Honda Fit: Years to Avoid and Best Years (Engine & Transmission)
Honda Fit problems by model year, from 1,319 owner complaints filed with NHTSA. For each year: the share of complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system, how many there were, and the recalls.
Worst years to avoid: 2011 (47%, 22 drivetrain complaints), 2017 (44%, 19 drivetrain complaints) and 2018 (42%, 47 drivetrain complaints). 7 of the 10 Honda Fit years we score have an elevated engine, transmission or fuel-system complaint share.
Best years on this measure: 2010 (24%), 2016 (25%) and 2020 (27%). 2020 rests on fewer than 60 complaints, so treat it as provisional. A low share means owners complained about other things more than the drivetrain, not that nothing ever fails.
The sharpest change between consecutive years is from 2010 (24%) to 2011 (47%), up 23 points. The complaint pattern shifts at that year, so check which year the car in front of you is.
By raw volume, the 2015 drew the most drivetrain complaints (107 of 359 across the scored years). Volume also tracks how many were sold and how long they have been on the road, which is why the share, not the count, sets the verdict.
Engine and transmission complaint share, 2010–2023
Share of relevant owner complaints about the engine, transmission or fuel system. 33% is elevated, 40% high, 60% very high. A dash means too few complaints to score.
Every Honda Fit year
| Model year | Signal | Drivetrain share | Drivetrain complaints | All complaints | Rank (1 = worst) | Recalls |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 Fit | no elevated signal | 24% | 23 | 183 | 10/10 | 12 |
| 2011 Fit | high | 47% | 22 | 113 | 1/10 | 11 |
| 2012 Fit | elevated | 39% | 27 | 113 | 5/10 | 11 |
| 2013 Fit | elevated | 36% | 29 | 176 | 7/10 | 10 |
| 2015 Fit | high | 42% | 107 | 282 | 4/10 | 4 |
| 2016 Fit | no elevated signal | 25% | 28 | 120 | 9/10 | 1 |
| 2017 Fit | high | 44% | 19 | 43 | 2/10 | 0 |
| 2018 Fit | high | 42% | 47 | 117 | 3/10 | 4 |
| 2019 Fit | elevated | 36% | 48 | 136 | 6/10 | 6 |
| 2020 Fit | no elevated signal | 27% | 9 | 36 | 8/10 | 4 |
What owners complain about most, all years
Categories as NHTSA files them, summed across the Honda Fit years with data. A complaint can name more than one component, so the shares overlap. Red is engine, transmission or fuel.
Honda Fit engine and transmission recalls: timeline
NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns on the Honda Fit involving the engine, transmission or fuel system, out of 25 across the years we track. Each model-year page has the details. Whether a particular car still has a recall open depends on its VIN.
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 2011 | 11V101000 | engine and engine cooling | 2010 |
| May 2014 | 14V258000 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2013 |
| Sep 2015 | 15V574000 | power train: automatic transmission: control module (tcm/pcm/tecm) | 2015 |
| May 2020 | 20V314000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2019 |
| Dec 2020 | 20V770000 | power train: driveline: driveshaft | 2010–2013 |
| Mar 2021 | 21V215000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2019 |
| Dec 2023 | 23V858000 | fuel system, gasoline: delivery: fuel pump | 2018–2019 |
18 other recalls (airbags, lighting, brakes and the rest)
| Date | Campaign | Component | Model years |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apr 2013 | 13V157000 | electronic stability control (esc) | 2012–2013 |
| Jul 2014 | 14V563000 | air bags: side/window | 2015 |
| Sep 2015 | 15V559000 | electrical system: ignition | 2015 |
| Oct 2015 | 15V697000 | structure | 2015–2016 |
| Feb 2016 | 16V061000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2010–2013 |
| May 2016 | 16V346000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2011 |
| Jan 2017 | 17V030000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2012 |
| Aug 2017 | 17V545000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2012 |
| Jan 2018 | 18V042000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2013 |
| Apr 2018 | 18V268000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2013 |
| Sep 2018 | 18V661000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2013 |
| May 2019 | 19V378000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2013 |
| Jun 2019 | 19V500000 | air bags: frontal: driver side: inflator module | 2010–2013 |
| Jun 2019 | 19V502000 | air bags: frontal: passenger side: inflator module | 2010–2013 |
| Feb 2023 | 23V046000 | back over prevention: display function | 2018–2020 |
| Feb 2024 | 24V064000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger | 2020 |
| May 2024 | 24V384000 | back over prevention: display function | 2018–2020 |
| May 2026 | 26V332000 | air bags: sensor: occupant classification: front passenger | 2018–2020 |
What the free pages leave out on the Honda Fit
- The mileage where it happens, for the model year you are looking at.
- What the repair costs, to price into your offer.
- Cleaner alternatives: similar cars with a better record.
- Up to 15 owner reports, with the ones about your car's own engine first.
- What to ask the seller and what to check on the test drive.
- Open recalls on the actual car, by VIN.
Questions people ask about the Honda Fit
What are the worst years for the Honda Fit?
On engine and transmission complaints, the worst Honda Fit years are the 2011 (47% of relevant complaints, high), the 2017 (44% of relevant complaints, high) and the 2018 (42% of relevant complaints, high). 7 of 10 scored years are elevated in all.
What are the best years for the Honda Fit?
On engine and transmission complaints, the best Honda Fit years are the 2010 (24%), the 2016 (25%) and the 2020 (27%). That describes the model year; any one car still needs an inspection.
Does the Honda Fit have fuel system problems?
In some years. Across the 10 scored years, 359 of 991 relevant NHTSA complaints (36%) concern the engine, transmission or fuel system; the largest drivetrain category is fuel/propulsion system. The years with an elevated share are 2011, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2017, 2018 and 2019.
Is the Honda Fit reliable?
On the engine and transmission it depends on the year: 7 of 10 Honda Fit years we score have an elevated complaint share and 3 do not. Pooled across those years, 36% of relevant complaints are about the drivetrain, against a 33% line for an elevated signal. Complaint data does not measure overall reliability, so pick the year first, then inspect the car.
Are there transmission or engine recalls on the Honda Fit?
Yes. NHTSA lists 7 recall campaigns involving the engine, transmission or fuel system across the Honda Fit years we track, out of 25 in total: 20V770000 (Dec 2020, 2010–2013), 21V215000 (Mar 2021, 2019), 23V858000 (Dec 2023, 2018–2019), and earlier ones. Whether a car still has one open depends on its VIN.
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 model years, not the condition of any individual vehicle. Model years with fewer than 25 complaints are not scored.