2012 Honda Fit problems: engine and transmission complaints and recalls
39% of relevant owner complaints on the 2012 Honda Fit are about the engine, transmission or fuel system. That is elevated. Worth an independent inspection before you commit to one.
Better than 55% of the 1,790 model years we track (2010–2023).
Excludes 44 airbag, lighting and seat-belt recall complaints that would otherwise mask the signal (unadjusted: 24%).
Does the 2012 Honda Fit have transmission problems?
More than most. The pattern is elevated rather than severe. 27 of 69 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Honda Fit concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (39%), and the largest group is filed under power train (14). For comparison, the 2011 scores 47% and the 2013 scores 36%. On a test drive, check for shuddering, slipping, delayed or harsh shifts, or a whine at speed. This describes the model year, not any one car: a well-maintained or already-repaired example can be fine, and a clean model year can still have a bad car in it.
Complaints by component
The years either side
Manufacturers fix things mid-generation. A bad year next to a clean one is common; the fix usually arrived in between.
The rest of the picture on the 2012 Honda Fit
- The mileage where it happens. When owners of the 2012 Honda Fit said the problem showed up, and the range most of them fell in.
- What the repair costs. Typical transmission repair ranges, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives. Similar cars and nearby years with a better record.
- Every owner quote, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive, for this car.
- Two cars side by side, if you are deciding between them.
What one owner reported
One of 27 drivetrain complaints. The full report shows them, with quotes about the engine in the car you are looking at first.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 Honda Fit?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2012 Honda Fit involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 11 in total. A recall is the manufacturer admitting a defect and paying to fix it; whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN, which the full report checks. The owner complaints above are a separate record and often point at problems that never became a recall.
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Acura ILX, 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid, and 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles with a manual transmission and 2009-2013 Honda Fit vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New…
Risk: A broken drive shaft may cause a sudden loss of drive power. The vehicle could also roll away if the parking brake has not been applied before the vehicle has been exited. Either condition can increase the risk of a…
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the drive shafts, replacing either the left or right drive shaft, if necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk with an interim letter mailed…
10 other recalls on this model year (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
Source: NHTSA recall campaigns filed against this year, make and model. Checked October 17, 2026.
Checking one particular 2012 Honda Fit? This page is about the model year. Accidents, title brands and odometer records belong to the individual car, and that is what a vehicle history report covers.
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Does the 2012 Honda Fit have transmission problems?
More than most; the pattern is elevated rather than severe. 27 of 69 relevant complaints filed with NHTSA about the 2012 Honda Fit concern the engine, transmission or fuel system (39%). Before buying one, have an independent mechanic check the transmission and ask the seller whether it has been repaired or replaced.
Are there engine or transmission recalls on the 2012 Honda Fit?
Yes. NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign on the 2012 Honda Fit involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 11 in total: 20V770000 (power train: driveline: driveshaft). Whether a specific car still has one open depends on its VIN.
Which Honda Fit years are better?
Among the Honda Fit years we track, the 2010 (24%), the 2016 (25%) and the 2020 (27%) have a lower engine and transmission complaint share than the 2012 (39%). Manufacturers fix things mid-generation, so the year before or after can be a different car.
Should I buy a 2012 Honda Fit?
That depends on the car in front of you, not just the model year. The 2012 Honda Fit has an elevated transmission complaint pattern, so treat it as a car that needs proof: service records showing transmission work, a cold-start test drive, and an independent pre-purchase inspection focused on the transmission. A well-kept or already-repaired example can be a fine car; an unknown one is a gamble.
Have the VIN?Paste it and get the full report for that car. First report free, then a 30-day pass covers a whole car search.
Check a VINExperimental model-level information. This is not a vehicle inspection, vehicle-history report, financial advice or purchase recommendation. It describes patterns across a model year, not the condition of any individual vehicle.