2011 Honda FIT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2011 Honda FIT has 127 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (50% of all complaints), specifically: the car in front stopped on the highway because of another driver swerving to exit. this caused my car to rear-end the vehicle that was stopped directly in front of me. my car suffered severe damage to the front end. the airbags did not deploy!! upon looking at the damage after the accident, you cou. ⚠️ 1 fire report filed.

1 fire report 8 crash reports 8 injuries

127

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

64 complaints

50%

• THE CAR IN FRONT STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF ANOTHER DRIVER SWERVING TO EXIT. THIS CAUSED MY CAR TO REAR-END THE VEHICLE THAT WAS STOPPED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. MY CAR SUFFERED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY!! UPON LOOKING AT THE DAMAGE AFTER THE ACCIDENT, YOU COU
• I HYDROPLANED, GOING 10 MPH UNDER THE SPEED LIMIT, HIT EVERY QUARTER PANEL ALONG THE GUARDRAIL (INCLUDING A HEAD-ON COLLISION WITH THE GUARD RAIL), AND OUT OF 10 AIRBAGS, NOT ONE DEPLOYED. I FELT LIKE I WAS BOUNCED AROUND THE CAR LIKE A RAG DOLL (YES, I WAS WEARING MY SEATBELT). CAR WAS TOTALED, I
• TAKATA RECALL HONDA IS TELLING ME THAT IT MAY BE A MONTH OR MORE BEFORE THEY WILL REPLACE THE DEFECTIVE PART. THEY VERIFIED THAT MY VIN NUMBER SHOWS MY CAR IS ONE OF THE RECALLED VEHICLES. I ASKED ABOUT A REPLACEMENT CAR, AND THEY SAID I WOULD HAVE TO RENT A CAR ON MY OWN, FOR A MONTH OR MORE, FILL

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 4 crashes

“THE CAR IN FRONT STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF ANOTHER DRIVER SWERVING TO EXIT. THIS CAUSED MY CAR TO REAR-END THE VEHICLE THAT WAS STOPPED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. MY CAR SUFFERED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY!! UPON LOOKING AT THE DAMAGE AFTER THE ACCIDENT, YOU COU”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

12 complaints

• WHILE DRIVING THE CAR STARTED MAKING HUMMING NOISE, IT GOT LOUDER THE FASTER IT WENT, TOOK IT TO GARDEN STATE HONDA IN PASSAIC NU AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE WHEEL BEARINGS ON BOTH SIDES, WHEN I ASKED IF IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY THEY TOLD ME NO AND IT WILL COST $800 AND IT WOULD TAKE A WEEK BECAUSE THEY W
• STOPPED AT INTERSECTION. LIFTED FOOT OFF BRAKE, STARTED TO GO AND CAR STOPPED. IT MADE A CLANK. THE ENGINE CLICKING BUT NOT ENGAGING IN DRIVE. A BYSTANDER PUSHED MY CAR (IN NEUTRAL) OFF THE ROAD. HAD CAR TOWED AND FIXED WHERE I LEARNED IT WAS FRONT LEFT AXLE
• HONDA FIT 2011 ON 7/18/19 I WAS DRIVING WEST ON GOLF ROAD IN NILES, IL. AS I MADE A LEFT TURN AT THE LIGHT, THE FIT MADE A NOISE WHICH SOUNDED LIKE I HAD DRIVEN OVER A METAL BARREL. THE CAR LOST POWER AND DRIFTED INTO A STRIP MALL PARKING LOT. SOMEONE HELPED ME PUSH IT OUT OF THE WAY OF INCOMING

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 1 crashes

“WHILE DRIVING THE CAR STARTED MAKING HUMMING NOISE, IT GOT LOUDER THE FASTER IT WENT, TOOK IT TO GARDEN STATE HONDA IN PASSAIC NU AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE WHEEL BEARINGS ON BOTH SIDES, WHEN I ASKED IF IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY THEY TOLD ME NO AND IT WILL COST $800 AND IT WOULD TAKE A WEEK BECAUSE THEY W”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

10 complaints

• I PURCHASED MY SECOND HONDA AUTOMOBILE THREE MONTHS AGO: A BRAND NEW 2011 HONDA FIT WITH LESS THAN 10 MILES ON IT. JUST DROVE TO DALLAS TO SEE MY GRANDKIDS AND COMING BACK, THE AIR CONDITIONING WENT OUT. I TOOK IT INTO DON CARLTON HONDA THIS MORNING - AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT A "ROCK MUST HAVE
• THE A/C CONDENSER IS EXTREMELY EXPOSED TO DAMAGE FROM ROAD DEBRIS. THERE ARE "VENTS" WHICH LIE BELOW THE LICENSE PLATE HOLDER NEAR THE ROAD, WIDE ENOUGH TO FIT A FIST AND THE LENGTH OF THE FRONT BUMPER. THIS ALLOWS ALL KINDS OF ROAD DEBRIS TO ENTER AND HIT THE A/C CONDENSER ONLY INCHES BEHIND THE OP
• THE A/C CONDENSER IS EXTREMELY EXPOSED TO DAMAGE FROM ROAD DEBRIS. THERE ARE "VENTS" WHICH LIE BELOW THE LICENSE PLATE HOLDER NEAR THE ROAD, WIDE ENOUGH TO FIT A FIST AND THE LENGTH OF THE FRONT BUMPER. THIS ALLOWS ALL KINDS OF ROAD DEBRIS TO ENTER AND HIT THE A/C CONDENSER ONLY INCHES BEHIND THE OP

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500🔥 1 fire reports

“I PURCHASED MY SECOND HONDA AUTOMOBILE THREE MONTHS AGO: A BRAND NEW 2011 HONDA FIT WITH LESS THAN 10 MILES ON IT. JUST DROVE TO DALLAS TO SEE MY GRANDKIDS AND COMING BACK, THE AIR CONDITIONING WENT OUT. I TOOK IT INTO DON CARLTON HONDA THIS MORNING - AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT A "ROCK MUST HAVE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

10 complaints

• AFTER DRIVING 20 MILES THROUGH TRAFFIC WITH 1/2 TANK GAS AND RADIATOR TEMPERATURE OK, NO WARNING LIGHTS SHOWING: TURNED RIGHT AT INTERSECTION AND LOST ALL ENGINE POWER (NO THROTTLE RESPONSE), THEN ALL LIGHTS (HEADLIGHTS AND DASH). STEERING BECAME STIFF. WE THINK CD PLAYER STAYED ON. LUCKILY NO NEA
• I WAS TRYING TO PARK THE HONDA TRYING TO ALIGIN THE CAR WITH THE CURB THE WHEEL LOCK UP ON ME TWO DIFFERENT TIME DOING THIS ALSO WHEN I WAS MAKING A SHARP TURN TO BACK UP AND TURN AROUND IT LOCK UP ON ME THE COMPUTER RADIO OF CAR ALSO WENT OUT SAID AN ERROR HAD OCCUR.
• THE WIRING IN HONDA'S IS SOY BASED WHICH IS HIGHLY DESIRABLE TO RABBITS, MICE AND OTHER RODENTS. MICE ATE MY WIRING OVERNIGHT - CAR REFUSED TO START AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE MECHANIC AND REPAIRED. I'M UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S A LAWSUIT ABOUT THIS BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING. BASICALLY, THIS MEA

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

“AFTER DRIVING 20 MILES THROUGH TRAFFIC WITH 1/2 TANK GAS AND RADIATOR TEMPERATURE OK, NO WARNING LIGHTS SHOWING: TURNED RIGHT AT INTERSECTION AND LOST ALL ENGINE POWER (NO THROTTLE RESPONSE), THEN ALL LIGHTS (HEADLIGHTS AND DASH). STEERING BECAME STIFF. WE THINK CD PLAYER STAYED ON. LUCKILY NO NEA”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

9 complaints

• AFTER DRIVING 20 MILES THROUGH TRAFFIC WITH 1/2 TANK GAS AND RADIATOR TEMPERATURE OK, NO WARNING LIGHTS SHOWING: TURNED RIGHT AT INTERSECTION AND LOST ALL ENGINE POWER (NO THROTTLE RESPONSE), THEN ALL LIGHTS (HEADLIGHTS AND DASH). STEERING BECAME STIFF. WE THINK CD PLAYER STAYED ON. LUCKILY NO NEA
• THE STEERING BECOMES REALLY HEAVY OVER SPEEDS OF 50 AND THERE IS NO INDICATOR SHOWING ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM. *TR
• RECENTLY MY 2011 HONDA FIT HAS BEEN HAVING INTERMITTENT POWER STEERING FAILURES. IT HAS HAPPENED 3 TIMES IN ONE WEEK TO DATE WHERE I HAVE STARTED THE CAR TO DRIVE TO WORK IN THE MORNING AND THE STEERING IS VERY HEAVY FOR A FEW SECONDS LIKE AN OLD MANUAL STEERING CAR. THE POWER STEERING KICKED BACK

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

Estimates based on average reported repair costs. Actual costs vary by location, shop, and severity.

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 127 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: THE CAR IN FRONT STOPPED ON THE HIGHWAY BECAUSE OF ANOTHER DRIVER SWERVING TO EXIT. THIS CAUSED MY CAR TO REAR-END THE VEHICLE THAT WAS STOPPED DIRECTLY IN FRONT OF ME. MY CAR SUFFERED SEVERE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END. THE AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY!! UPON LOOKING AT THE DAMAGE AFTER THE ACCIDENT, YOU COU
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: WHILE DRIVING THE CAR STARTED MAKING HUMMING NOISE, IT GOT LOUDER THE FASTER IT WENT, TOOK IT TO GARDEN STATE HONDA IN PASSAIC NU AND THEY SAID IT WAS THE WHEEL BEARINGS ON BOTH SIDES, WHEN I ASKED IF IT WAS UNDER WARRANTY THEY TOLD ME NO AND IT WILL COST $800 AND IT WOULD TAKE A WEEK BECAUSE THEY W
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: I PURCHASED MY SECOND HONDA AUTOMOBILE THREE MONTHS AGO: A BRAND NEW 2011 HONDA FIT WITH LESS THAN 10 MILES ON IT. JUST DROVE TO DALLAS TO SEE MY GRANDKIDS AND COMING BACK, THE AIR CONDITIONING WENT OUT. I TOOK IT INTO DON CARLTON HONDA THIS MORNING - AND THEY ARE TELLING ME THAT A "ROCK MUST HAVE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ELECTRICAL: AFTER DRIVING 20 MILES THROUGH TRAFFIC WITH 1/2 TANK GAS AND RADIATOR TEMPERATURE OK, NO WARNING LIGHTS SHOWING: TURNED RIGHT AT INTERSECTION AND LOST ALL ENGINE POWER (NO THROTTLE RESPONSE), THEN ALL LIGHTS (HEADLIGHTS AND DASH). STEERING BECAME STIFF. WE THINK CD PLAYER STAYED ON. LUCKILY NO NEA
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)