YearToAvoid

2012 Honda Fit Problems, Recalls & Reliability

Verdict

Best

Complaint Index

22/100

#8 most-complained of 10 Fit years

Based on NHTSA complaints per model-year, not a reliability rating. Methodology

The 2012 Honda Fit has a complaint index of 22, ranking 8th of 10 model years, and carries a "Best" verdict relative to other Fit years. It has 113 complaints, 11 recalls, and no fires or deaths reported.

Complaints
113
Recalls
11
Crashes / fires
6 / 0
Injuries / deaths
3 / 0
NHTSA overall rating
4 / 5 ★
EPA combined MPG
30
27 city / 33 hwy

Top 2012 Honda Fit problems

NHTSA owner complaints by component group. Groups with 15+ complaints have their own page.

  1. Airbags41 (36%)
  2. Engine19 (17%)
  3. Steering16 (14%)
  4. Transmission & Powertrain14 (12%)
  5. Electrical System10 (9%)
  6. Suspension, Wheels & Tires6 (5%)
  7. Brakes5 (4%)
  8. Other5 (4%)
  9. Fuel System4 (4%)
  10. Structure & Body4 (4%)

What owners report

  • Steering can suddenly become unresponsive or seize at low speeds, sometimes causing the vehicle to crash into a pole or curb.
  • Airbags have failed to deploy during frontal or rear-end crashes, in some cases resulting in injury.
  • Takata airbag recall replacement parts were reported as unavailable for extended periods, leaving owners waiting for repairs.
  • The engine has lunged forward unexpectedly at various speeds, with one owner told the powertrain control module or throttle pedal may be defective.
  • Some owners reported a spark plug blowing out of the cylinder head with a loud pop while driving on the highway.
  • A dashboard message reading "check fuel cap" appeared intermittently even after the cap was tightened and the vehicle restarted.
2012 Honda Fit complaints: complaints filed per quarter192012 Q12013 Q32015 Q12016 Q32018 Q32020 Q12022 Q2
128 complaints filed with NHTSA from 2012 Q1 to 2026 Q1; peak 2016 Q3 (19).

2012 Honda Fit recalls

11 NHTSA recall campaigns list this model year.

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

See all 11 recalls for the 2012 Honda Fit →

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

Complaint Index by model year (0 = fewest issues, 100 = most)02550751002010201120122013201520162017201820192020
Complaint Index: 0 = fewest issues, 100 = most, relative to other years of this model. Avoid Caution Good Best
YearVerdictIndexComplaintsRecallsMPG
2010Avoid891831230
2011Good441131130
2012Best221131130
2013Avoid781761030.5
2015Avoid100283434

All Honda Fit years: best and worst →

Frequently asked questions

Is the 2012 Honda Fit reliable?
Relative to other Fit model years, the 2012 Fit ranks well, with a complaint index of 22 and a "Best" verdict. It has 113 complaints and 11 recalls logged with NHTSA.
What is the top problem area for the 2012 Honda Fit?
Airbags are the top problem area, accounting for 41 complaints, or 36% of all complaints for this year, with a median failure mileage of 51,500.
Does the 2012 Honda Fit have a Takata airbag recall?
Yes. NHTSA lists multiple airbag recalls affecting the 2012 Fit, including campaigns for both driver and passenger frontal air bag inflators.
How does the 2012 Honda Fit compare to other Fit years?
The 2012 Fit has a complaint index of 22, lower than the 2010 (89), 2013 (78), and 2015 (100) model years, which are all rated "Avoid." It ties the 2011 Fit's complaint count of 113.
What is the fuel economy of the 2012 Honda Fit?
The 2012 Fit is EPA-rated at 30 mpg combined (27 city/33 highway), with an estimated annual fuel cost of $2,150.

Sources: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation complaint and recall databases; U.S. EPA fuel economy data; NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings. Complaints are unverified owner reports.

Data updated Sep 24, 2026. Read the methodology and data sources. The Complaint Index is based on NHTSA owner complaints and recalls; it is not a reliability rating.