2010 Honda Fit Problems

What owners report

Complaints on this model year cluster around the Takata airbag inflator recalls and the difficulty owners had getting the replacement parts, along with several mechanical themes that show up at higher mileage. Much of the sample falls between roughly 40,000 and 100,000 miles, with the transmission and driveline complaints coming in later than the airbag and brake ones.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbag inflator recall wait and repair questions

   • 80 complaints (43%)
   • median 49,858 mi at 5.9 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 9 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2024

   Owners describe receiving recall notices for the front airbag inflators and then waiting weeks or longer for parts, with dealers reportedly unable to give a date. Some complain that only one inflator was replaced, that the repair records still showed incomplete, or that a rental car came without insurance or a second authorized driver. Others describe crashes or close calls where they felt airbags did not deploy, and connect the experience to the inflator recalls after the fact. Spread across the sample from very low mileage to about 90,000 miles, mostly 2013-2017 filings.

   Recall 19V500000Recall 19V502000Recall 19V378000Recall 18V268000Recall 18V042000Recall 17V545000Recall 17V030000Recall 16V346000Recall 16V0610006 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for the recall completion records and confirm both driver and passenger inflators were replaced with the correct parts. Verify with a dealer that no open inflator campaigns remain for the VIN.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The recall of this important safety part was issued in february it is now late september and I am unable to replace this part. No one at the dealership can tell me when this part will be in. My safety is at risk. I am very unhappy with the customer service regarding this recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10909868, filed 2016-09, 42,023 miles

   “As I was driving on the service road a vehicle in front of me stopped short, I steered my vehicle to the leftside of the road to avoid a collision. It was raining and the road was slick causing my car to go into a tail spin. I gained control of my car without making impact to anything and my driver side airbags deployed, although my airbags burst out they did not appear to inflate completely. Also my driver side seat belt completely came out of its track. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10554185, filed 2013-11, 22,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Drive shaft / CV axle breakage

   • 13 complaints (7%)
   • median 103,659 mi at 9.9 yrs old (9 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2017–2025

   Complaints describe a loud pop or clunk followed by the car not moving forward or backward, sometimes while pulling out of a lot or from a stop, and in one case while parked. Owners were told the left or right drive shaft or CV axle had broken and needed replacement, and some had the failure repeat on the other side or more than once. A few report the car drifting or rolling while still in gear after the noise. Mostly reported between about 60,000 and 215,000 miles, often during low-speed acceleration from a stop.

   Recall 20V770000

   What to check: Have the drive shafts and CV axles inspected for play, torn boots, or prior replacement, and ask whether either side has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The axle on my car has broke three different times in the past 8 months, not the result from an accident. I turned out of a gas station at and heard a pop and then a loud knocking noise. Car would not go forwards or backwards.”

   NHTSA complaint #11266612, filed 2019-10, 182,000 miles

   “My front passenger side cv axel failed a year ago. Miraculously it happened in the parking lot of a service station who then did the repair so I didn’t need a tow. It just happened again. When I got towed I was told that they are towing Honda fits regularly so it is likely due to a design problem. Luckily I had just made a left turn into a business parking lot from a busy business street (vt state highway 302) when the car stopped moving and I could not get it into gear. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11245981, filed 2019-08, 98,500 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Power steering assist loss or binding

   • 10 complaints (5%)
   • median 93,928 mi at 9.4 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2024

   Owners describe the power steering assist cutting out at low or moderate speed, with the steering warning light coming on and the wheel becoming hard to turn, sometimes regaining assist on its own. Others report the wheel binding or suddenly jerking during gentle turns such as highway ramps or intersections. Some had the alternator replaced or were told the vehicle needed an electrical repair costing several thousand dollars. Reported from roughly 35,000 to 215,000 miles, often during low-speed turns.

   Recall 20V770000

   What to check: Test the steering at parking-lot speeds and watch for the power steering warning light; ask whether the alternator or steering assist components have been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Steering wheel has been suddenly, and intermittently, turning immediately 90 degrees where I have to correct the wheel in order to avoid a crash. Typically happens on slight turns, like getting on or off a hwy ramp or turning on a red light. Goodyear tire said they are seeing electrical issues with the power steering and informed me this isn't a drivable car unless $2400 repair. The suddenness of this could have resulted in death, especially at the speed.”

   NHTSA complaint #11193675, filed 2019-04, 78,000 miles

   “Vehicle suddenly spun to the right 180 degrees and slide sideways and over an embankment and onto its side. Vehicle was traveling at approximately 35 MPH on a straight section of highway 31 north in whitehall michigan. Vehicle was under light power (pressure on the gas pedal) on a snowy/icy road. Temperature was in the low 20 degrees. Car had been driven for about an hour when the failure occurred. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10958664, filed 2017-03, 184,000 miles
4. 4
   Other or unknown

   Engine stalling, especially in cool weather

   • 8 complaints (4%)
   • median 39,950 mi at 1.5 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2010–2023

   Complaints describe the engine shutting off at stop signs, during low-speed driving, or while cruising with the cruise control set, with dashboard lights going dark and power steering and brake assist dropping out. Several owners note it happens in cold temperatures or before the car has warmed up, and that dealers could not reproduce or find stored codes. One owner reports a spark plug coming out of the cylinder head while driving, damaging the head and allowing exhaust fumes into the cabin. Reported from under 1,000 miles to about 105,000 miles, several cases in temperatures below about 55 degrees.

   Recall 11V1010002 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask about any stalling history and whether spark plugs were torqued or replaced on schedule; a scan for stored codes and a cold-start test drive can help.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was driving my 2010 Honda FIT sport automatic at 25mph on a city street, the engine suddenly shut off, all dashboard indicator lights and headlights went completely dark; I pulled the car over to the side of the road, noticing that power steering and brake assist were inactive so it was a challenge to get the car pulled over. The vehicle re-started on the first attempt and I was able to drive home. The dealership was unable to diagnose the problem and gave the vehicle back to me with no repair work done. 9 days later, the same thing happened. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10305751, filed 2010-02, 460 miles

   “This is a reproducible problem!! It happens every time if the air temperature is below 55 degrees. If the vehicle has not been heated for 5 minutes before driving out to the road, the engine would be dead either at an uphill stop sign or during driving while the brake needs to be used. The battery sign lights first and followed by the oil light and then the engine would switch off.”

   NHTSA complaint #10511615, filed 2013-05, 25,000 miles
5. 5
   Body and structure

   Paint peeling and clear coat fading

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe clear coat and paint lifting or chalking on the roof and hood after a few years, sometimes in large patches, and say other cars in the same parking situation did not show the same wear. Some report the dealer offered to cover only part of a repaint or called it normal wear. A related but separate group reports windshields cracking from a small impact or with no impact at all. Usually noted around three to seven years of ownership, at mileages from about 40,000 to 80,000.

   What to check: Inspect the roof, hood, and upper panels in daylight for fading, chalking, or lifted clear coat, and check the windshield for existing chips or cracks.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Paint is chalking and cracking off my hood and roof. Started noticing in march 2017. Asked Honda service center about it and after sending me to a paint specialist to get it looked at/paint job estimate and being told it looked exactly like the paint issues Honda civics are experiencing, Honda service center manager told me it was 'normal wear and tear' and they would not help me.”

   NHTSA complaint #11043610, filed 2017-11, 80,000 miles

   “My issue is with the quickly degrading paint job on my vehicle. I have done nothing different from any other car I have owned, and I am parked in an apartment complex parking lot where all of my neighbors cars are not having any issues. The only car in the parking lot with paint degradation comparable to my car is a blue 1999 Honda civic, but it looks much better than my '10 FIT. Just to reiterate, we are parked in the same parking lot with the same amount of sun and elemental exposure. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11005404, filed 2017-07, 50,000 miles

Buying note. Check that every open airbag inflator recall has been completed and keep the paperwork, then have a mechanic look at the drive shafts, steering assist, and any stalling history before purchase. The paint and windshield items are mostly cosmetic-condition points to inspect closely on a used example.

Summary written with AI from a sample of 60 NHTSA complaints for this model year (picked at random, with complaints that state a mileage and recent ones taken first), then checked automatically against the source records. Where a problem shows a complaint count, every complaint for this model year was matched with fixed keyword rules (written with AI and tested against the sample), and the mileage, age and repair figures are calculated from those complaints; owners' figures are as stated, not verified. Other counts refer to the sample. The excerpts come from NHTSA's public complaint records and are unverified; capitalisation is normalised, NHTSA staff notes are removed, and shortened text ends with “…”. Something wrong? Request a correction.