the car.

Uber acknowledges the strain on these vehicles and advises drivers to keep up with maintenance. The company stresses that sticking to a manufacturer’s service schedule is critical, as missing oil changes or ignoring fluid top-offs can quickly lead to bigger, costlier issues.

What People Are Saying

Viewers in the comments section shared their takes on the retired Uber car. 

One person joked about the TikToker’s attempt to read the dashboard codes: “Your Spanish is on point.”

Others debated whether it made sense to give up on the car. “It’s worth spending $5,000 to fix it and get another 200k miles,” one commenter wrote. “You’re gonna spend way more on a new car.”

Some pointed out how harsh battery failure can be on hybrids. “300k is a good run, but it just shows how those batteries can turn your car into a brick,” someone else said.

Another user compared it to their own experience with an older model. “My first car out of high school was a 2010 Honda Insight. It has over 200k miles and still runs. If this newer model says anything, it’s that my 15-year-old one should be good for another 80k.”

Motor1 has reached out to Honda via email and Auto Parts City via a contact form on their website. We’ll update this if either responds.