2012 Honda Fit Problems

What owners report

Owners of this model year report a wide range of concerns, with the largest group relating to the Takata airbag inflator recalls and to the difficulty of getting the replacement work scheduled or completed. Mechanical complaints cluster around front axles that fracture at a damper weight, intermittent loss of power steering assist, and spark plugs that come loose and strip the cylinder head threads. Many of these appear on cars with relatively low odometer readings rather than at high mileage.

1. 1
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Front axle breaks at the damper weight

   • 12 complaints (11%)
   • median 93,928 mi at 8.7 yrs old (12 state mileage)
   • filed 2018–2026

   Owners describe a loud bang or clunk and then no drive, usually when pulling away from a stop, turning out of a lot, or shifting from reverse to drive. Mechanics have told them the front CV axle fractured at the rubber damper, with corrosion reported inside the damper where water collects; in several cases both sides failed. The car has to be towed, and owners note it comes as a surprise at their mileage. Typically reported between roughly 74,000 and 150,000 miles, often on cars described as garage-kept and free of accidents.

   Recall 20V770000

   What to check: Have a mechanic inspect both front axles at the vibration damper for rust or cracking, and listen for clicking or grinding on slow turns. Ask whether either axle has already been replaced.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Stopped at red light. When green I had barely put foot on gas when I heard clunk and felt something drop.could not move forward. Front driver side axel broke. Only 74k miles and car lives in garage. No accident, not even large potholes. Never knocked out of alignment. Busy intersection so police came to direct traffic. I see other identical complaints online. I am worried the other side will break when I am on the highway!”

   NHTSA complaint #11255853, filed 2019-09, 74,000 miles

   “When accelerating from a stop, I heard a loud bang followed by a buzzing/grinding sound. The engine was still running but the car would not move forward or in reverse. The car was towed to my mechanic who told me the axel had snapped at the location of a vibration damper.”

   NHTSA complaint #11383793, filed 2020-12, 87,000 miles
2. 2
   Steering

   Intermittent loss of power steering assist

   • 15 complaints (13%)
   • median 37,000 mi at 5.5 yrs old (13 state mileage)
   • 3 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2024

   Complaints describe the steering suddenly getting heavy or locking for a moment, most often at low speed, while turning, or when idling, and sometimes with the power steering warning light coming on. Some owners say the radio or dashboard lights also cut out at the same instant, suggesting an electrical tie-in. Dealers have diagnosed the electronic power steering unit or the rack and pinion; in some cases no fault was found, and a few owners reported crashes after losing control. Reported from very low mileage (a few hundred to a few thousand miles) up to about 79,000 miles, across complaints filed from 2013 to 2021.

   Recall 13V157000

   What to check: During a test drive, note whether steering effort changes at parking speeds and whether the EPS warning light flashes. Ask if the power steering unit or rack has been replaced and whether any electrical faults were stored.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I having intermittent loss of power steering. So far it has happened mostly with low speed turns. I will have to use more effort to complete the turn when this happens. I had the power steering light come on while driving straight ahead once for a few seconds. 60,000 miles on car so far with no problems in the past and no accidents.”

   NHTSA complaint #11291175, filed 2019-12, 60,000 miles

   “While driving or idling, my car radio will turn off and my power steering will stop working. It almost immediately starts working again (both radio and power steering), so I cannot identify if any other electrical systems are affected. It appears that the lights and blinkers are working and I do not believe that the engine shuts off, but I can not say that for sure. Stopping the car and waiting several minutes before restarting seems to fix the problem temporarily, but it can reoccur at any time. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11011232, filed 2017-07, 57,000 miles
3. 3
   Engine

   Spark plugs loosen or blow out of the cylinder head

   • 10 complaints (9%)
   • median 72,000 mi at 7.8 yrs old (8 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2018–2023

   Owners report a loud pop followed by rough running or a sudden loss of power, with a mechanic later finding a spark plug loose or ejected and the head threads stripped. Some describe the plug tip breaking off and damaging a coil pack or valve, and a gasoline smell inside the car in one case. Several say the repair was costly and that assistance after warranty expired was declined, while a service bulletin notes plugs that were under-torqued at the factory. Mostly reported between about 44,000 and 90,000 miles, well before the usual spark plug service interval.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask whether the spark plugs have been checked or replaced and whether any plug has come loose or stripped a thread. On a test drive, watch for rough idle, misfire codes, or a fuel smell.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I bought this car brand new, this car is common with other Honda FIT my year of spark plug blowing out , a lot of people like myself are stuff with blown sparks plugs out the engine, mine blew out twice and Honda is charging me since I'm out of warranty, I think should be a recall on there head or threading or something wrong with there builds , it's spark plug number two like others”

   NHTSA complaint #11203304, filed 2019-04, 90,000 miles

   “I brought my Honda FIT 2012 to my mechanic with issues of a misfire in cylinders 1 and 2. He thought it was a simple replacement of the spark plugs (only 51,000 miles on the car) and maybe a coil pack replacement. Once he removed the spark plugs from cylinders 1 and 2, he saw the tip of one of the spark plugs ground had broken off into the cylinder head and the coil packs and spark plugs were worn and covered in a blackish soot. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11073320, filed 2018-02, 51,000 miles
4. 4
   Vehicle speed control

   Sudden or unintended acceleration and unresponsive throttle

   • 10 complaints (9%)
   • median 14,225 mi at 2.2 yrs old (10 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2012–2019

   Owners describe the car surging when creeping into a parking space or reversing out of a garage, and in other accounts the engine not responding to the pedal for a few seconds after idling or when pulling away with the wheel turned. Some have had the car inspected with no cause found, and one owner reported a sticking accelerator pedal. Complaints also mention occasional lurching at low speed with warning codes stored. Mostly reported under about 20,000 miles in complaints filed from 2012 through 2018.

   What to check: Test the throttle from a stop with the wheel turned and while reversing at low speed, and ask whether the throttle pedal or control module has been replaced or any codes stored.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “This was the first of two incidents of sudden acceleration. Both times parking the car and giving it a little gas to ease into a space the car took off at high rate of speed; the first time, almost crashing into my garage door and the second time jumping a sidewalk and almost hitting a metal hand rail. I took it to Honda dealership and they said they could find nothing wrong, and said I must have hit both brake and accelerator at same time. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10466924, filed 2012-07, 2,309 miles

   “My vehicle suddenly accelerated to a very rapid speed. I had just started up the car and was reversing out of the garage when the vehicle accelerated. I attempted to stop but was unable to do so. Then the car suddenly returned to normal.”

   NHTSA complaint #10567925, filed 2014-03, 13,451 miles
5. 5
   Air bags

   Airbag inflator recalls and repair delays

   Mentioned in 5 of 60 sampled complaints

   Complaints describe owners receiving notice of the Takata driver or passenger airbag inflator recalls and then waiting weeks or months for parts, with some saying the airbag warning light was on in the meantime. In one account an airbag deployed during a crash and the driver reported a chest injury. Others describe dealers not having the parts in stock or not confirming the recall applied to their car. Reported across a wide mileage range, from about 27,000 to 90,000 miles, in complaints mostly filed in 2014 through 2018.

   Recall 19V500000Recall 19V502000Recall 19V378000Recall 18V268000Recall 18V042000Recall 17V545000Recall 17V030000Recall 16V0610007 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask the seller for the recall completion record for the driver and passenger inflators and confirm with a dealer by VIN that no open inflator campaigns remain. Note whether the airbag or SRS warning light stays lit on the dash.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata recall- went to dealership to get my air bag replace, which they did't have needed to be order and waited 6 weeks. On october the 09, 2016 I was on a vehicle accident driving 25 miles and hour the right side tire hit and embankment and damaged my car for a total loss. The deployment of the airbag hit my chest with such force that my sternum was fracture and bruise through out my chest. I have being having severe pain for the past three weeks. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10920047, filed 2016-10, 44,000 miles

   “Takata recall earlier this year, I received a notice concerning the takata airbag recall for my 2012 Honda FIT. I followed the directions on the recall and contacted my dealer (bella auto international, in puerto rico) to process the recall. I am filing this complaint because, pursuant to the terms of the letter I was sent, I do not believe the dealer has fixed the problem in a reasonable period of time, which the letter defines as 60 days from the day I first contacted the dealer. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10896605, filed 2016-08, 37,317 miles

Buying note. Check by VIN that the airbag inflator recalls are closed and have a mechanic look at both front axles and the spark plugs before buying. Service records showing steering and throttle complaints already investigated are worth asking about, since several of these issues recur intermittently.

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.