Head-to-head reliability
Honda CR V vs Honda FIT
How the Honda CR V and Honda FIT compare on NHTSA complaints, recalls and crash reports — and which is the lower-risk used buy.
Based on NHTSA owner-complaint & recall records
Honda CR-V vs Honda FIT: The CR-V averages 580.5 complaints per year, with steering and power loss issues, while the Fit averages 112.9, with electrical display problems. The CR-V has 40 recalls, the Fit 51. Source: NHTSA owner complaints.
The picture
Is the Honda CR V or Honda FIT more reliable?
A plain-English read on what the NHTSA record says about living with each vehicle.
Honda CR V
The Honda CR-V, over the past decade, has accumulated a high volume of complaints, averaging over 580 per year, with significant issues in steering, forward collision avoidance, and engine performance. Owners report steering that becomes hard or noisy, sudden power loss, and problems with the infotainment and key fob. These patterns suggest that while the CR-V is a popular compact SUV, it may require frequent repairs and could have safety-related concerns that buyers should investigate.
Honda FIT
The Honda Fit, with about 113 complaints per year, shows a lower but still notable issue rate, primarily in electrical systems, air bags, and fuel/propulsion. Owners describe intermittent blank or garbled digital displays, especially in cold weather, and occasional power loss with warning lights. The Fit's smaller size and lower complaint volume may indicate fewer major mechanical issues, but the electrical gremlins and air bag recall delays are points to consider.
The numbers
Side-by-side NHTSA record
Lower is better in every category. The highlighted cell is the stronger result.
| Category | Honda CR V | Honda FIT |
|---|---|---|
| Total complaintsAll model years combined | 5,805 | 1,129 Better |
| Safety recallsFederal recall campaigns | 40 Better | 51 |
| Crash reportsCrash-related complaints | 207 | 59 Better |
| Complaints per yearAveraged across model years | 580.5 | 112.9 Better |
| Reported injuriesTied to owner complaints | 184 | 60 Better |
| Reported deathsTied to owner complaints | 1 | 0 Better |
Source: NHTSA owner complaints & recall records.
What actually goes wrong
The problems owners report
The most-complained-about systems on each vehicle — what fails, and what owners say in their own words.
Honda CR V
- 01STEERING1,299
- 02FORWARD COLLISION AVOIDANCE1,165
- 03ENGINE907
- 04FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM760
- 05ELECTRICAL SYSTEM741
Owners report the steering wheel making cracking noises and becoming hard to turn at certain angles, sometimes accompanied by the engine stuttering or stopping. This can affect maneuverability and safety, especially in parking garages or tight turns.
The front radar module is described as easily accessible, raising security concerns, and there are reports of the system malfunctioning, potentially leading to unexpected braking or lack of collision warnings. This could compromise the vehicle's safety features.
Sudden significant power loss on the highway, with warnings like 'Emissions system problem — power may be reduced,' has been reported, forcing drivers to pull over immediately. This is a serious safety issue, especially in traffic.
The same power loss incidents are often tied to the fuel/propulsion system, with the vehicle losing power and displaying warning lights. This can leave drivers stranded or in dangerous situations.
“While driving, car engine stutters and stops. The infotainment system went black while driving. The system is hard to steer often while turning. The trunk would not open when touching button for it to open. Took out the key fob and it also would not respond.…”
“After having my car for a month I noticed the steering wheel making a cracking noise when turning going down a parking garage. It made this sound when turning both left and right along with suddenly making it hard to turn the wheel in certain angles. The vehi…”
Honda FIT
- 01ELECTRICAL SYSTEM309
- 02AIR BAGS225
- 03FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM145
- 04ENGINE139
- 05UNKNOWN OR OTHER130
The digital display (fuel gauge, odometer, oil life) intermittently goes blank or becomes garbled, especially in cold weather, making it hard to read critical information while driving. This can be distracting and potentially dangerous.
There are reports of air bag-related recalls, with parts not available for repair, and a crash where the air bag did not deploy properly. This raises concerns about occupant protection in the event of a collision.
The fuel gauge sometimes goes blank or shows weird graphics in cold temperatures, and there are instances of the engine light, steering light, and tire light coming on, with the car juddering and losing power at highway speeds.
Engine misfires, such as a cylinder 2 misfire caused by carbon buildup, have been reported, leading to rough idling and potential performance issues. This can be costly to repair and affect reliability.
“The dealership changed the oil on my 2020 Honda Fit, and the Oil Life display was reset to 100%, on 1/8/24. Two days later the LCD panel, which shows the fuel gauge, odometer, remaining range, oil life, etc. began to intermittently go blank or become garbled…”
“DIGITAL DISPLAY (MILEAGE, OIL LEVEL, FUEL GAUGE, ETC) FAILS WHEN TURNING VEHICLE ON DURING COLD WEATHER. IT REMAINS BACKLIT, BUT ALL TEXT DISAPPEARS. TYPICALLY, THIS HAPPENS WHEN DRIVING ON EITHER HIGHWAY OR CITY STREETS. THIS MEANS AS A DRIVER I'M UNABLE TO…”
Official recalls
Safety recalls on record
Federal recall campaigns — the defect, the risk, and the fix. Confirm any open recall was completed before you buy.
Honda CR V — 40 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2023-2025 Acura Integra, Civic Type R, CR-V Hybrid, CR-V, HR-V, 2022-2025 Civic, Civic Hatchback, 2024-2025 Acura Integra Type S, 2025 CR-V Fuel Cell EV, Civic Hybrid, and Civic Hatchback Hybrid vehicles. The steering gearbox assembly may have b…
The risk: Difficulty steering can increase the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the worm gear spring and redistribute or add grease as necessary, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed November 18, 2024. Owners may contact Honda Customer Service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers f…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2017, 2020, and 2022 CR-V vehicles. The certification label on the driver's side door states incorrect Gross Vehicle Weight Rating (GVWR), Gross Axle Weight Rating (GAWR), and tire size information. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with th…
The risk: An incorrectly sized tire may cause premature tread wear, or a tire blow out, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will install a new corrected label, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed September 18, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is CF7.
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2023 Honda Accord, Civic Coupe, Civic Sedan, Civic Hatchback, Civic Type R, CR-V, HR-V, Ridgeline, Odyssey, Acura ILX, MDX, MDX Hybrid, RDX, RLX, TLX, 2019-2022 Honda Insight, Passport, 2020 Honda CR-V Hybrid, 2018-2019 Honda Clarity PHEV,…
The risk: Fuel pump failure can cause an engine stall while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will replace the fuel pump module, free of charge. Owner letters were mailed September 6, 2024. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are KGC and KGD. This recall is an expansi…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022…
The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH,…
Honda FIT — 51 recalls
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2020-2022 Pilot, Accord, Civic sedan, HR-V, Odyssey, 2020 Civic coupe, Fit, 2021-2022 Civic hatchback, 2021 Civic Type R, Insight, 2020-2021 CR-V, CR-V Hybrid, Passport, Ridgeline, Accord Hybrid, 2020 Acura MDX, 2022 Acura MDX, 2020-2022 Acura R…
The risk: An air bag that deploys unintentionally during a crash can increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 28, 2024. This is a phased recall. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for these recalls ar…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Fit and 2019-2022 HR-V vehicles. The rearview camera image may not display when the engine is started with a key, due to a design error in the audio display power circuit. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with the requirements of…
The risk: An inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the display audio unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed March 13, 2023. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is 6DW. This recall has…
The defect: Honda (America Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2020 Fit and 2019-2022 HR-V vehicles that were previously recalled under NHTSA recall number 23V-046. The rearview camera image may not display when the engine is started with a key, due to a design error in the audio display power circuit.…
The risk: An inoperative rearview camera display can reduce the driver's rear visibility, increasing the risk of a crash.
The fix: Dealers will update the display audio unit software, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 8, 2024. Owners may contact Honda service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are TIQ and DIR. Vehicles previou…
The defect: Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2018-2021, 2023 Acura TLX, 2019-2024 RDX, 2017-2020, 2022-2026 MDX, 2017-2021, 2023, 2025 Honda Ridgeline, 2017-2022 Pilot, 2019-2021 Passport, 2018-2026 Odyssey, 2019-2022 Insight, 2019-2021 HR-V, 2018-2020 Fit, 2020-2022 CR-V Hybrid, 2017-2022…
The risk: Air bags that deploy unintentionally during a crash increase the risk of injury.
The fix: Dealers will replace the seat weight sensors, free of charge. Owner notification letters were mailed July 7, 2026. Owners may contact Honda's customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are BOL, WO9, OOA, WOM, XOH,…
Buyer analysis
Honda CR V or Honda FIT: which should you buy?
The Honda Fit has fewer complaints per year (112.9) compared to the Honda CR-V (580.5), indicating a lower rate of reported issues. However, the Fit's electrical and air bag problems are still significant, while the CR-V's steering and power loss issues are more severe. In practice, the Fit may offer a more trouble-free ownership experience, but both have areas of concern.
Key differences
- The CR-V has a much higher complaint rate (580.5/yr) than the Fit (112.9/yr), suggesting more frequent issues.
- CR-V owners report serious steering and power loss problems, while Fit owners mainly face electrical display glitches and air bag recall delays.
- The CR-V has more crash-related complaints (207) and injuries (184) compared to the Fit (59 and 60), though both have low death counts.
- The Fit's recalls include air bag sensor issues, while the CR-V has recalls for fuel pump and labels, indicating different problem areas.
- Test the steering at various speeds and angles for any cracking noises or resistance, as owners report hard steering.
- Check for any warning lights related to emissions or power loss, and ask about the vehicle's service history for fuel system issues.
- Inspect the digital display for any flickering or blanking, especially in cold weather, as this is a common complaint.
- Verify that all air bag recalls have been completed, as parts may have been unavailable, and ask for documentation.
Before you buy
- Obtain a vehicle history report to check for any open recalls or past repairs.
- Have a mechanic inspect the steering system on the CR-V for any unusual wear or noises.
- Test the Fit's digital display in cold conditions if possible, or ask about any known issues.
- Check for any signs of power loss by test driving at highway speeds and accelerating.
- Ask for service records to see if the CR-V has had fuel pump or engine repairs, and if the Fit has had electrical fixes.
Year by year
Which model years to avoid
Complaints per model year for both vehicles — lower is better. The spikes are the years to scrutinize.
| Year | Honda CR V | Honda FIT |
|---|---|---|
| 2020 | 339 | 35 |
| 2019 | 1076 | 134 |
| 2018 | 2104 | 115 |
| 2017 | 500 | 42 |
Check the actual car
Comparing models is smart. Checking the VIN is essential.
Brand averages tell you the trend. A VIN check tells you what's wrong with the specific Honda CR V or Honda FIT in front of you — accident history, open recalls and title records.
Go deeper
Full reliability reports
- Comparison
- Honda CR V vs Honda FIT
- Honda CR V total complaints
- 5,805
- Honda FIT total complaints
- 1,129
- Honda CR V total recalls
- 40
- Honda FIT total recalls
- 51
- Honda CR V avg complaints/year
- 580.5
- Honda FIT avg complaints/year
- 112.9
- More reliable overall
- Honda FIT
- Honda CR V top complaint area
- STEERING
- Honda FIT top complaint area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM