Honda FIT Reliability by YearBest & worst years, problems & recalls — NHTSA data
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.
Free VIN check
Found a Honda FIT? Check that exact car.
Model-year trends show patterns — 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
Based on NHTSA complaint data, the Honda FIT has 1,129 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.
- Make
- Honda
- Model
- FIT
- Model years analyzed
- 2011–2020 (10 years)
- Total NHTSA complaints
- 1,129
- 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 (35 complaints)
- Top reported issue area
- ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
- Reliability signal
- Poor
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 — 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 — 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
PoorThe HONDA FIT has 1,129 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.
- 1,129 total complaints filed with NHTSA
- 51 federal recall campaigns
- 59 crash-related complaints on record
- Review NHTSA complaint history for the most-reported components
- Check recall completion status at nhtsa.gov/recalls
- Verify service records for frequently complained components
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with elevated complaint rates.
Consult the by-year breakdown to identify model years with fewer reported issues.
- 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
Problems by model year (best vs. worst)
Source: NHTSA public complaints database. Updated: Aug 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:DRIVER SIDE:INFLATOR MODULE
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
POWER TRAIN:DRIVELINE:DRIVESHAFT
ELECTRONIC STABILITY CONTROL (ESC)
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
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 1,129 NHTSA complaints — these are the areas to inspect first on a used car.
Owner complaints
NHTSA complaint reports
1,129 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.
I was driving and came to a four-way stop. When I accelerated from the stop, I heard a loud snapping noise and immediately lost the ability to drive the vehicle, although the engine continued to run normally. After inspecting the vehicle, it appears that the CV axle failed due to extensive rust and deterioration. While researching repair options, I discovered that a recall was issued for certain vehicles in specific states related to CV axle/driveshaft corrosion; however, Idaho was not included in the recall coverage. I am unsure why Idaho was excluded, as the apparent cause of this failure seems consistent with the recall description, which states that the driveshaft's protective coating may not have been properly applied during manufacturing, making it more susceptible to corrosion from road salt and other contaminants, potentially leading to axle failure. Idaho experiences significant winter weather, and road salt and other de-icing chemicals are commonly used on roadways throughout the state. Given these conditions and the apparent corrosion-related failure of my CV axle, I believe this issue is consistent with the corrosion concerns identified in the recall and warrants further review.
Electrical Fire.Happened Friday 6/5/26 sometime after I parked for the night. Vehicle was parked for the night. I went out the next day and the key fob nor the key would open the door. To try and see what might be jammed, I went and looked in the passenger side window and saw the damage.
The coil component for the spark plug melted completely which caused the vehicle to stop working leaving me stranded on the side of the road.
Paint has peeled extensively allowing for rust to form to roof and hood, which I suspect is a defect as opposed to natural wear. Similar Fits of white color have an existing class action lawsuit. This is for blue color.
The fuse block became defective, thereby the brake lights, horn, tail lights, and blinkers stopped working.
The power steering goes out while driving randomly and has been happening every drive for at least a year and 6 months. It passes car inspections because the situation is restarted when you turn the car off and turn it on. There is no indication when it will go out and it’s not correlated with another condition. It seems to be totally random. If I turn the car off and restart it, it works again. It could be for another half mile, 30 miles or 1 mile, then it will go out again. When I take it to a garage and get diagnostic testing it comes up with nothing being wrong because it resets when the car is started. It’s extremely frustrating and dangerous because I’ll be driving and without warning power steering shuts down. I have been reading online that Honda has a recall on its electric power steering system, on my model and year however it doesn’t cover my Vin number. Why is that? I can’t even find, a fix for the problem. Please advise as to what to do.
Read 14 more owner reports
See attached document for complaint.
IT WAS AN 185/55R16 VENTUS V2 CONCEPT2 H457 AND I HAD BLOWOUTS TWO TIMES, BOTH OF THE BLOWOUTS WERE ON THE BACK TIRE ON THE PASSENGER SIDE, THE FIRST BLOWOUT HAPPENED A DAY AFTER IT WAS PUT ON TO MY VEHICLE, THE SECOND BLOWOUT WAS ABOUT 2 DAYS AFTER IT WAS PUT ON TO MY VEHICLE. THE SIDEWALL IS TOO THIN AND THATS WHERE THE DAMAGE TO THE TIRE CAN BE SEEN
Last evening the interior vehicle power (headlights, dash lights, AC/heat fan) intermittently flashed off then back on while driving...when this happened as I arrived home, I completely lost power steering (electronic power steering warning light came on) and could barely turn the steering wheel. Thankfully I was moving at relatively slow speed when I lost power steering, but this could certainly be a life hazard at higher speeds.
The rear door window motors both failed. At the time of this report they are available for inspection. The safety risk is that back seat passengers could become trapped in the event of a water entry which makes doors difficult or impossible to open. Because the rear windows are typically operated less than the front, the average user would not expect that they have failed (especially if the fronts are working) and the failure would likely go unnoticed, possibly until the emergency situation occurs. The vehicle has not been checked or inspected by any dealer, service center, manufacturer, police, insurance representative, or any person other than myself. However, I have checked the fuses and verified with a voltmeter that the switches have power and are operating correctly thus isolating the failure to the motors. There is no warning lamp or message indicating that the window motors are not functional and I did not experience any symptoms other than the window not moving when the switches were depressed. I noticed the left rear failure first in July 2023 and at that time the right rear was still functional. Approximately a month later the right rear failed. I only thought to make this report because when I searched the internet for troubleshooting and replacement parts I found quite a few other accounts of a variety of Honda models with rear window failure many of them were both, and several auto mechanics indicated that this issue was common. Unless the rear doors use different motors than the front doors, it is possible that the root cause is a wiring/electrical problem and electrical problems have a reputation of eventually causing other seemingly unrelated problems elsewhere in the system.
I had my airbags serviced in 2016 at a Honda dealership to fix the Takata airbag recall issue. In 2023, I was hit on the front left portion of the car at an estimated 50mph, and no airbags deployed. I contacted Honda about this issue, and they said my insurance company had to do an inspection relating to the airbag failure reasons, but my insurance company said Honda would have had to send an agent to inspect. My car was totaled and sold by the insurance company. I have the official pictures from the insurance company’s inspection to value the car.
The contact owns a 2013 Honda Fit. The contact stated while driving 10 MPH, the vehicle stalled with a grinding sound coming from the vehicle. Upon restarting the vehicle, the failure persisted with the ABS warning light illuminated. Additionally, the vehicle started rolling forward while in park(P) and the parking brake was activated to stop the vehicle from rolling. Due to the failure, the vehicle was towed to the residence. An independent mechanic arrived at the residence and replaced the driver’s side CV axle. Upon taking the vehicle to a dealer for an oil change; the contact was informed that the vehicle was included in NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V770000 (Power Train); however, the recall was closed three years prior. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and informed the contact that the vehicle was not included in the recall. The vehicle was repaired. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.
While my wife was coming to a stop in a parking space, the car suddenly accelerated and jumped over the curb into a pedestrian walkway. The car could not be stopped with the brake and continued moving over the walkway. Afraid that the car would hit a pedestrian or crash into cars on the busy street ahead, she was ready to stop the car by crashing it into a concrete column. Fortunately, she removed the key and the car stopped. A similar incident occurred in 2014 when the car suddenly accelerated while I was​ ​​coming ​to a stop ​at a traffic light. In order to avoid hitting the car in front of me, I stopped by removing the key. Then I drove the car to the dealer. A master mechanic checked​ ​the car but could not duplicate the problem. In 2020, the car again accelerated suddenly while ​stopping at a traffic light. I stopped the car immediately but did not report the incident. After the third incident​,​ we contacted the dealer and stated that we did not want to drive the car ever again because we did not want to risk injuring ourselves or others. We had the car towed to the dealer to be checked. The dealer could not duplicate the problem and they demonstrated safety features of the car that prevent the​ accelerator​ from overpowering the brake. We were not convinced since we use the same foot to operate the accelerator and the brake. Therefore, when the foot is on the brake, nothing is pushing the accelerator. The engine was accelerating by itself, possibly by the engine control software. We then initiated a case with American Honda. We were later informed by an American Honda case manager that their Field Technical Specialist had determined that “the vehicle is functioning according to Honda’s specifications” and that Honda was not going to investigate further. The local dealer agreed to buy the car at market price.
ECU detected a cylinder #2 misfire, check engine light started blinking while idling. prior, noticed a little bit of misfiring while driving at 60 mph, faint but noticeable. well aware of the plaqued inner cylinder's spark plugs coming loose on these make and models and honda's failed torque spec being changed from for the spark plug being in the cylinder. know this because of forums online. the plugs were torque spec to 20 ft-lbs. checked the #2 cylinder and spark plug was loose/out of the threads. also top piece of spark plug broke off and fell into cylinder. threads completely taken off the cylinder. having a honda dealer taking a look to assess damage. car mileage is 109,500. completely unacceptable and don't really feel confident in driving this vehicle safely anymore. car still has a lot of life left in it. 109,500 miles is still considered low for mainly highway miles. also VSA light came on same time the check engine light started blinking. someone could get hurt and lose control of the vehicle if this not dealt with. car stalled after a bit and lost power, can't imagine what it would be like on the highway. please honda, do a recall on this so other people don't get hurt. plus, i'm sure i'm not the only one who has this issue.
2013 HONDA FIT. CONSUMER WRITES SEEKING REIMBURSEMENT REPAIRS RELATED TO FRONT DRIVE SHAFT ASSEMBLIES SAFETY RECALL. THE CONSUMER STATED THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE REIMBURSEMENT OF THE VEHICLE'S SAFETY RECALL REPAIR.
2013 HONDA FIT. CONSUMER WRITES REGARDING A DEFECTIVE PAINT JOB. *LD THE CONSUMER STATED THE VEHICLE HAD NOT TOP COAT THEREFORE, WILL BEGIN TO RUST. *JS
HONDA SENT ME A NOTICE OF THE FOLLOWING RECALL 20V-770. IT HAS BEEN TWO MONTHS AND THERE IS NO RESOLUTION TO THE ISSUE. THE DRIVE SHAFTS ON MY CAR COULD FAIL. I CALLED HONDA AND THEY BASICALLY SAID THERE'S NOTHING THEY CAN DO AT THIS TIME, THAT I COULD TAKE IT TO A DEALER TO HAVE IT LOOKED AT, BUT IF SOMETHING WAS WRONG THEY COULDN'T FIX MY CAR. WHEN I ASKED ABOUT A RENTAL CAR IF THAT IS THE CASE, THEY SAID THAT THAT WASN'T IN THEIR POWER TO DO AT THIS TIME. I KNOW THAT THEY CAN DO THAT BECAUSE I ALSO WENT THROUGH THE AIR BAG RECALL AND WAS WITHOUT MY CAR FOR MONTHS WHILE THOSE PARTS CAME IT. AS FAR AS I AM CONCERNED, HONDA IS BEING NEGLIGENT BECAUSE THEY KNOW SOMETHING IS WRONG, THAT IT IS DANGEROUS, YET ALL THE CARS ARE STILL ON THE ROAD. WHAT IF I CRASH BECAUSE OF THIS? WHAT IF I ACCIDENTALLY KILL SOMEONE OR DAMAGE SOMEONE'S PROPERTY?THIS IS GROSS NEGLIGENCE ON HONDA'S PART. I WANT A SOLUTION NOW.
IN 2019 THE #3 SPARK PLUG CAME OUT OF CYLINDER HEAD WHILE DRIVING ON A TWO LANE ROADWAY. I HAD THE CAR REPAIRED (SEE ATTACHED REPAIR RECEIPT). THE SAME THING HAPPENED TO THE SAME SPARK PLUG LAST WEEK (MARCH 7, 2021). AGAIN, THIS OCCURRED ON A TWO-LANE ROADWAY AT MODERATE SPEED. THE CAR RAN ROUGH FOR A WEEK OR SO BEFOREHAND, AND FUEL ECONOMY SUFFERED. ON MARCH 7TH, THE CAR LOST POWER AND THE CHECK ENGINE LIGHT CAME ON. A FOUL SMELL FILLED THE CAR. I BECAME DIZZY AND NAUSEOUS FROM EXHAUST FUMES ENTERING THE PASSENGER COMPARTMENT.
I RECEIVED A LETTER IN THE MAIL TODAY (2/8/21) THAT SAYS THERE IS A RECALL ON MY HONDA FIT FOR THE DRIVE SHAFT IN SALT-BELT STATES. THE MANUFACTURER DOES NOT HAVE THE PARTS TO FIX THE PROBLEM YET - BUT SAID IN THE RECALL THAT THEY WOULD UPDATE THE RECALL BY 1/15/21. I HAVE NOT HEARD ANYTHING FROM HONDA. THEY HAVE NOT EVEN OFFERED TO INSPECT MY VEHICLE - WHICH IS CRAZY BECAUSE IF THE DRIVE SHAFT BREAKS I COULD CRASH AND BE KILLED. HONDA SHOULD OFFER ALL VEHICLE OWNERS A RENTAL CAR WHILE THEY ARE "PREPARING REPLACEMENT PARTS" SO WE ARE NOT DRIVING ON THE ROADS WITH A CAR THAT COULD KILL US OR OTHER PEOPLE. OR THEY SHOULD AT LEAST BE REQUIRED TO INSPECT THE VEHICLES DRAFT SHAFTS TO SEE IF THE CORROSION HAS TAKEN PLACE.
RECEIVED RECALL WARNING
Showing 20 of 1,129 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 — here’s 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 — but complaints per model-year matter more than raw totals, since popular vehicles naturally receive more reports. The Honda FIT has 1,129 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 1,129 complaints involved a crash. This metric is particularly important because it indicates how often defects resulted in actual collisions — a key safety signal beyond general reliability.
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.
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 — 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 — 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 — 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.
Compare
Buyers also compare
How does the Honda FIT stack up? Compare complaint history with similar vehicles.
Explore
Other Honda models
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.
Research more
Keep researching before you buy
Compare brands and categories, then check the exact car's history by VIN.
Honda FIT reliability — frequently asked questions
Is the Honda FIT reliable?
Poor. The Honda FIT has 1,129 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 (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 (309 complaints); AIR BAGS (225 complaints); FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM (145 complaints).
Does the Honda FIT have recalls?
Yes — 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.