2011 Honda Fit Problems

What owners report

For the 2011 Honda Fit, many of the sampled complaints center on the Takata driver and passenger frontal airbag inflator recalls, and on the long waits owners reported for those repairs; these complaints were mostly filed in 2016-2017. The second-largest theme is an intermittent loss of power steering assist, often at the same time as a brief electrical and radio dropout, and several owners also describe a front driveshaft (axle) that broke without warning, usually in the 45,000-120,000 mile range.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbag inflator recall parts unavailable (Takata)

   • 54 complaints (48%)
   • median 63,500 mi at 5.6 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2016–2019

   Owners describe receiving recall notices for the front driver and passenger airbag inflators but being told the replacement parts were not yet available. Many say they called dealers repeatedly, were placed in a queue or lost their place, and received no firm date; a few describe being told to rent a car at their own expense. Some owners also report airbags that did not deploy in a collision, though those complaints came in separately from the recall notices. Mostly reported in 2016-2017 on vehicles in the 20,000-110,000 mile range, with several owners noting humid coastal areas.

   Recall 19V500000Recall 19V502000Recall 19V378000Recall 16V346000Recall 16V061000Recall 17V0300005 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask the seller for paperwork showing both driver and passenger inflators were replaced under recall, and verify the open-campaign status by VIN with a dealer before buying.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall - on april 15, 2016, I first called pacific Honda to schedule repair under this recall. I have called back a number of times since then and have yet to receive an appointment for repair of the airbags subject to this recall.”

   NHTSA complaint #10891605, filed 2016-07, 80,000 miles

   “Takata inflators. I have called ocean Honda many time to schedule this recall. Service dept. Said parts on order and would be process per vehicle owners requesting repair. I called initially in april 2016 to get in queue; I call back in june 2016 and they said I hadn't called before. Ventura, ca is a high humidity location and thus should be one of the first to get repairs. I've called multiple time since and still no parts. My daughter drives this car with this potentially lethal flaw. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10899011, filed 2016-08, 62,000 miles
2. 2
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Front driveshaft (axle) breaks, loss of drive

   • 9 complaints (8%)
   • median 73,301 mi at 9.3 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2018–2023

   Owners describe a sudden clunk or pop and then no forward motion, often when pulling away from a stop or making a tight turn; the car has to be pushed or towed. Mechanics in the complaints point to corrosion under the rubber damper midway along the shaft, and in several cases the second axle was found in similar condition. Some owners also describe a humming noise that grew louder with speed before the failure. Mostly reported between about 45,000 and 120,000 miles, with several owners noting the opposite axle failing within months to a year.

   Recall 20V770000

   What to check: Have a mechanic inspect both front driveshafts for rust under the rubber damper, and ask whether either axle has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “While driving the car started making humming noise, it got louder the faster it went, took it to garden state Honda in passaic nu and they said it was the wheel bearings on both sides, when I asked if it was under warranty they told me no and it will cost $800 and it would take a week because they would have too order the parts. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11156774, filed 2018-12, 35,000 miles

   “Stopped at intersection. Lifted foot off brake, started to go and car stopped. It made a clank. The engine clicking but not engaging in drive. A bystander pushed my car (in neutral) off the road. Had car towed and fixed where I learned it was front left axle”

   NHTSA complaint #11235279, filed 2019-07, 70,277 miles
3. 3
   Steering

   Power steering assist cuts out intermittently

   • 9 complaints (8%)
   • median 75,000 mi at 7.0 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2012–2023

   Owners report the electric power steering dropping out for seconds at a time and then returning, leaving the wheel momentarily heavy, with the EPS indicator lighting briefly. Complaints describe it happening at random while driving or turning, and several say the radio or other electrical items blinked at the same moment. Some report the steering feeling heavy at higher road speeds without any warning light; dealers are described as suggesting diagnostic testing for a possible steering unit or sensor fault. Spread from about 23,000 to 138,000 miles, with many reports in the 70,000-100,000 mile range and no clear weather pattern.

   What to check: Test drive at low speed and through turns, watch for a brief EPS warning light or a sudden heavy steering feel, and ask whether the steering column or EPS unit has been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Recently my 2011 Honda FIT has been having intermittent power steering failures. It has happened 3 times in one week to date where I have started the car to drive to work in the morning and the steering is very heavy for a few seconds like an old manual steering car. The power steering kicked back in once after continuing to drive the car and on the other two occasions after stopping the car and restarting it.”

   NHTSA complaint #10806600, filed 2015-11, 120,000 miles

   “The power steering cuts out intermittently for seconds at a time before coming back on while driving. No specific mix of speed or temp seems to cause it, it is random. The radio cuts out each time as well. I'm told this is a faulty eps unit or sensor and is a known problem with Honda fits. When driving straight it has not been an issue but I've heard stories of peoples steering wheels locking in a turned position and this could obviously cause an accident.”

   NHTSA complaint #11071805, filed 2018-02, 89,000 miles
4. 4
   Latches, locks and linkages

   Door lock actuators fail / doors won't open

   Mentioned in 4 of 60 sampled complaints

   Owners describe doors that lock and unlock on their own while driving, a loud buzzing or squalling noise from a lock, and later doors that cannot be opened from inside or outside. Complaints report dealers diagnosing failed door lock actuators needing replacement. Reported from roughly 34,000 to 106,000 miles, often appearing first as random locking while driving.

   What to check: Cycle every door lock with the key fob and the inside handle, listen for buzzing or repeated locking, and confirm each door opens from both inside and out.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “The Honda fit has a known issue with door lock actuator. The car locks and unlocks several times now it just make a high squalling noise that prevent the car from being locked.”

   NHTSA complaint #11497991, filed 2022-12

   “The contact owns a 2011 Honda FIT. The contact stated that the doors locked and unlocked automatically while the vehicle was in motion. The dealer diagnosed that the rear and driver side door latches needed to be replaced. The vehicle was not repaired. The manufacturer was notified of the failure. The failure mileage was 34,000.”

   NHTSA complaint #10854434, filed 2016-04, 34,000 miles

Buying note. Check that both airbag inflators were replaced under recall and that no campaigns remain open for the VIN, then have a mechanic look at the front axles and test the power steering and door locks on a drive. Maintenance records showing the spark plugs were checked are worth having.

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.