Honda FIT Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls β NHTSA data
Comparing used Honda FIT options? We analyzed 10 model years (2011β2020) using real NHTSA complaint and recall data so you can spot stronger years, avoid riskier ones, and know what to inspect before buying.
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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
HONDA FIT (2011-2020) has 1,133 NHTSA complaints and 51 recalls. Electrical system (311) and air bags (225) are top concerns. 2015 had 282 complaints, the highest. Source: NHTSA owner complaints and recall records.
- Make
- Honda
- Model
- FIT
- Model years analyzed
- 2011β2020 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 1,133
- Safety recall campaigns
- 51
- Crash-related complaints
- 59
- Fire-related complaints
- 7
- Worst model year (by complaints)
- 2015 (282 complaints)
- Best model year (fewest complaints)
- 2020 (36 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Average
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.
These years have the most owner complaints. Inspect carefully and always run a VIN check.
These years have the fewest owner complaints on record β lower risk starting points.
Crash test ratings
NHTSA NCAP crash test ratings
New Car Assessment ProgramNCAP 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.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings
What the complaint data suggests
AverageBased on NHTSA complaint data, the 2011β2020 Honda Fit has 1,133 complaints and 51 recalls. Electrical system (311) and air bags (225) are the most reported components, with 2015 being the highest complaint year (282). Buyers should prioritize checking for open recalls and inspecting these systems.
- Electrical system complaints total 311, the highest among components.
- Air bag complaints total 225, second highest.
- 2015 had 282 complaints, the most of any year.
- Forward collision avoidance: ensure system functions properly.
- Air bags: check for warning lights or prior deployment.
- Electrical system: test all lights, windows, and infotainment.
2015 (282) and 2013 (176) have elevated complaints, driven largely by electrical and air bag issues.
2014 (0 complaints) and 2020 (36) show fewer complaints, suggesting better owner experiences.
- Verify forward collision avoidance system operation.
- Check for open recalls at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
- Request service records for electrical and air bag repairs.
- Have a mechanic inspect the vehicle before purchase.
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Sep 2026
Safety recalls
NHTSA safety recalls
51 recalls foundSafety 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.
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
BACK OVER PREVENTION:DISPLAY FUNCTION
AIR BAGS:SENSOR:OCCUPANT CLASSIFICATION:FRONT PASSENGER
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
STRUCTURE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:PASSENGER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
AIR BAGS:FRONTAL:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
Source: NHTSA Recalls Database. Data covers model years 2011β2020. 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 1,133 NHTSA complaints β these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
1,133 totalThese 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.
The Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC) system and multipurpose camera unit (part of Honda Sensing) on my 2020 Honda Fit malfunction intermittently. On some engine starts the camera and ACC function normally. On other starts the camera does not work at all and ACC is completely unavailable. The vehicle and the camera/related components remain available for inspection upon request. When the multipurpose camera fails at startup, Adaptive Cruise Control and associated Honda Sensing features are completely unavailable. This removes automatic distance control, forward collision warning, and related driver-assistance functions, creating an increased risk of collision, especially during highway driving or in traffic where those systems are relied upon for maintaining safe following distance and providing warnings. It is easy to reproduce. Sundevil auto sees it when servicing my car. I have spoken with many Honda dealers in the Phoenix AZ area and they all say that it happens a lot and that the only solution is to replace it. The failure is intermittent and occurs only on certain engine starts. On the starts when the system fails, the multipurpose camera does not function at all and Adaptive Cruise Control is unavailable. On other starts the camera and ACC work normally. No consistent prior warning lamps or messages beyond the complete non-function of the camera and ACC on the affected starts have been noted.
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Fit. The contact stated that while attempting to retrieve an item from behind the driver's side seat with the rear seat folded flat, the contact attempted to raise the seat back to lock the seat in place, but the seat bottom failed to operate as intended. The contact reached for the item and the seat back unexpectedly snapped backwards, nearly pinching the fingers in the tracks. Later, while reaching behind the passengerβs side rear seat, the seat back suddenly snapped closed with violent force, trapping the contact between the seats while being folded. The contact was pinned inside the vehicle until the daughter manually pried the seat off to free the contact. The dealer was not notified of the failure. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 81,000.
On June 10th 2026, my 2020 Honda Fit EX-L with approximately 20,000 miles began misfiring while idle at a light. Error codes started appearing on my dash, no check engine light. Honda of Short Pump diagnosed a cylinder 2 misfire (DTC P0302) caused by a carbon buildup on the intake valves and quoted ~$1200 for valve cleaning. This is the identical failure mode described in Honda Service Bulletin 21-007, whose affected vehicles list includes 2015-2020 Honda Fits, and which Honda covers under warranty extension bulletin 23-042 for 10 years/150,000 miles - but only for 2018-2019 model years. My 2020 vehicle is excluded by VIN range despite an identical defect at far lower mileage. An engine that misfires and loses power in traffic is a safety hazard. American Honda case #16419709 is open. See related complaints 11462041, 11490506, 11549767, and 11593466 from other owners outside the covered VIN range.
Upon startup, dashboard display of time, mileage, and outdoor temp is scrambled. After a few minutes, display corrects on its own. This first happened during a severe cold spell (-20F overnight temps) but has continued into the summer at least a couple of times per week. Pressing the button to cycle through the other screen options doesnβt solve the problem. All are scrambled until the display corrects itself.
My dashboard, specifically the area with my odometer and gas mileage reader, has been flickering and scrambling numbers. This seems to be an issue with many 3rd generation Honda Fit models (2015-2020). This issue makes traveling unsafe as I am unable to see what my odometer is reading and likewise cannot predict when I will need to add gas. The only solution that was offered by my Honda dealership was to replace the entire dash electrical component for $1700 which is not acceptable for an issue that is well know to Honda.
The back windshield shattered, and seems to be buckling in on its self.
Read 14 more owner reports
This 2020 Honda Fit has experienced a "multipurpose camera unit/millimeter wave radar internal electronic failure" that will cost $2,000 to repair. Neither Honda nor my auto dealership will help me and insist it isn't under any kind of warranty or covered by a recall.
had to have cluster replaced--fuel and mileage gauge went solid blue---cost me over 1100 dollars to repair
My 2020 Honda Fit, with16,300 miles, has the same steering defect as other recalled Honda models. This has been confirmed by Honda service. The steering wheel will suddenly stick and make a grinding and or hissing sound, especially on turns. The car becomes difficult to steer. It is frightening and dangerous. Honda wants $1800 to repair the defect because it is not presently listed on recall. I reported this problem to local mechanics before any Honda recall was made. Then recall appeared on line, and the Fit was included. Now, it is claimed it is not. Are they not recalling because they no longer manufacture this model? This is a hazardous, manufacturer's defect. I need my car to be made safe, and not at my expense.
Fuel gauge on my 2020 Honda Fit LX sometimes goes blank or weird graphics under colder temperatures at start up. Doesn't seem to do it all time though ,especially in warmer weather that I've seen. Seems like when the car warms up, it returns to normal. Have around 42000 miles on it now. I haven't taken it in to my Honda dealer yet for inspection. I believe it maybe a circuit board behind the dashboard after watching a You tube video of someone pulling his out and soldering a spot behind the gauge. He seemed to fix it. Puts the driver at risk if he doesn't know if he has gas in the car! No warnings have ever came on either. Other owners have complained on this to. My car has never been in a wreck either. Hardly drive it. Past my warranty to.
Carbon Buildup with Misfire DTCs. Honda published a service bulletin but is refusing to cover the necessary repair. We are paying out of pocket for the known issue that they have extended warranty coverage on for some other VINs but refuse to cover this one.
-The multi-purpose camera sensor system on my 2020 Honda Fit EX Hatchback has malfunctioned, disabling critical safety features such as Adaptive Cruise Control (ACC), Lane Keep Assist System (LKAS), and Collision Braking Warning System (CBWS). -The failure of these systems creates significant safety risks. Without ACC, the vehicle cannot maintain a safe distance from other vehicles. The LKAS no longer provides steering assistance to help stay in the lane, and the CBWS cannot detect or warn of potential collisions. These malfunctions increase the likelihood of accidents, especially during highway driving or in heavy traffic. -The issue has been reproduced and confirmed by Tony Honda in HI during an inspection on [XXX]. -My 2020 Honda Fit EX Hatchback has been inspected by an authorized dealer/service center, which diagnosed a failure in the multipurpose camera. This failure has disabled critical safety features, creating a potential safety risk. The vehicle has less than 21,000 miles and has been well maintained. However, the manufacturer has not offered a resolution, and the vehicle has not been inspected by police, insurance representatives, or other parties. Despite the low mileage and the importance of this system, I was informed that I must pay the full repair cost of $3,000 and other companies I visited stated that it can only be fixed by Honda. I believe this issue could indicate a defect and request an investigation into whether other Honda Fit owners are experiencing the same problem. -Before the failure, warning messages appeared on the dashboard, including alerts for ACC, LKAS, and CBWS system malfunctions. These warnings initially appeared for a week or so and became more frequent over time. I believe this issue may be a design or manufacturing defect affecting other vehicles of the same make and model. I urge the NHTSA to investigate this matter to determine if it represents a broader safety concern. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6)
The contact owns a 2020 Honda Fit. The contact received notification of NHTSA Campaign Number: 24V064000 (Air Bags) however, the part to do the recall repair was not yet available. The local dealer was contacted. The contact stated that the manufacturer had exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was not made aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. Parts distribution disconnect.
Fuel gauge and odometer display glitches until completely blank whenever outside temperature reaches below 49Β°F. This has been an ongoing issue since I originally purchased/leased my vehicle in 2020. This is a dangerous glitch, because I cannot tell how much fuel I have left before I hit empty. The display will flash on/off until the driver sees almost a computer or alien language, then the display simply turns blank completely until temperature reaches above 49Β°F.
Over the summer, vehicle lit up all warning lights. Like many others was informed the system needed deep carbon cleaning. There is a tsb for this problem but Honda corporate said it is regular maintenance and warranty does not cover. I have owned the car since January. If other years are covered, why not the 20?
There is a carbon build-up in the engine causing for a misfire in the engine cylinders.
Multi-purpose camera failure caused collision warning, lane departure warning and lane keeping assist to fail.
While driving multiple error lights came on. I took my car in and they said it was carbon build up due to "bad gas." They cleaned it and it has been working fine. However, this is an acknowledged problem with the 2018 and 2019 Honda Fit. Honda actually extended the warranty for those years to cover those repairs. My car only had 22156 miles on it. And the error I experienced is the exact error that was reported to happen with the 2018 and 2019 models, however I was told my car was not covered because it's a 2020 model. I feel they should have to cover this error in the 2020 model, as well.
The power steering rack is malfunctioning. It is available for inspection upon request. The steering wheel does not return by itself while vehicle is in motion-- the steering becomes difficult to steer even at slight angles intermittently. This led to difficultly steering while travelling, putting me and my passengers at risk. Yes, a honda dealership and a private garage have confirmed that the power steering rack is malfunctioning and the cause of the unusual behavior in the car. The vehicle has been inspected by a honda dealership (manufacturer). There were no warning lights or signals to indicate anything was wrong. I only noticed the problem while driving because it is my car, and I am familiar with how it feels to drive.
Multiple warning light up on dash and loud beeping upon start up. No way to remove warnings which distract. Multiple safety features disabled 95% of time and the randomly work fine 5% of the time. Not related to any obvious damage or incident. Got in car one day to find several warnings and loud beeps. Acc, lkas, road diparture mitigation, collision mitigation, and auto high beams all out. Warning light for each, plus a brake system light.
Showing 20 of 1,133 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 hereβs what each number actually tells you about a used Honda FIT, in plain English.
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 1,133 complaints on record across 10 model years.
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.
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 1,133 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.
How Is the Reliability Verdict Calculated?
The reliability verdict (Average) 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.
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.
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.
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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Honda FIT reliability β frequently asked questions
Is the Honda FIT reliable?
Average. The Honda FIT has 1,133 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 (282 complaints), 2013 (176 complaints), 2019 (136 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 (311 complaints); AIR BAGS (225 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.