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Vehicle Stats/Honda/FIT Reliability
NHTSA Official DataUpdated Jul 2026Methodology

Honda FIT Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls β€” NHTSA data

Poor reliability signalOur verdict from 1,125 complaints and 51 recalls on NHTSA record

Comparing used Honda FIT options? We analyzed 10 model years (2011–2020) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.

1,125
Total Complaints
NHTSA filed
51
Safety Recalls
federal campaigns
59
Crash-Related
crash complaints
7
Fire-Related
fire complaints
60
Injuries Reported
across all years
10
Years Analyzed
2011–2020

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Found a Honda FIT? Check that exact car.

Model-year trends show patterns β€” they can't tell you whether this car was crashed, flooded, or rolled back. A VIN check can.

  • Accident & damage history
  • Odometer rollback records
  • Open recalls & title brands
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Quick Answer

Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Honda FIT has 1,125 owner complaints and 51 safety recalls across model years 2011–2020. The most reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. 2015 drew the most complaints; 2020 drew the fewest.

Honda FIT β€” key reliability facts
Make
Honda
Model
FIT
Model years analyzed
2011–2020 (10 years)
Total NHTSA complaints
1,125
Safety recall campaigns
51
Crash-related complaints
59
Fire-related complaints
7
Worst model year (by complaints)
2015 (281 complaints)
Best model year (fewest complaints)
2020 (35 complaints)
Top reported issue area
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
Reliability signal
Poor
Source: NHTSA (National Highway Traffic Safety Administration) Β· Data last refreshed Jul 30, 2026
This FIT has 51 open recall campaigns on record. Check whether yours is affected.Check my VIN free β†’

By model year

Honda FIT: which years to avoid & which to buy

Based on total NHTSA owner complaints per model year. Higher complaint counts indicate a riskier year to buy used β€” lower counts suggest a cleaner reliability record.

Years to avoid
2015281 complaints2013175 complaints2019134 complaints

These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.

Best years to buy
202035 complaints201742 complaints2012113 complaints

These years have the fewest owner complaints on record β€” lower risk starting points.

Looking at a 2015 Honda FIT? It logged the most NHTSA complaints of any model year β€” averages won't tell you whether this exact car is affected.Check this VIN free β†’

Crash test ratings

NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings

New Car Assessment Program

NCAP crash tests measure how well a vehicle protects occupants in controlled frontal crash, side crash, and rollover scenarios. Stars are awarded per category (5 = safest). These laboratory results are independent of owner complaints and are performed by NHTSA engineers on new production vehicles.

20202020 Honda FIT 5 HB FWD
Overall Safety
5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover Risk
4/5
20192019 Honda Fit 5 HB FWD
Overall Safety
5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover Risk
4/5
20182018 Honda Fit 5 HB FWD
Overall Safety
5/5
Frontal Crash
5/5
Side Crash
5/5
Rollover Risk
4/5
How to read NCAP stars
5 stars β€” Excellent
4 stars β€” Good
3 stars β€” Average
2 stars β€” Below average
1 star β€” Poor

Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings

What the complaint data suggests

Poor
Editorial interpretation of NHTSA public complaint data. Source: nhtsa.gov. Complaints are owner-submitted and do not confirm a defect. Methodology

Data engine & NHTSA methodology by Eduard Batog, Co-founder & Data Engineer. How we calculate this.

The HONDA FIT has 1,125 NHTSA complaints and 51 recalls on record. 59 complaints involve crash-related incidents. This data reflects owner-reported issues submitted to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

Key findings
  • 1,125 total complaints filed with NHTSA
  • 51 federal recall campaigns
  • 59 crash-related complaints on record
Top concerns
  • Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
  • Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Verify service records for frequently complained components
Worst years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.

Best years

Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.

What to check before buying used
  • Run a VIN check on the specific vehicle you are considering
  • Verify all open recalls are completed at nhtsa.gov/recalls
  • Request service records for the most-reported complaint components
  • Have a certified mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase
Data note: NHTSA complaints are consumer-submitted and do not confirm a manufacturing defect Complaint volume is influenced by sales volume β€” popular models naturally accumulate more complaints

Problems by model year (best vs. worst)

2011
113
2012
113
2013
175
2015
281
2016
118
2017
42
2018
114
2019
134
2020
35

Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Jul 2026

Safety recalls

NHTSA safety recalls

51 recalls found

Safety recalls are mandatory repair campaigns ordered by NHTSA when a vehicle defect poses an unreasonable risk to safety. Manufacturers are required to fix recalled vehicles free of charge. Always verify open recalls before buying a used car.

Safety recall

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

#24V064000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGERJanuary 2, 2024
Safety recall

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION

#23V046000BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTIONFebruary 2, 2023
Safety recall

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION

#23V046000BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTIONFebruary 2, 2023
Safety recall

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION

#23V046000BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTIONFebruary 2, 2023
Safety recall

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION

#24V384000BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

#26V332000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

#20V314000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

#21V215000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

#23V858000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Safety recall

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION

#24V384000BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

#26V332000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Safety recall

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP

#23V858000FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE:DELIVERY:FUEL PUMP
Safety recall

BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION

#24V384000BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER

#26V332000AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
Safety recall

STRUCTURE

#15V697000STRUCTURE
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#18V661000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#18V268000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#19V502000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#19V500000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Safety recall

AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

#19V378000AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE

Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2011–2020. Always run a VIN-specific check below for the most up-to-date open recall status.

Common problems

What goes wrong most often

The vehicle systems owners complain about most, ranked from all 1,125 NHTSA complaints β€” these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.

01
ELECTRICAL SYSTEM307 complaints
02
AIR BAGS224 complaints
03
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM145 complaints
04
ENGINE139 complaints
05
UNKNOWN OR OTHER130 complaints
06
POWER TRAIN91 complaints
07
STRUCTURE65 complaints
08
STEERING50 complaints

Owner complaints

NHTSA complaint reports

1,125 total

These are consumer-submitted safety complaints filed directly with NHTSA. Each complaint describes a real owner's experience. Complaints flagged as crash-related or fire-related are highlighted.

FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE,ENGINENov 2025

The contact owns 2017 Honda Fit. The contact stated that while attempting to start the vehicle, the vehicle hesitated. An independent mechanic was contacted. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic to be diagnosed, and it was determined that cylinders #1, #2, and #4 had failed and cylinder #3 was currently operating. The mechanic performed a pressure test on all cylinders and that the cylinders needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The contact related the failure to NHTSA Campaign Number: 23V858000 (FUEL SYSTEM, GASOLINE); however, the VIN was not included in the recall. The manufacturer was not notified of the failure, and the contact was transferred to the NHTSA Hotline to report the failure. The failure mileage was 100,000.

ENGINESep 2025

Rattling noise coming from engine when starting engine cold

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMSep 2025

When starting or stopping the engine with the push button, a mechanism makes a loud grinding noise.

VISIBILITY/WIPERSep 2025

Blue metallic paint has clear coat peeling and exposed base paint. Paint should last longer than 8 years, this is a manufacturing defect.

1 InjurySTRUCTURE,UNKNOWN OR OTHERJun 2025

my wife's wedding finger was nearly amputated near the fingertip from our 2017 honda fit , it happened when she was getting out of the car and I was closing the electric windows on May 22 2025, luckily we had lots of napkins in the glove box to catch all of the blood,we went to emergency room and finger was x-ray'd and found out it was broken, they had to cut off wedding ring, er doctor stitched back together, prescribed antibiotics, and told her she needed to see a orthopedic surgeon in a week to do repairs I called and reported this to honda corp. And they said they would call and setup time to inspect vehicle, still have not received call yet There were no warnings or messages

STRUCTUREJan 2025

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Fit. The contact stated while the vehicle was parked, the contact discovered that the paint all over the vehicle was delaminating and rusting. The failure occurred on several different occasions. The vehicle was taken to a dealer where it was diagnosed that the vehicle needed to be repainted. The vehicle was repaired however, the failure persisted. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 22,000.Β 

Read 14 more owner reports
ELECTRICAL SYSTEMDec 2024

Fuel gauage/odometer display glitches out and does not show the information. It is just a blank reading.

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMDec 2024

After replacing fuel injectors recently I have no warning lights on but the car has been stalling and pulling. Today on the freeway as I attempted to accelerate from 30 mph my car jerked and pulled 3 times harshly almost causing an accident. Still no warning lights and this has happened multiple times. I have submitted a prior concern and it has not been addressed and the problem only continues and has gotten worse.

ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMOct 2024

The car will stall while on the freeway. Had fuel injectors replaced and still does not drive well. I am now being told I may have to look at the fuel pump which should be working automatically. I have now invested almost 3,000 on a car with less than 90,000 miles on it that is maintained religiously so that nothing happens to it.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMOct 2024

Fuel injectors failed. Check engine light suddenly came on. There was fuel in the oil, putting safety at risk. Problem confirmed by a private auto service center. Had to replace fuel injectors and fuel joint pipe. The warranty on fuel injectors has been extended for 2015-2016 Honda Fits. Please help this get extended to the 2017 Honda fit because it is the same part and the same problem.

WHEELS,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMJul 2024

7/14/24 This scenario has happened previously. The first time the engine light, steering light, tire light have come on and remained on. Driving around 65 mph the car judders, loses power, & engine light flashes. Thankfully, there was a shoulder to pull over onto because the ability to maintain speed is lost. Also, the highway I was on has extremely busy portions without any shoulder, so the situation could have been much worse. With traffic all around, I have to put on hazard lights and pull over onto a shoulder filled with tons of debris, which I then got a flat tire, which I then I had to change in the side of the highway. The immediate loss of power and subsequent events is extremely dangerous. The vehicle is well maintained. When taken for diagnosis shops have referred me to the dealer. I’ve called Honda America customer service and am also referred to the dealer. Dealerships are extremely difficult, expensive, & unreliable. Through research I’ve found fuel injector and carbon buildup issues that may be the cause, which of course can cause damage of the engine and catalytic converter. The cost of these repairs is very high. Therefore, I am unable to use a basic economical vehicle I purchased out of necessity, which I can barely afford already, and has now become much more expensive due to major repairs that are needed but incomplete due to lack of funds. If I try to drive it I become a potential hazard on the road. This seems like a manufacturing defect if it is an injector issue. If it is carbon buildup on the intake valves it requires an expensive service not disclosed at purchase in the owners manual, which seems dishonest and deceptive. The private shops I’ve been to have diagnosed the issue as faulty fuel injectors, catalytic converter, or unsure. Honda says go to the dealership, yet without any assistance from Honda they will require a diagnostic fee of around $200 and will require expensive out-of-pocket repairs of a likely Honda defect.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMNov 2023

The contact owns a 2017 Honda Fit. The contact stated while driving approximately 60 MPH, the instrument cluster started to flicker. The contact stated that the speedometer, fuel gauge, and other gauges were fluctuating. The contact stated that the failure became a regular failure and occurred at various speeds. The contact had taken the vehicle to a local dealer, where it was diagnosed and determined that the clutch gauge needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was not informed of the failure. The failure mileage was approximately 102,000.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM,UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMNov 2023

The odometer is completely useless, unable to tell mileage, fuel level and such. Several reports online of the same issue with honda fits. I could run out of gas unexpectedly, I don't know when its time to change oil.

ENGINEAug 2023

Like 4 others on NHTSA, I am reporting intermittent cold start rattle coming from the VTC actuator. I have tried the following: cleaning the intake valves, changing the oil every 3k miles, using a high quality oil filter with a silicone drain back valve, and using Top Tier fuel on every fuel up. 2015-2016 Honda Fits have a TSB regarding this issue, and my 2017 Honda Fit also has this issue. @HondaMotorCompany, please right this design defect by releasing a TSB. I recommend replacing the VTC Actuator (Part#:14310-5R1-013), CAM CHAIN (Part#:14401-5K9-004), CAM CHAIN TENSIONER ARM (Part#:14520-5R0-003) and CAM CHAIN TENSIONER (Part#:14510-5R1-003). Thank you. Related to Complaint NHTSA ID NUMBERS: 11518951, 11507525, 11455247, and 11431811

ELECTRICAL SYSTEMJun 2023

The fuel gauge on the dash goes blank, especially when the weather is cooler, so you can't see how much fuel is in the car. This is obviously dangerous because you could run out of fuel. The problem has been reported by other honda fit owners and a google search brings up many complaints about this issue. It appears to be a design defect. Feel free to contact me if you would like to inspect the car.

STEERINGMay 2023

At about 79330 miles, sharp right or left steering elicited a clunking sound. The dealer "found rack and pinion going bad, recommend replacing rack and pinion," If the steering mechanism were to fail while the car was moving, severe injury or death to the occupants or other persons could result. As noted, the car was inspected by the dealer's mechanic but not by a manufacturer's representative.

STRUCTUREMay 2023

Chipping paint from the hood and drivers por and all four passenger doors have chipped paint and the bare metal is exposed. Started happening a couple months after I bought the vehicle and progressively getting worse. I have taken it to the dealer at Checkered Honda of Virginia. They said this car didn’t have any paint recalls but they mentioned some Honda civics and accords had paint issues.

POWER TRAINApr 2023

Has about a 3 second engine rattle on cold start up, believed to be a defective variable valve timing gear.

POWER TRAIN,ENGINE,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMMar 2023

Vehicle is experiencing intermittent fault with air-fuel ratio of cylinder. Problems began at 50,000 miles and the dealer recommended engine cleaning due to carbon buildup. This did not solve the issues. Warranty repair was refused at that time, and has since lapsed out of warranty. This results in a malfunction indicator lamp on the dash. Car has additionally failed to start on occasion, and varies greatly in the number of cranks necessary to start. Also sometimes experience shuddering and movement of the vehicle when stopped. The reliability of the vehicle is compromised, which is a significant safety issue.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER,FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEMFeb 2023

P0420 code on a 2017 Honda Fit. The vehicle only has 46,000 miles on it. It’s too early for me replace my catalytic converter. I know previous fit has the same problems but Honda said it was fixed. It’s too expensive to go to the dealership to get it diagnosed properly to look for the problem. I just want this problem figured out before I spend monoey on getting it fixed the right way. Dealership hasn’t diagnosed the vehicle but wanted me to bring the car and get a new catalytic converter and new oxygen sensors. Needs to know what the main problem instead if replacing something that still currently works and no need to replace parts.

Showing 20 of 1,125 total NHTSA complaints. Source: NHTSA Complaints Database

Check the exact car

Before you buy, check the exact Honda FIT

These pages show model-year patterns across 10 years. Enter a VIN to verify the exact vehicle's accident history, title brands, odometer records, and open recall status before purchase.

The basics

How to read this data

Complaints, recalls, investigations β€” here’s what each number actually tells you about a used Honda FIT, in plain English.

01

What is an NHTSA Complaint?

An NHTSA safety complaint is a report filed directly by a vehicle owner or driver describing a safety-related issue. Anyone can submit a complaint at NHTSA.gov. The number of complaints is a signal of how common a problem is β€” but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Honda FIT has 1,125 complaints on record across 10 model years.

02

What is a Safety Recall?

A safety recall is a mandatory campaign issued by NHTSA when a vehicle component poses an unreasonable risk to safety or does not comply with federal motor vehicle safety standards. Unlike complaints (which are owner-reported), recalls are formally investigated and confirmed by regulators. Manufacturers must fix recalled vehicles free of charge. The Honda FIT has 51 recall campaigns in the NHTSA database.

03

What Are Crash Complaints?

Crash complaints are NHTSA filings where the owner indicates a crash occurred as part of the incident. 59 of the Honda FIT's 1,125 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions β€” a key safety signal beyond general reliability.

04

How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?

The reliability verdict (Poor) is generated by analyzing the vehicle's total complaints, recall history, crash complaint ratio, fire complaint ratio, and top component failures relative to class averages. This verdict gives buyers a quick interpretation before they review year-level details and VIN-level history. It should be treated as one decision input, not a substitute for a VIN-specific report.

05

Why Do Newer Years Have Fewer Complaints?

Newer model years appear to have fewer complaints because there has been less time for owners to file them. Complaints accumulate over years of ownership. A 2020 model year vehicle will typically show fewer complaints than a 2015 model year even if it is less reliable β€” simply because fewer owners have had time to report issues. Focus on complaints per year of market presence when comparing across model years.

06

Fleet Data vs. Individual VIN

Everything on this page reflects aggregated data across all Honda FIT vehicles on the road β€” not any specific car. Two Honda FIT vehicles of the same year can have very different histories: one may have been in three accidents and have an open recall; another may be clean. A VIN check gives you the individual car's history: accidents, title brands, odometer records, service history, and real-time recall status.

07

What Are NHTSA Investigations?

When NHTSA receives a pattern of related safety complaints, it opens a formal investigation. A Preliminary Evaluation (PE) is the first stage β€” NHTSA determines if a safety defect may exist. If evidence is strong, it escalates to an Engineering Analysis (EA), which can result in a mandatory recall. The Honda FIT has 0 investigations on record (0 active). Investigations listed above may have already led to the recalls shown on this page.

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By state

Check a Honda FIT by state

Title-branding rules, flood-damage exposure, and salvage laws vary by state. Run a free VIN check or explore state-specific vehicle history guidance before buying a used Honda FIT.

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Research more

Keep researching before you buy

Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.

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Honda FIT reliability β€” frequently asked questions

Is the Honda FIT reliable?

Poor. The Honda FIT has 1,125 NHTSA owner complaints and 51 recall campaigns across model years. A commonly reported issue area is ELECTRICAL SYSTEM. Use year-level data as a pattern guide, then verify the exact car with a VIN check before purchase.

Which Honda FIT years to avoid?

Years with the most NHTSA complaints: 2015 (281 complaints), 2013 (175 complaints), 2019 (134 complaints). Use these years as a shortlist for deeper inspection, and always run a VIN check on the exact vehicle before purchase.

What are the most common Honda FIT problems?

Top reported issues: ELECTRICAL SYSTEM (307 complaints); AIR BAGS (224 complaints); FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (145 complaints).

Does the Honda FIT have recalls?

Yes β€” 51 NHTSA recall campaigns have been issued for the Honda FIT. Check nhtsa.gov/recalls or run a VIN check to see if your specific vehicle has open recalls.

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