2012 Honda FIT

Problems, Recalls & Reliability Report

Below Average

Quick Summary

The 2012 Honda FIT has 130 owner complaints filed with NHTSA — that's 1.6x the segment average of 80. The most common issue is air bags problems (32% of all complaints), specifically: no incident or accident. just a request concerning the takata airbag recalls. the takata airbags are being replaced with another potentially defective takata airbag. takata is uncertain as to the cause of the airbag explosions. they are still in the process of trying to understand the exact cause.

8 crash reports 3 injuries

130

Total Complaints

Recalls Issued

—/5

Safety Stars

1.6x

vs Segment Avg

Known Problems

AIR BAGS

41 complaints

32%

• NO INCIDENT OR ACCIDENT. JUST A REQUEST CONCERNING THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALLS. THE TAKATA AIRBAGS ARE BEING REPLACED WITH ANOTHER POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE TAKATA AIRBAG. TAKATA IS UNCERTAIN AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE AIRBAG EXPLOSIONS. THEY ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE EXACT CAUSE
• 2012 HONDA FIT SDR HB SPORT WANTS TO KNOW DOES VEHICLE HAVE TAKATA AIR BAGS *CN
• TL* TAKATA RECALL. THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFAC

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 2 crashes

“NO INCIDENT OR ACCIDENT. JUST A REQUEST CONCERNING THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALLS. THE TAKATA AIRBAGS ARE BEING REPLACED WITH ANOTHER POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE TAKATA AIRBAG. TAKATA IS UNCERTAIN AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE AIRBAG EXPLOSIONS. THEY ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE EXACT CAUSE”

— NHTSA complaint filing

STEERING

16 complaints

12%

• UNINTENTIAL DRIFTING AT HIGHWAY SEEDS FROM 58 TO 70 MPH. BY THE TIME YOU GET TO 70 THE VEHICLE IS ALMOST UNCONTROLABLE. CAN NOT KEEP THE VEHICLE CENTER LANED. I AM NOT THE OLNY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING AT UNKNOWN SPEEDS, SHE ATTEMPTED TO MAKE A SHARP TURN BUT THE VEHICLE FAILED TO RESPOND TO STEERING ATTEMPTS AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT ALSO MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE RECURRED TWICE, BOTH INCIDENTS RESULTING IN
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING 20 MPH, THE VEHICLE BECAME UNCONTROLLABLE. THE CONTACT WAS UNABLE TO MANEUVER THE VEHICLE AND CRASHED INTO A POLE. THE CONTACT WAS NOT INJURED AND A POLICE REPORT WAS NOT FILED. THE FAILURE WAS RECURRING. THE VEHICLE WAS NE

Typical onset: 50K miles Est. repair: $500💥 3 crashes

“UNINTENTIAL DRIFTING AT HIGHWAY SEEDS FROM 58 TO 70 MPH. BY THE TIME YOU GET TO 70 THE VEHICLE IS ALMOST UNCONTROLABLE. CAN NOT KEEP THE VEHICLE CENTER LANED. I AM NOT THE OLNY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

TRANSMISSION

14 complaints

11%

• AT SUSTAINED HIGHWAYS SPEEDS OF 70-75MPH, WITH THE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE ABOVE 87 DEG. F, VEHICLE WHEELS INTERMITTENTLY VEERED, TAKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE LANE RAPIDLY, AND WITHOUT ANY FEEDBACK ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS OCCURRED ON BOTH FRESHLY PAVED INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS AND OLDER PAVEMENT, WIT
• WHILE DRIVING HOME AT THE END OF THE DAY, THE CAR STARTED TO LURCH AROUND 20 MPH WHILE DRIVING STRAIGHT IN A PARKING LOT AND ON CITY STREETS. THIS HAD NEVER HAPPENED BEFORE. THE LURCHING CONTINUED FOR THE NEXT 3 MILES UNTIL I GOT HOME. COULDN'T TAKE IT TO THE HONDA DEALER BECAUSE SERVICE DEPT WA
• DRIVESHAFT FRACTURED AND THE CAR WOULDN'T MOVE PLEASE REFER TO NHTSA RECALL 14V-258 FOR SIMILAR OR SAME DETAILS.

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

“AT SUSTAINED HIGHWAYS SPEEDS OF 70-75MPH, WITH THE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE ABOVE 87 DEG. F, VEHICLE WHEELS INTERMITTENTLY VEERED, TAKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE LANE RAPIDLY, AND WITHOUT ANY FEEDBACK ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS OCCURRED ON BOTH FRESHLY PAVED INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS AND OLDER PAVEMENT, WIT”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ENGINE

13 complaints

10%

• MY CAR ENGINE DOES NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR WHEN STARTING FROM A STANDSTILL WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVEN TIMES IN THE 1300 MILES I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR. THIS ABNORMAL CONDITION HAS LEFT ME MOMENTARILY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTIONS. I
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT WAS DRIVING 50 MPH WHEN THE VEHICLE BECAME RESISTANT TO ACCELERATION ATTEMPTS. THE VEHICLE WAS SHUT OFF AND RESTARTED, BUT THE ENGINE STALLED. THE VEHICLE WAS INSPECTED BY THE DEALER BUT THE FAILURE COULD NOT BE DIAGNOSED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIF
• ENGINE LOSES POWER AFTER IDLING AT TRAFFIC LIGHT OR SLOWING TO ALMOST A STOP IN TRAFFIC. DOESN'T MATTER WHETHER ENGINE IS COLD OR WARM. ENGINE STILL STAYS ON BUT NO RESPONSE TO PUSHING THE GAS PEDAL FOR A COUPLE OF SECONDS. HAPPENS INTERMITTENT. PROBLEM GOES AWAY FOR A FEW WEEKS THEN REPEATS. WO

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

“MY CAR ENGINE DOES NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR WHEN STARTING FROM A STANDSTILL WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVEN TIMES IN THE 1300 MILES I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR. THIS ABNORMAL CONDITION HAS LEFT ME MOMENTARILY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTIONS. I”

— NHTSA complaint filing

ELECTRICAL

9 complaints

• COMPUTER KEEPS SAYING TO "CHECK FUEL CAP." EVEN AFTER SEVERAL COMPLETE SHUT OFFS AND TIGHTENING OF THE FUEL CAP, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERYDAY, JUST SPORADICALLY. IT ALSO ONLY HAS HAPPENED AFTER PARKING ON A FLAT SURFACE. *TR
• ON 12/31/2013 I PARKED MY HONDA FIT 2012 IN THE PARKING GARAGE OF CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES AT 6AM AND LEFT IT THERE WHILE MY LITTLE GIRL HAD SURGERY. WHEN I RETURNED TO IT AT 4:30, I WAS UNABLE TO OPEN THE DOORS WITH THE KEY FOB. THE LIGHT ON THE FOB FLASHED, SO I KNEW IT WASN'T THE PROBLEM.
• TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA FIT SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE DRIVING VARIOUS SPEEDS, THE VEHICLE LUNGED FORWARD WITHOUT WARNING. THE CONTACT MENTIONED THAT THE FAILURE WOULD RECUR INTERMITTENTLY. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO A PRIVATE MECHANIC WHERE IT WAS ADVISED THAT THE POWER TRAIN CONT

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

“COMPUTER KEEPS SAYING TO "CHECK FUEL CAP." EVEN AFTER SEVERAL COMPLETE SHUT OFFS AND TIGHTENING OF THE FUEL CAP, THE PROBLEM CONTINUED TO HAPPEN. IT DOESN'T HAPPEN EVERYDAY, JUST SPORADICALLY. IT ALSO ONLY HAS HAPPENED AFTER PARKING ON A FLAT SURFACE. *TR”

— NHTSA complaint filing

Estimated Repair Costs

AIR BAGS(~50K mi)

$500

STEERING(~50K mi)

$500

TRANSMISSION(~50K mi)

$500

ENGINE(~50K mi)

$500

ELECTRICAL(~50K mi)

$500

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

🔍 Pre-Purchase Inspection Checklist

Based on 130 owner complaints for this specific year, here's what to check or ask about:

☐
AIR BAGS: NO INCIDENT OR ACCIDENT. JUST A REQUEST CONCERNING THE TAKATA AIRBAG RECALLS. THE TAKATA AIRBAGS ARE BEING REPLACED WITH ANOTHER POTENTIALLY DEFECTIVE TAKATA AIRBAG. TAKATA IS UNCERTAIN AS TO THE CAUSE OF THE AIRBAG EXPLOSIONS. THEY ARE STILL IN THE PROCESS OF TRYING TO UNDERSTAND THE EXACT CAUSE
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
STEERING: UNINTENTIAL DRIFTING AT HIGHWAY SEEDS FROM 58 TO 70 MPH. BY THE TIME YOU GET TO 70 THE VEHICLE IS ALMOST UNCONTROLABLE. CAN NOT KEEP THE VEHICLE CENTER LANED. I AM NOT THE OLNY ONE HAVING THIS PROBLEM. *TR
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
TRANSMISSION: AT SUSTAINED HIGHWAYS SPEEDS OF 70-75MPH, WITH THE OUTDOOR TEMPERATURE ABOVE 87 DEG. F, VEHICLE WHEELS INTERMITTENTLY VEERED, TAKING THE VEHICLE OUT OF THE LANE RAPIDLY, AND WITHOUT ANY FEEDBACK ON THE STEERING WHEEL. THIS OCCURRED ON BOTH FRESHLY PAVED INTERSTATE HIGHWAYS AND OLDER PAVEMENT, WIT
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
ENGINE: MY CAR ENGINE DOES NOT RESPOND TO THE ACCELERATOR WHEN STARTING FROM A STANDSTILL WITH THE STEERING WHEEL TURNED TO THE RIGHT OR LEFT. THIS HAS HAPPENED SEVEN TIMES IN THE 1300 MILES I HAVE DRIVEN THE CAR. THIS ABNORMAL CONDITION HAS LEFT ME MOMENTARILY STOPPED IN THE MIDDLE OF BUSY INTERSECTIONS. I
Typically appears around 50K miles. Repair cost ~$500
☐
General: Get a pre-purchase inspection from an independent mechanic ($100-$200)