2012 Honda Fit Reliability Data: Problems & Recalls
Caution The 2012 Honda Fit has 113 NHTSA complaints, a complaint index of 17, and 11 recall campaigns, mostly for Takata airbags. It ranks 11th worst of 13 model years but is rated Caution because of the recall count, not the complaint volume.
Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology
YearToAvoid Scorecard
- Complaint Index
- 17/100
- #11 of 13 Fit years
- Verdict
- Caution
- vs. other years of this model
- Complaints
- 113
- unique NHTSA reports
- Recalls
- 11
- distinct NHTSA campaigns
- Crashes
- 6
- reported in complaints
- Fires
- 0
- Injuries
- 3
- Top issue
- Airbags
- NHTSA overall rating
- 4 / 5 ★
- EPA combined MPG
- 30
- 27 city / 33 hwy
- Injuries / deaths
- 3 / 0
Top 2012 Honda Fit problems
Share of this year’s NHTSA complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.
- Airbags41 (36%)
- Engine19 (17%)
- Steering16 (14%)
- Transmission & Powertrain14 (12%)
- Electrical System10 (9%)
- Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (5%)
- Brakes5 (4%)
- Other5 (4%)
- Fuel System4 (4%)
- Structure & Body4 (4%)
A complaint can list more than one component, so shares add up to more than 100%. Shares are % of complaints.
What owners report
- Steering can become unresponsive or seize at low speeds, sometimes leading to a crash into a curb or pole.
- Airbags have failed to deploy in low-speed rear-end collisions, and Takata inflators have deployed with excessive force causing injury.
- The engine or throttle has lunged or accelerated suddenly without driver input at low speeds, including while parking.
- A rear seat belt has been reported to lock and tighten around a child until it had to be cut free.
- The fuel gauge has been reported as non-linear, showing more fuel remaining than actually present.
2012 Honda Fit recalls
11 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.
- NHTSA 20V770000Dec 10, 2020Transmission & Powertrain248,358 vehicles
Power train:driveline:driveshaft
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 Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The drive shafts' protective coating may not have been applied properly during manufacturing, making it more susceptible to damage from road salt, or other contaminants, and potentially cause it to break.
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 crash or injury.
Remedy: 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 February 2, 2021. A second letter will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are P9M, PAV, BAY, TAX, CA0, and MAZ.
- NHTSA 19V502000Jun 27, 2019Airbags9,555 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:passenger side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are F5F and Q5E.
- NHTSA 19V500000Jun 27, 2019Airbags1,558 vehicles
Air bags:frontal:driver side:inflator module
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Risk: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are S5B and W59.
2012 Honda Fit fuel economy and fuel cost
- City
- 27 MPG
- Highway
- 33 MPG
- Combined
- 30 MPG
- Annual fuel cost (EPA)
- $2,150
- 15,000 mi/yr
- Fuel
- Regular
- Current regular gas
- $4.32/gal
- national avg.
EPA figures; median across configurations of this model year. Estimate your own cost with the fuel cost calculator.
2012 compared with other Fit years
Frequently asked questions
- Is the 2012 Honda Fit reliable?
- NHTSA lists 113 complaints and a complaint index of 17 for the 2012 Fit, which is lower than most other Fit years. It carries a Caution verdict mainly because of 11 recall campaigns, not high complaint volume.
- What is the top complaint area for the 2012 Honda Fit?
- Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 41 of 113 complaints (36%), with a median failure mileage of 51,500 miles.
- Does the 2012 Honda Fit have a Takata airbag recall?
- Yes. Several of its 11 recall campaigns cover Takata driver and passenger frontal airbag inflators, spanning campaigns from 2017 through 2019.
- How does the 2012 Fit compare to other Fit years?
- The 2012 Fit ranks 11th worst of 13 model years by complaint index (17), well below the 2009 Fit's index of 100 but above the 2017 and 2020 Fit, which are rated Best.