2013 Honda Fit Problems

What owners report

Most complaints for this model year are about the Takata driver and passenger airbag inflator recalls, with owners describing long waits for replacement parts and repair scheduling problems. Beyond that, owners report electrical problems such as momentary power loss that affects headlights and power steering, front drive axle breakage, and loose or blown-out spark plugs. The vehicle is generally described as a small, low-mileage car, and many reports arrive in the first 30,000 miles.

1. 1
   Air bags

   Airbag inflator recall parts unavailable

   • 70 complaints (40%)
   • median 15,950 mi at 3.6 yrs old (16 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2018

   Owners describe receiving a Takata airbag inflator recall notice and then being unable to get the repair done. Complaints say dealers did not have the replacement inflator, could not give a date for it, and sometimes referred owners back to the manufacturer while the manufacturer referred them to the dealer. Some owners report being asked to sign a waiver, or being told the part would take several months; a few traded the car or tried to exit a lease instead. Mostly reported from 2016 through 2019, often with low odometer readings well under 60,000 miles.

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

   What to check: Ask whether the driver and passenger inflators were replaced and keep the recall paperwork; a dealer can confirm by VIN whether any campaign is still open.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Takata-dealer notified me of recall-had me sign a waiver that I drive under my own peril. Three months have passed, dealer does not have the part and does not know when it will arrive. Dealer tried to have me trade it for 9k, I have a private buyer ready to pay 12,500 but cannot sell it due to the recall. No accidents have occurred as a result.”

   NHTSA complaint #10910021, filed 2016-09, 14,500 miles

   “Takata recall. I received the recall notice for my 2013 Honda FIT in march, 2016. It is now december of 2016 and my dealer has no idea when a new airbag will be available. I think 9 months of driving this car with this airbag is too long to wait for a replacement. Don't know what else I can do about it except to send this note to you.”

   NHTSA complaint #10935065, filed 2016-12, 34,000 miles
2. 2
   Electrical system

   Momentary electrical power loss, power steering cuts out

   • 24 complaints (14%)
   • median 32,650 mi at 4.2 yrs old (18 state mileage)
   • 6 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2013–2024

   Owners describe short, intermittent electrical dropouts while driving. The radio, dashboard lights and headlights cut out or dim, and in the same moment the electric power steering quits, making the wheel hard to turn until power returns. Some also report many warning lights lighting at once, a dead speedometer and tachometer, a non-working air conditioner, or battery drain that led to an alternator and battery replacement. Several owners say dealers could not reproduce or find the fault. Reported from roughly 25,000 to 100,000 miles, often appearing intermittently and becoming more frequent over time.

   What to check: Drive the car at steady speed and watch for dimming lights, radio dropouts or a steering assist warning; ask whether the battery, alternator and grounds have been checked.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “When driving my Honda, the car intermittently loses electrical power for about a second. When this happens the power steering is disabled. I fear losing control especially when making turns. The steering will lock up. This happens literally daily at this point. Doesn't matter if I am on the freeway or city street.”

   NHTSA complaint #11154745, filed 2018-11, 80,000 miles

   “Battery dies. Had it professionally recharged, lasted 6 weeks and began dying again. Had to jump start numerous times. Now battery is ruined and I need a new alternator and new battery. Car is 4 years old with less than 30,000 miles. I am 2nd owner, bought it in 11/2016 at 24,000 miles.”

   NHTSA complaint #11000621, filed 2017-06, 26,000 miles
3. 3
   Transmission and drivetrain

   Front drive axle (CV shaft) breaks

   • 17 complaints (10%)
   • median 76,500 mi at 7.0 yrs old (14 state mileage)
   • 1 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2026

   Owners describe a front axle or CV shaft snapping, usually when pulling away from a stop or accelerating through a turn. Complaints mention a loud bang followed by no drive, and in some cases the car rolling while in park. In several cases the break happened inside the CV boot, so it was not visible beforehand. One owner reported the dealer said the car was not covered by the driveshaft recall. Mostly reported between roughly 50,000 and 120,000 miles, typically while accelerating from a stop.

   Recall 14V258000Recall 20V770000

   What to check: Ask whether the driveshaft recall was completed and have a mechanic inspect both CV boots and shafts for rust or play; listen for clicking on full-lock turns.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “I was making a wide turn going forward on a highway. I couldnt complete the turn successfully because the road wasnt wide enough, so I stopped and changed gears to reverse to back up. That is when the axle broke. It probably had the most torque on it and perhaps I didnt give it enough time to shift from forward to reverse.”

   NHTSA complaint #11317201, filed 2020-03, 94,000 miles

   “Drivers side cv shaft sheared underneath vibration dampener. I was trying to take off from a stop at an intersection and the shaft broke. I was attempting to make a right hand turn onto a rural state route. This could have been quite bad if anyone was coming. After pushing the car to the side of the road it wouldn't stay put in park almost leading to it rolling into another vehicle while I was halfway out of the vehicle. …”

   NHTSA complaint #11376468, filed 2020-11, 107,000 miles
4. 4
   Engine

   Engine stalling or hesitation at low speed

   • 8 complaints (5%)
   • median 28,900 mi at 2.5 yrs old (7 state mileage, few)
   • 2 mention a crash, fire or injury
   • filed 2014–2019

   Owners describe the engine stalling or hesitating when pulling away from a stop or at low speed, sometimes with a delayed throttle response. Complaints mention the engine cutting out at speed and an engine mount found fractured in one case. Some owners report the dealer could not duplicate the problem, and others describe debris found at the MAP sensor. Reported across a wide mileage range, from a few hundred to about 100,000 miles, usually at low speed or from a stop.

   1 related service bulletin

   What to check: Test the car from several standing starts and at low speed in traffic; ask whether the engine mount and ignition components have been inspected.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Took 2013 FIT to dealer due to car noise underneath and car wanting to stall at stops, or while waiting for lights to change. Mechanic found debris/part of a feather on map sensor of which he kept. I was told that this rarely ever happens to Honda cars and warned that my extensive warranty that I purchased does not cover debris from roads. …”

   NHTSA complaint #10713951, filed 2015-05, 31,351 miles

   “Any time at low speed start off if left foot is just touching brake pedal car will stall with no response in throttle position car stops! Until the accelerator pedal is backed off with foot and reapplied dealer said this happens and to drive with only one foot! This is very dangerous problem need recall!”

   NHTSA complaint #10680984, filed 2015-02, 8,000 miles
5. 5
   Engine

   Spark plugs loose or blown out of cylinder head

   • 7 complaints (4%)
   • median 49,381 mi at 6.1 yrs old (5 state mileage, few)
   • filed 2015–2022

   Owners describe spark plugs working loose and sometimes blowing out of the cylinder head, causing rough running, poor fuel economy, loss of power and a check engine light. Complaints say the fix involved replacing plugs and ignition coils, and one report describes exhaust smell entering the cabin. An owner noted a service bulletin addressing plugs that were not torqued correctly at the factory before the first scheduled service interval. Reported from roughly 48,000 to 105,000 miles, often after a period of rough running.

   3 related service bulletins

   What to check: Ask for service records showing spark plug replacement and proper torque, and have a mechanic check for oil or carbon around the plug wells and coil condition.

   2 excerpts from owner complaints in NHTSA records

   “Spark plugs blew out they were not torqued correctly. Honda knows and has known about this problem since at least july of 2016 (according the their technical service bulletins . Honda has not even sent out letters to customers that have these 2013 Honda fits. I leased the car in april of 2014 in january 2017 while driving on the freeway it suddenly would not accelerate and I was almost hit by a semi. This is a safety issue”

   NHTSA complaint #11001976, filed 2017-06, 90,000 miles

   “In 2019 the #3 spark plug came out of cylinder head while driving on a two lane roadway. I had the car repaired (see attached repair receipt). The same thing happened to the same spark plug last week (march 7, 2021). Again, this occurred on a two-lane roadway at moderate speed. The car ran rough for a week or so beforehand, and fuel economy suffered. On march 7th, the car lost power and the check engine light came on. A foul smell filled the car. I became dizzy and nauseous from exhaust fumes entering the passenger compartment.”

   NHTSA complaint #11403168, filed 2021-03, 103,000 miles

Buying note. Check that all open airbag inflator recalls have been completed and keep the paperwork, then have a mechanic inspect the front axles, CV boots and spark plug condition before purchase. A short test drive at highway speed is worth doing to watch for electrical dropouts and power steering interruptions.

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.