2012 Honda Fit Reliability Report

NHTSA data as of Oct 15, 2026Published Oct 23, 2026

Good

Ranks 5th of 13 Fit years we score.

Owner complaints: 113; 29 are recall notices
Per 10,000 cars: 16.3; 51,426 made for the U.S.
Vs the average car: 0.53×; same age, 1× is average
Serious outcomes: 41; crash, fire, injury, stall or tow
Recalls: 11
NHTSA crash rating: 4★; overall, out of 5

← 2011 Fit 2013 Fit →

Should You Buy the 2012 Honda Fit?

Yes, with the usual checks. Our reliability score for the 2012 Honda Fit is 78 out of 100, which rates Good. Owners reported about half as many problems as for the average car of the same age. It ranks 5th of the 13 Fit years we score.

The most reported problem is the steering, mostly works on and off (16 of 113 complaints). Owners also complain about the driveshaft or CV axle and the ignition coil or spark plug. 41 of the 113 complaints describe a serious outcome, such as a crash, a fire, an injury or stalling while driving.

It has 11 recalls. NHTSA rates it 4 out of 5 stars overall in crash tests. For comparison, the 2011 scores 75 and the 2013 scores 81.

Before you buy, check that the recalls were done and get an independent inspection. The full checklist is at the end of this page.

Pros

Good reliability score of 78
About half the problems of the average car its age
Recent complaints at or below average
No do-not-drive or park-outside recalls

Cons

Steering: works on and off16 complaints
CV axles: parts breaking or coming apart12 complaints
Ignition coils or spark plugs: parts breaking or coming apart10 complaints

How the 2012 Fit Earned Its Score

Every model year starts at 100. Each part takes points away when this year has more problems than the average car of the same age. How we score

Score breakdown
Item	Vs average	Points lost
Starting score		100
Serious problems41 complaints · average car: about 73	0.57×	−8
Everyday problems43 complaints · average car: about 106	0.41×	−2
Problems in the last two years1 complaint · average car: about 6.2	0.33×	−4
Recalls11 recalls · average car: about 4.7	1.9×	−8
Score		78

Each part shows two counts: this year's so far, and what an average car would have at the same age. For complaints, that average car was made in the same number as this one. “Vs average” compares the two counts, but in our scoring system we first add a little to both, so a few complaints cannot swing the result. That is why it is not simply one count divided by the other. The last two years count only complaints about five systems: the engine and fuel system, transmission, brakes, steering, and airbags and seat belts.

What Owners Report

We read all 113 complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2012 Honda Fit, one by one, and grouped them by the problem they describe. The most reported problems come first.

Steering: works on and off
16 complaints (14%)
Problems that come and go, locking up and pulling or wandering. 5 of these 16 complaints describe a serious outcome, most often loss of steering control. Median mileage when it started: about 30,000 miles.
CV axles: parts breaking or coming apart
12 complaints (11%)
Parts breaking or coming apart. 10 of these 12 complaints describe a serious outcome, most often a tow. Median mileage when it started: about 94,000 miles.
Ignition coils or spark plugs: parts breaking or coming apart
10 complaints (9%)
Parts breaking or coming apart and damage. 4 of these 10 complaints describe a serious outcome, most often stalling or losing power while driving. Median mileage when it started: about 72,000 miles.
Engine: hesitation
4 complaints (4%)
Hesitation, stalling and surging. Median mileage when it started: about 11,000 miles.
Cylinder head: damage
4 complaints (4%)
Damage. Median mileage when it started: about 65,000 miles.
Unintended acceleration (cause not stated)
4 complaints (4%)
Sudden acceleration. 3 of these 4 complaints describe a serious outcome, most often sudden acceleration or braking. Median mileage when it started: about 13,000 miles.
EVAP system: warning lights
3 complaints (3%)
Warning lights, damage and a leak. Median mileage when it started: about 37,000 miles.
12V battery: the car not starting
2 complaints (2%)
The car not starting.
Airbag warning light
2 complaints (2%)
Warning lights.
Airbags: no deployment in a crash
2 complaints (2%)
No deployment in a crash and a feature that stopped working.
Brakes: loss of braking
2 complaints (2%)
Loss of braking and a hard pedal or less assist. 1 of these 2 complaints describes a serious outcome: loss of braking.
Loss of power (cause not stated)
2 complaints (2%)
A loss of power and failure or loss of drive. 1 of these 2 complaints describes a serious outcome.
Electrical system (part not stated): works on and off
2 complaints (2%)
Problems that come and go.
Seat belts: locking up
2 complaints (2%)
Locking up and parts breaking or coming apart. 1 of these 2 complaints describes a serious outcome: an injury.
Tires: a leak
2 complaints (2%)
A leak and damage.

Show 1 more problem

Transmission: damage
2 complaints (2%)
Damage and sticking or stiffness.

Reported Once (22)

Show the 22 problems reported once

Uneven tire wear: early wear
Ball joints and control arms failure
Door latches: not opening or unlocking
Frontal airbags: injurious deployment
Fuel economy: high fuel use
Fuel gauge or level sensor: wrong readings
Headlights: damage
Screen and audio: works on and off
Key fob: parts breaking or coming apart
Accelerator pedal: sticking or stiffness
Air vents: unusual noises
Problem not described (cause not stated)
Rollaway (cause not stated)
Paint and rust: damage
Poor acceleration (cause not stated)
Door lock actuators: stopped working
Rear window glass: damage
Seats: locking up
Stability control (VSA): stopped working
Car not starting (cause not stated)
Tire pressure monitoring failure
Valve train: damage

How the 2012 Honda Fit Compares With Other Years

The other Fit years of the 2nd generation, 2009 to 2013, and the year just before it.

Year	Rating	Score	Vs average	Per 10k cars	Recalls	Most reported problem
2013	Excellent	81	0.36×	12.5	10	CV axles: parts breaking or coming apart
2012 This year	Good	78	0.53×	16.3	11	Steering: works on and off
2011	Good	75	0.49×	15.1	11	CV axles: parts breaking or coming apart
2010	Good	74	0.49×	16.8	12	Steering: loss of steering control
2009	Good	76	0.70×	24.5	11	Steering: sticking or stiffness
2008	Good	72	0.73×	23.4	8	Body seals (water leak): water leaking in

See every Fit year

2012 Honda Fit Recalls

The 2012 Honda Fit has 11 recalls. The most recent was issued in December 2020: “Drive Shaft May Corrode and Fail.” A VIN check at NHTSA shows which are still open on a given car.

Drive Shaft May Corrode and Fail
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 crash or injury.
NHTSA 20V770000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Dec 10, 2020. By the fourth quarter of 2022, 49% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 19V500000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Jun 27, 2019. By the fourth quarter of 2020, 67% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode, June 2019
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 19V502000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Jun 27, 2019. By the fourth quarter of 2020, 36% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Improperly Installed Passenger Air Bag Inflator
An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA 19V378000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued May 16, 2019. By the fourth quarter of 2020, 49% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode, September 2018
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 18V661000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Sep 27, 2018. By the first quarter of 2020, 78% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Improperly Installed Passenger Air Bag
An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA 18V268000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Apr 26, 2018. By the third quarter of 2019, 85% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.

Show 5 more recalls

Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode, January 2018
An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 18V042000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Jan 9, 2018. By the second quarter of 2019, 72% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Incorrectly Installed Replacement Air Bag
In the event of a crash, an incorrectly installed passenger frontal air bag inflator may deploy the air bag improperly, increasing the risk of injury.
NHTSA 17V545000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Aug 31, 2017. By the first quarter of 2019, 94% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture
An inflator rupture may result in metal fragments striking the vehicle occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 17V030000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Jan 10, 2017. By the second quarter of 2018, 70% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Driver's Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Rupture
In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
NHTSA 16V061000 Recall report (PDF)Owner letter (PDF)Issued Feb 3, 2016. By the second quarter of 2018, 82% of the cars in this recall had been fixed.
Incorrect Yaw Rate/FMVSS 126
Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Vehicle Motor Safety Standard No. 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems." Excessive yaw rates prevent the proper function of the electronic stability control (ESC) system, increasing the risk of a crash.
NHTSA 13V157000 Owner letter (PDF)Issued Apr 24, 2013.

2012 Honda Fit Warranty Extensions and Programs

Honda has six customer support programs for the 2012 Honda Fit, separate from its recalls. All six are for problems with the airbags. One has ended. Whether one applies to a car depends on its VIN, which a Honda dealer can check.

Customer support programHonda 18-052, 18-055, 19-003 and 20-016
Front passenger's airbag inflator
4 programs with the same terms. Which one applies depends on the VIN.
The problem:
The front passenger's airbag inflator can be faulty, and the airbag warning light comes on.
The fix:
A Honda dealer replaces the front passenger's airbag inflator for free.
Who qualifies:
The airbag warning light must be on. A Honda dealer test must show the inflator is faulty. Only replacement inflators that fail later are covered. Open inflator recalls must be done first. Salvage or branded titles are not covered.
Coverage:
18-052: Covered until January 31, 2027.
18-055: Covered until January 31, 2028.
19-003: Covered until September 30, 2028.
20-016: Covered until January 31, 2030.
Bulletin 18-052 (PDF)Bulletin 18-055 (PDF)Bulletin 19-003 (PDF)Bulletin 20-016 (PDF)
Customer support programHonda 20-011
Driver's airbag inflator
The problem:
The driver's airbag inflator can be faulty, and the airbag warning light comes on.
The fix:
A Honda dealer replaces the driver's airbag inflator for free.
Who qualifies:
The airbag warning light must be on. A Honda dealer test must show the inflator is faulty. Only replacement inflators that fail later are covered. Open inflator recalls must be done first. Salvage or branded titles are not covered.
Coverage:
Covered until January 31, 2030.
Another program for the same problem, Honda 18-048, has ended.
Honda's bulletin (PDF)

2012 Honda Fit NHTSA Investigations

NHTSA has opened one investigation that covers the 2012 Honda Fit. It led to a recall.

Air bags failing to deploy after electrical overstress
Led to a recall
NHTSA's engineering analysis studied air bag computers used by six makers. It covered Honda Accords, Civics, CR-Vs, Fits and Ridgelines from 2012 to 2017. A crash-related electrical spike could damage a chip, so air bags might not deploy. NHTSA closed the case in September 2024 after maker recalls, including 20V-024. It did not clear vehicles outside the recalls.
NHTSA EA19001 Opening report (PDF)Closing report (PDF)Apr 19, 2019 to Sep 19, 2024

NHTSA Crash Test Ratings

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings for this model year. See the 2012 Fit ratings on NHTSA.gov.

5-door hatchback FWD

Overall4/5

Frontal crash4/5

Side crash4/5

Rollover4/5

Check Before You Buy

A checklist for the 2012 Fit, from its 11 recalls and the problems owners report most.

Confirm the Recalls Were Done

Ask the seller for proof that each of these recalls was repaired.

Drive Shaft May Corrode and Fail NHTSA 20V770000
Driver Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode NHTSA 19V500000
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode, June 2019 NHTSA 19V502000
Improperly Installed Passenger Air Bag Inflator NHTSA 19V378000
Passenger Frontal Air Bag Inflator May Explode, September 2018 NHTSA 18V661000
Look up the VIN at NHTSA to see all 11 recalls and which are still open.

On the Test Drive

Turn the wheel fully left and right, parked and at low speed. Sticking, notches or stiffness are warning signs.
Have the engine scanned for stored misfire codes. A rough idle or a flashing check-engine light is a warning sign.

Ask the Seller

Ask whether any of these were ever repaired, and ask to see the receipts.

Steering
Driveshaft or CV axle
Ignition coil or spark plug
Also ask for the service records, especially oil changes and transmission fluid changes.

Before You Pay

Get an independent pre-purchase inspection from a mechanic you choose.
Decode the VIN to confirm the model year, engine and trim.
Check the title for salvage, flood or rebuilt branding.

What to do next

All Fit Years →Best years and years to avoid, side by side.Compare With Other Years →Put up to four model years side by side.Find Warranty Extensions →Repairs Honda may still cover for this year.Decode a VIN →Confirm the exact year, engine and trim of a car.