Honda Fit Reliability — Best and Worst Years by the Data

Quick answer

The 2007 draws 5.56 complaints per run and the 2011 2.04, a 2.7-fold gap within the same model. Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age, so 80.6% land after the 3-year basic warranty ends. The system owners report most is Air Bags, with 499 complaints, typically at 5.6 years.

Honda Fit years to avoid — and the best ones

FIG.01·Honda Fit — complaint rate by model year
Model year	Per run	Complaints	Runs	Enough history?
2020	1.71	36	21	yes
2019	3.8	133	35	yes
2018	2.05	117	57	yes
2017	1.34	43	32	yes
2016	2.36	118	50	yes
2015	6.33	272	43	yes
2013	3.74	157	42	yes
2012	2.32	102	44	yes
2011	2.04	106	52	yes
2010	2.34	171	73	yes
2009	3.05	244	80	yes
2008	3.93	181	46	yes
2007	5.56	317	57	yes

ROWS 13·SOURCE NHTSA complaints, grouped by VIN production run

Does the market discount it? In our listings a 2007 Fit asks a median $3,900, against $3,800 for a 2008, the next model year: about the same, so the price shows no discount for its complaint record.

Among the 7 Honda Fit years with enough history, the three to walk away from are 2007, 2008, 2009; the three worth hunting are 2011, 2018, 2010.

When it starts to break

FIG.02·Honda Fit — age at failure
Age at failure	Complaints	Running total	Warranty
0 years	112	5.7%	covered
1 year	140	12.9%	covered
2 years	126	19.4%	covered
3 years	244	31.9%	you pay
4 years	229	43.6%	you pay
5 years	233	55.6%	you pay
6 years	224	67.1%	you pay
7 years	202	77.4%	you pay
8 years	129	84.1%	you pay
9 years	120	90.2%	you pay
10 years	63	93.4%	you pay
11 years	42	95.6%	you pay
12 years	32	97.2%	you pay
13 years	25	98.5%	you pay
14 years	18	99.4%	you pay
15 years	11	100%	you pay

ROWS 16·SOURCE NHTSA complaints with incident dates

Basic warranty on this car is 3 years / 36,000 miles. Only 19.4% of reported failures happen inside it — the remaining 80.6% come out of the owner's pocket. Powertrain cover (5 years / 60,000 miles) reaches further, but it only covers the engine and transmission, which account for about 18% of the complaints here.

What actually fails — and at what age

What waits further out is Air Bags at 5.6 years — past every basic warranty, and the bill lands on whoever owns the car then.

FIG.03·Honda Fit — what fails and when
System	Complaints	Typical age	Crash	Fire
Air Bags	499	5.6 yrs	66	2
Electrical System	383	5 yrs	8	7
Power Train	185	7.7 yrs	11	1
Steering	182	5.9 yrs	12	—
Engine	182	5.6 yrs	8	4
Unknown Or Other	169	5.1 yrs	5	3
Structure	164	4.6 yrs	11	1
Fuel/propulsion System	153	4.9 yrs	6	2

ROWS 8·SOURCE NHTSA complaints

What else in this class

6 models share the Fit's vehicle class. Per production run, the Kia Soul draws 11.34, the Subaru Impreza 1.61 and the Honda HR-V 3.01, against 3.24 for the Fit.

FIG.05·Honda Fit — rivals in the same class
Same class as the Fit	Complaints on record	Recall campaigns	Years built
Kia Soul	5,584	39	2010–2026
Subaru Impreza	2,763	183	1993–2026
Honda HR-V	1,836	37	2016–2026
Buick Envista	90	5	2024–2026
Kia Niro	111	29	2017–2026
Infiniti QX50	281	23	2014–2026

ROWS 6·SOURCE NHTSA complaints and recall campaigns

The table shows totals on record; the rates per production run are in the sentence above.

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Everything on the Honda Fit

Recalls94 campaigns Fuel economy118 mpg best Common problems2,196 complaints Check a VINAgainst this exact build DimensionsSize, weight, generations Cargo space21 cu ft Used prices1,902 listings What yours is worthValue by year & mileage Insurance costEstimated per year Window stickerOriginal Monroney label Decode a VINWhat each character means About this car2007–2020

Frequently asked questions

Is the Honda Fit reliable?

By complaints per production run it is better than typical: 3.24 against 3.73 for the average car, and in the middle of its class rivals.

Which Fit years should you avoid?

By complaints per production run, 2007, 2008, 2009. The cleanest years old enough to judge are 2011, 2018, 2010. Years newer than 6 are left out: complaints keep arriving for years after a car is sold.

When do Fit problems usually start?

Half of all complaints arrive by 5 years of age. The most reported system is Air Bags, typically at 5.6 years, followed by Electrical System.

Will the warranty cover Fit problems?

Mostly not: basic cover is 3 years / 36,000 miles, and only 19.4% of reported failures fall inside it. Powertrain cover lasts longer, but engine and transmission make up about 18% of the complaints here.

Is the Fit more reliable than the Kia Soul?

Yes: 3.24 complaints per production run for the Fit against 11.34 for the Kia Soul.

Complaint records from NHTSA, grouped by VIN production run (characters 1–11). Rates, age-at-failure and warranty coverage computed by ForCar. Model years newer than 6 years are excluded from rankings — complaints accumulate for a decade (how we measure). Last updated Nov 2026. — ForCar Reviewed by Denis Kataev, founder of ForCar.

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