2011 Honda FIT problems and owner complaints
Explore the records behind recurring owner reports.
Key facts
113 owner complaints analyzed
11 distinct recall campaigns
68,222 mi median reported failure mileage
Scope: 2011 model year. Data snapshot: . 55 complaints include usable failure mileage.
Most common problems
Air Bags is the most frequently named component, appearing in 64 of 113 complaints (56.6%). A complaint can name multiple components.
| Topic | Matching reports | Share of complaints |
|---|---|---|
| Steering behavior | 10 | 8.8% |
| Braking behavior | 7 | 6.2% |
| Engine operation | 4 | 3.5% |
| Electrical and battery issues | 3 | 2.7% |
| Transmission and shifting | 2 | 1.8% |
Topic matches use published keyword rules. They describe mentions, including negations or comparisons, and do not confirm a diagnosis. Read the matching rules.
Component breakdown
Number of unique complaints naming each component. Top eight shown.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Air Bags | 64 |
| Power Train | 12 |
| Electrical System | 10 |
| Steering | 10 |
| Engine | 7 |
| Engine And Engine Cooling | 3 |
| Service Brakes | 3 |
| Structure:Body | 3 |
Air Bags: 64; Power Train: 12; Electrical System: 10; Steering: 10; Engine: 7; Engine And Engine Cooling: 3; Service Brakes: 3; Structure:Body: 3
Reported problems by failure mileage
Complaint counts in mileage bands. These are not failure rates per vehicle or mile.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| Under 25,000 | 13 |
| 25,000 to 49,999 | 6 |
| 50,000 to 74,999 | 11 |
| 75,000 to 99,999 | 13 |
| 100,000 to 149,999 | 11 |
| 150,000 and above | 1 |
Under 25,000: 13; 25,000 to 49,999: 6; 50,000 to 74,999: 11; 75,000 to 99,999: 13; 100,000 to 149,999: 11; 150,000 and above: 1
Under 25,000 miles has the most reports with usable mileage (13). 58 complaints have missing, zero or invalid mileage.
Complaints over time
Year the complaint was filed, not the vehicle model year or incident year. The snapshot year is partial.
| Category | Count |
|---|---|
| 2011 | 3 |
| 2012 | 6 |
| 2013 | 3 |
| 2014 | 3 |
| 2015 | 3 |
| 2016 | 50 |
| 2017 | 17 |
| 2018 | 4 |
| 2019 | 8 |
| 2020 | 8 |
| 2021 | 2 |
| 2022 | 1 |
| 2023 | 3 |
| 2025 | 1 |
| 2026 | 1 |
2011: 3; 2012: 6; 2013: 3; 2014: 3; 2015: 3; 2016: 50; 2017: 17; 2018: 4; 2019: 8; 2020: 8; 2021: 2; 2022: 1; 2023: 3; 2025: 1; 2026: 1
Pattern summary
Air Bags leads the component reports. Steering behavior appears in 10 complaint narratives. Braking behavior appears in 7 complaint narratives. Engine operation appears in 4 complaint narratives. Use these patterns to inspect individual reports and prepare questions for a mechanic.
Calculated from recorded counts. An AI narrative has not been published for this selection.
Complaint evidence
Examples provide context, not a representative sample or a verified diagnosis.
Owner report 10484800 · 2012-11-15 (November 15, 2012)
AFTER DRIVING 20 MILES THROUGH TRAFFIC WITH 1/2 TANK GAS AND RADIATOR TEMPERATURE OK, NO WARNING LIGHTS SHOWING: TURNED RIGHT AT INTERSECTION AND LOST ALL ENGINE POWER (NO THROTTLE RESPONSE), THEN ALL LIGHTS (HEADLIGHTS AND DASH). STEERING BECAME STIFF. WE THINK CD PLAYER STAYED ON. LUCKILY NO NEARBY TRAFFIC AND ENOUGH MOMENTUM TO PULL INTO NEARBY PARKING LOT. PUT CAR IN PARK, TURNED KEY OFF AND REMOVED IT. REPLACED KEY AND CAR STARTED WITH LIGHTS OK. WE'VE HAD THIS CAR FOR 1500 MILES AND THIS IS THE FIRST TIME IT'S DONE THIS. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 9,265 miles reported. Look up ODI 10484800 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10546005 · 2013-09-28 (September 28, 2013)
THE STEERING BECOMES REALLY HEAVY OVER SPEEDS OF 50 AND THERE IS NO INDICATOR SHOWING ANYTHING WRONG WITH THE SYSTEM. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 23,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10546005 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10435559 · 2011-11-14 (November 14, 2011)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA FIT SPORT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE EMERGENCY BRAKE CABLE WAS EXPOSED. THE CONTACT WAS CONCERNED WITH THE POSSIBILITY THAT THE VEHICLE COULD ROLL AWAY. THE DEALER ADVISED THE CONTACT THAT THE ENTIRE CABLE COULD POSSIBLY NEED REPLACING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE HOWEVER, DID NOT OFFER ANY ASSISTANCE. NO REPAIRS WERE PERFORMED. THE CURRENT AND THE FAILURE MILEAGES WERE 13,000.
Owner-reported narrative. 13,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10435559 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10467832 · 2012-07-26 (July 26, 2012)
I SLAMMED ON BRAKES TO AVOID A PEDESTRIAN AND THE BRAKE PEDAL WENT ALMOST TO THE FLOOR AND MY FOOT HIT THE ACCELERATOR -- THE CAR STOPPED WITH ENGINE RACING, NARROWLY MISSING THE PEDESTRIAN. THIS HITTING-THE-ACCELERATOR-WHEN-BRAKING HAS HAPPEN TWICE SINCE. DEALER SAYS THE BRAKES ARE OPERATING NORMALLY. TO ME, IT SEEMS A DESIGN FAULT. *TR
Owner-reported narrative. 4,800 miles reported. Look up ODI 10467832 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10724127 · 2015-06-08 (June 8, 2015)
TODAY 06/08/2015 I GOT MY CAR BACK FROM MY LOCAL MECHANIC AFTER MAJOR SERVICE @93000 MILES. HE TOLD ME 3 OUT OF 4 SPARK PLUGS IN THE ENGINE WERE LOOSE(THEY WERE ONLY HAND-TIGHT): ONE WAS SECURED, ONE WAS ALMOST OUT OF THE ENGINE AND BLACKED OUT, AND TWO OF THEM WERE HALF WAY IN. THAT CORRELATED AN INCIDENCE AUGUST 2014 WHEN I WAS DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY. MY HONDA FIT SUDDENLY LOST POWER TO NO MORE THAN 20MPH. I GOT IT TOWED TO DEALER AND THEY TOLD ME ONE OF THE SPARK PLUG WAS COMPLETELY BLOWN OUT OF THE ENGINE, ALONG WITH THE IGNITION COIL. THE …
Owner-reported narrative. 80,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10724127 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11205736 · 2019-05-06 (May 6, 2019)
ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING (EPS) CUTS OUT AND BACK IN AT UNPREDICTABLE TIMES CAUSING STEERING TO BECOME STIFF AND UNSAFE. THE EPS INDICATOR COMES MOMENTARILY WHEN ASSISTED STEERING IS NOT AVAILABLE AND TURNS OFF WHEN POWER STEERING IS RESTORED. IT HAPPENS PERIODICALLY UNDER ALL DIFFERENT DRIVING CONDITIONS. THIS LOOSING AND REGAINING ASSISTED POWER STEERING HAPPENS WITH IN SECONDS. IF CORNERING WHEN THIS OCCURS, THE LOSS OF POWERING STEERING CAUSES SEVERE UNDERSTEERING FOLLOWED BY SEVERE OVERSTEERING WHEN POWER STEERING IS RETURNED (ALL WIT…
Owner-reported narrative. 75,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11205736 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 10956419 · 2017-02-22 (February 22, 2017)
THE WIRING IN HONDA'S IS SOY BASED WHICH IS HIGHLY DESIRABLE TO RABBITS, MICE AND OTHER RODENTS. MICE ATE MY WIRING OVERNIGHT - CAR REFUSED TO START AND HAD TO BE TOWED TO THE MECHANIC AND REPAIRED. I'M UNDERSTANDING THAT THERE'S A LAWSUIT ABOUT THIS BUT I HAVEN'T HEARD ANYTHING. BASICALLY, THIS MEANS THE WIRING IS DEFECTIVE IN HONDA'S ATTEMPT TO GO GREEN. I'M A REALTOR AND NEED A DEPENDABLE CAR. I ALSO LIVE IN THE COUNTRY WHERE MICE ARE JUST A WAY OF LIFE, I WILL NOT KNOW WHETHER MY CAR WILL START OR NOT, OR IF SOMETHING WILL HAPPEN WHILE I'…
Owner-reported narrative. 43,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 10956419 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11255377 · 2019-09-13 (September 13, 2019)
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2011 HONDA FIT. WHILE THE VEHICLE WAS DRIVING AT ANY SPEED, THE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM SHUT OFF, THE STEERING LOST POWER, AND THE HEADLIGHTS SHUT OFF. THE SYSTEM RESTARTED A FEW MINUTES LATER. THE FAILURE RECURRED MORE OFTEN WHEN THE HEATER OR AIR CONDITIONER WERE ACTIVATED. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR ILLUMINATED. THE CONTACT CALLED DCH HONDA OF NANUET AT 845- 367-4380 (LOCATED AT 10 NY-304, NANUET, NY 10954) AND WAS INFORMED TO BRING THE VEHICLE IN FOR DIAGNOSTIC TESTING. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE AND…
Owner-reported narrative. 60,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11255377 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11323052 · 2020-05-02 (May 2, 2020)
ONE YEAR AGO AN AXLE BROKE ON MY 2011 HONDA FIT. I HAD IT REPLACED. TODAY THE OTHER AXLE BROKE. I LOOKED ONLINE AND IT APPEARS THIS IS NOT AN UNCOMMON PROBLEM. IN BOTH CASES, IT HAPPENED WHEN I MADE A FAIRLY HARD U-TURN AND SHIFTED INTO REVERSE TO COMPLETE A THREE POINT TURN. I'M ASSUMING THE EXTRA FORCE ON THE SHAFT HAD TO DO WITH HAVING THE WHEELS TURNED HARD AND THEN ATTEMPTING TO REVERSE THEM, PERHAPS WHILE THEY WERE STILL MOVING. REGARDLESS, THIS SEEMS LIKE SOMETHING THAT SHOULDN'T HAPPEN SO EASILY ON A CAR THAT'S NOT THAT OLD.
Owner-reported narrative. 120,000 miles reported. Look up ODI 11323052 at NHTSA ↗
Owner report 11363934 · 2020-10-12 (October 12, 2020)
DRIVER PARKED 2011 HONDA FIT IN DRIVEWAY. IGNITION OFF CAR IN 1ST GEAR. AFTER ~ 4 MIN. CAR BEGAN SLOWLY ROLLING BACKWARD DOWN DRIVEWAY, ROLLING OVER CURB AND STOPPED UPON IMPACT W. TREE. IMPACT CAUSED DAMAGE TO LEFT REAR BUMPER, CRUSHED LEFT REAR BRAKE LIGHT AND WHEEL WELL. LEFT SIDE PANELS PUSHED FORWARD, SHIFTING LEFT SIDE FRAME OF CAR TOWARD FRONT OF CAR. INSPECTING CAR AT SITE OF IMPACT, DRIVER VERIFIED IGNITION REMAINED OFF AND GEAR SHIFT REMAINED IN 1ST GEAR POSITION. CAR WAS NOT DRIVEABLE, REQUIRING CAR TO BE TOWED FROM SITE. THANKFULL…
Owner-reported narrative. 80,750 miles reported. Look up ODI 11363934 at NHTSA ↗