What 113 owners told NHTSA about the 2012 Honda Fit

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Fit. The contact stated that while making a turn from a complete stop at the exit of a gas station, the vehicle became immovable, and there was an abnormally high-pitched grinding sound coming from the front end of the vehicle. The vehicle was towed to AAA Auto Body Shop, where the contact was informed that the passenger's side CV axle was fractured and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired. AAA informed the contact that the failure was associated with NHTSA Campaign Number: 20V770000 (Power Train), and the VIN was included in the recall. The vehicle was taken to the dealer, where the contact was informed that the driver's side CV axle had failed due to corrosion test and needed to be replaced. The vehicle was repaired free of charge. The manufacturer was contacted but denied the reimbursement claim for the passenger’s side CV axle repair, despite receiving the repair bill. The failure mileage was 88,052.

NHTSA ODI 11723931

The electronic steering power assist failed several times in the past two weeks. The vehicle is available for inspection upon request. The safety of occupants was put at risk because of the difficulty of steering safely in traffic. The car has not yet been taken to my dealer for evaluation. The vehicle or component has not yet been inspected. No warning lamps or other symptoms of the problem appeared prior to the failure.

NHTSA ODI 11592516

While driving my regular commute to work with the radio on, the radio and interior lights (not sure if headlights because I can't see them) flashed on and off and the power steering warning light flashed on and off. At that time, the car jerked and I lost power steering for a moment. This happened several times and the radio stopped working. This did not happen on the way home, but reoccured a few days later. I made an appointment with the dealer They had my car for the day and were not able to locate the issue, but they fixed my radio and told me to bring it back if it happened again. They checked alternator, fuses, and looked for an electrical short. A few weeks later, it happened again, I brought the car back and they could not find the problem, but fixed the radio. The car was fine for a month and it is happening again. Losing power steering while driving is a serious safety hazard for myself and others.

NHTSA ODI 11567103

Three instances of engine misfiring, causing the car to immediately go into a speed limiting mode during driving. This is a major safety hazard and can happen in the middle of high speed driving. The first instance was a 52K miles, second at 69K miles, and third at 130K miles. The most recent instance resulted in the spark plug ejecting from the cylinder head, melting into the coil pack, and stripping out the cylinder head thread. This resulted in a costly repair.

NHTSA ODI 11529075

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Fit. The contact stated he noticed a strong odor of gasoline inside the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic, and the mechanic stated that spark plug #3 was loosened. The ignition wire was replaced, and the spark plug was tightened. The manufacturer was contacted, and a complaint was filed. The failure mileage was 65,000.

NHTSA ODI 11492292

Driving down the highway the spark plug was blown out of the engine head and the car lost power immediately. The car has approximately 12,000 miles and all OEM parts from the manufacture. Maintenance was kept up on the car. This is extremely dangerous since this highway is usually busy with cars and tractor trailers. My son was in the left lane and was almost hit by a tractor trailer due to the violent explosion of the spark plug being blown out of the engine. In addition, was unable to get over to the shoulder of the road and had to stop in the left-hand lane on route 80 in NJ which is very dangerous. Both of my sons were in the car when this occurred. The car was towed to my licensed mechanic who confirmed that the spark plug was blown out of the engine which caused the loud noise and loss of power. There was no warning, symptoms or messages before this occurred which is why I am extremely concerned for the safety of others who own this type of vehicle.

NHTSA ODI 11464459

The contact owns a 2012 Honda Fit equipped with Continental General Tires, Tire Line: Altimax RT43, Tire Size: 195/50/R16, DOT number: 6539wby54618. The contact stated that the driver’s side front tire had started to show signs of bubbling on the sidewall of the tire. The contact had taken the vehicle to a certified tire mechanic who notified the contact of NHTSA Campaign Number: 21T001000 (Tires) and 21T018000 (Tires). The manufacturer was contacted and confirmed that the Vin was not under recall. The vehicle failure mileage was 147,000 and the approximate tire failure mileage was 13,000. The manufacturer who and confirmed that their vehicle was not included in any recall. The approximate vehicle was 147,000 and the approximate failure mileage was 13,000.

NHTSA ODI 11424370

SPARK PLUGS NUMBER 1 & 2 CAME LOOSE AND CAUSE VEHICLE TO SUDDENLY LOOSE POWER ON HIGHWAY. THE LOOSE SPARKPLUGS DAMAGED THE IGNITION COILS AND THE CAR WOULD ONLY RUN AT ABOUT 15 MPH WHICH WAS DANGEROUS ON THE HIGHWAY. WHEN INSPECTED THE NUMBER 3 & 4 PLUGS WERE STILL TIGHT. SPARKPLUGS AND IGNITION COILS NEEDED REPLACEMENT. AROUND 90000 MILES ON VEHICLE. DATE IS ALSO APPROXIMATE

NHTSA ODI 11396580

I WAS STOPPED AT A STOP SIGN, WAITING TO MAKE A LEFT TURN, WHEN I STARTED MAKING THE LEFT TURN I FELT AND HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE VEHICLE WOULD NOT ACCELERATE BUT I WAS ABLE TO COAST TO THE SIDE OF THE ROAD, PUT VEHICLE IN PARK BUT IT WOULD STILL ROLL, I THEN APPLIED THE EMERGENCY BRAKE. I THEN PROCEEDED TO CALL MY SON, HE ASKED ME WHAT HAPPENED, I TOLD HIM THAT I HEARD A LOUD BANG & THE VEHICLE WOULDN'T ACCELERATE & THE VEHICLE KEPT ROLLING AFTER IT WAS IN PARK, HE SAID IT SOUNDS LIKE I HAD A BROKEN AXEL I THEN CALLED AAA. AAA ARRIVED & ASKED ME WHAT HAPPENED & IF THE VEHICLE ROLLED WHEN PUT IN PARK, I SAID YES IT STILL ROLLED & THE DRIVER TOLD ME I HAD A BROKEN AXEL. I HAD THE VEHICLE TOWED TO MY SON'S GARAGE, WHERE HE REPLACED THE FRONT PASSENGER SIDE AXEL, THAT INDEED HAD SNAPPED IN HALF. THIS HAPPENED AS I WAS TURNING ONTO BUSY RT 27 IN SHARON, MA. NOW I'M WORRIED THAT THE DRIVERS SIDE AXEL COULD SNAP IN HALF WHILE I'M DRIVING MY VEHICLE.

NHTSA ODI 11388448

OUR WELL-MAINTAINED HONDA FIT HAS DEVELOPED AN ISSUE WHERE THE EPS STEERING LIGHT COMES ON SPORADICALLY DURING DRIVING. IN EACH OF THESE EVENTS, THE STEERING ASSIST SOMETIMES CUTS OUT FOR A SECOND OR TWO CAUSING ME TO HAVE TO MANUALLY CONTROL THE STEERING. IN ALL EVENT INSTANCES, CABIN POWER IS AFFECTED: POWER TO RADIO WILL RESTART, AND SOMETIMES DASHBOARD LIGHTS GO AS WELL. IN MORE SEVERE INSTANCES DASHBOARD LIGHTS AND SEATBELT LIGHTS CUTOUT MOMENTARILY AND A STEERING DTC SHINES QUICKLY IN THE DUMMY LIGHT CLUSTER. ENVIRONMENT: EPS STEERING ISSUES HAPPEN AT ALL MANNER OF SPEEDS AND MANUEVERS - REGULAR BACKROAD DRIVING, PARKING LOTS AND EVEN SITTING IDLE. CAR HARDLY HAS BEEN DRIVEN THE PAST FEW YEARS (UNDER 7500/YEAR) AND HAS NEVER HIT ANYTHING, BEEN BUMPED (OR IF IT DID, WE DIDN'T KNOW ABOUT IT) NOR BEEN IN AN ACCIDENT OF ANY KIND. WE ARE IN A SALT-BELT STATE. PROBLEM STARTED OCCURRING LATE DECEMBER 2020, DURING REGULAR COLD WEATHER (30-45 DEGREES CONSISTENTLY); IT IS NOT GARAGED.

NHTSA ODI 11387309

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 ODI 11383793

THE PASSENGER SIDE AXLE SNAPPED IN TWO INSIDE THE RUBBER DAMPER WEIGHT AT ITS CENTER. AS HONDA FORUMS ON THE INTERNET SHOW, THIS IS BECOMING MORE COMMON AS FITS AGE. THE DAMPER IS HELD IN PLACE BY ONLY ONE STAINLESS STEEL CLAMP ( AT ITS LOWER END). SINCE WATER AND SALT CAN ENTER ITS UPPER END , WITHOUT A CLAMP THERE, IT STAYS IN THE SPACE BETWEEN THE AXLE AND DAMPER AND THE CORROSION BEGINS. EVEN AFTERMARKET MANUFACTURERS HAVE DIAGNOSED THE PROBLEM AND LEFT THE DAMPER OFF THEIR AXLES. WHEN THIS BREAK HAPPENED THE VEHICLE WAS STARTING OFF FROM A STOP AND TURNING RIGHT ON A CITY STREET.

NHTSA ODI 11374654

#2 SPARK PLUG EJECTED AT 90K MILES. IN MOTION. ROUGH IDLE RESULTED AND LOW RPM'S. TOWED FOR REPAIR. READ ONLINE OF MANY OTHERS WITH SAME SITUATION.

NHTSA ODI 11361365

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT WHILE REVERSING OUT OF HIS DRIVEWAY THE FRONT AXLE FRACTURED. THE FAILURE OCCURRED WHILE THE CONTACT WAS SHIFTING FROM REVERSE TO DRIVE. THE CONTACT HEARD A GRINDING AND CLICKING NOISE AND THE VEHICLE FAILED TO MOVE FORWARD OR BACKWARD. THE VEHICLE WAS TOWED TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC AND DIAGNOSED WITH A FRACTURED FRONT AXLE MID-SHAFT ON THE DRIVER'S SIDE. THE FAILURE WAS CAUSED BY CORROSION. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 47,800. *BF *TR

NHTSA ODI 11360189

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2012 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE DRIVER'S SIDE FRONT AXLE WAS FRACTURED DUE TO WATER SETTLING INSIDE OF THE RUBBER DAMPER CAUSING SEVERE RUST AND THE PART TO FAIL. A DEALER WAS NOT CONTACTED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS CONTACTED AND PROVIDED A CASE NUMBER AND INFORMED THAT A REPRESENTATIVE WOULD GIVE HIM A CALLBACK. THE CONTACT WAS ALSO INFORMED THAT THE VEHICLE WAS NOT SUBJECTED TO A RECALL RELATED TO THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 143,000.

NHTSA ODI 11342910

THE CAR HAS APPROXIMATELY 118,000 < MILES. I WAS STOPPED AT A RED LIGHT THAT LED TO A HIGHWAY. WHEN THE LIGHT TURNED GREEN, I PRESSED THE ACCELERATOR AND HEARD A LOUD BANG. THE ENGINE WAS RUNNING BUT THE CAR DID NOT MOVE.I HAD THE CAR BROUGHT TO A HONDA DEALERSHIP. UPON THEIR INSPECTION, I WAS TOLD BOTH FRONT AXLES WERE BROKEN. ACCORDING TO THE SERVICE REP, ONE AXLE DISINTEGRATED AND THE OTHER HAD A NOTICEABLE CRACK IN IT. I REQUESTED THE DAMAGED COMPONENTS BE SAVED FOR AN INVESTIGATION ISN'T THIS A SAFETY CONCERN? WHAT IF THIS HAPPENED WHILE I WAS DRIVING ON THE HIGHWAY?

NHTSA ODI 11320182

ELECTRONIC POWER STEERING LIGHT TURNED ON INTERMITTENTLY. THIS CAUSED THE STEERING WHEEL TO LOCK UP OR BE REALLY HARD TO STEER. THIS TYPICALLY HAPPENS AT LOWER SPEED OR WHEN IDLE. THIS CAN OCCUR MID STEER AT TIMES AS WELL.

NHTSA ODI 11302835

WHILE COMING TO A STOP ON A HILL ON A 4 LANE HIGHWAY, THERE WAS A SUDDEN LOUD NOISE AND THE CAR STARTED TO ROLL BACKWARD.

NHTSA ODI 11291398

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 ODI 11291175

THE LEFT FRONT AXLE SHAFT BROKE IN JUNE 2018, WITH 89,032 ODOMETER MILES, AND THE RIGHT AXLE SHAFT BROKE DECEMBER 3, 2019 WITH 105,436 MILES. IN THE MOST RECENT INSTANCE I WAS STOPPED ON A HILL, WITH A CAR BEHIND ME, AND WHEN I TRIED TO ACCELERATE THE AXLE BROKE AND MY CAR STARTED ROLLING BACKWARDS. I APPLIED THE BRAKES QUICKLY ENOUGH TO AVOID HITTING THE CAR BEHIND ME. IN THE FIRST INSTANCE MY WIFE WAS DRIVING THE CAR MILES FROM HOME WHERE SHE WAS STRANDED UNTIL A TOW TRUCK COULD BE CALLED. MY MECHANIC SAYS HE IS SEEING THIS WITH SOME FREQUENCY ON HONDA FITS, AND IT SEEMS TO BE THE RESULT OF RUST WHERE HONDA INSTALLS A RUBBER VIBRATION DAMPER AT THE AXLE. THE POTENTIAL FOR A SERIOUS INCIDENT IS OBVIOUS IF THE CAR WERE TO LOSE PROPULSION ON A BUSY HIGHWAY AT HIGH SPEED, OR WHERE THE CAR SUDDENLY STARTS TO ROLL BACKWARDS AS I EXPERIENCED. AND APPARENTLY THIS IS BECOMING A COMMON PROBLEM WITH THE HONDA FIT, AND MAYBE OTHER MODELS WITH THE SAME DESIGN.THE REPAIR OF BOTH AXLES HAVE COST US A TOTAL OF $740.00.

NHTSA ODI 11286747

CAR WAS STOPPED IN A ROUNDABOUT. UPON ACCELERATING THERE WAS A LOUD CLUNK AND THE CAR QUIT MOVING UNDER IT'S OWN POWER. THE PASSENGER SIDE DRIVE AXLE HAD SNAPPED UNDERNEATH THE VIBRATION DAMPNER. EXAMINATION OF THE BROKEN AXLE SHOWS EXTREME RUST HAD OCCURRED UNDER THE VIBRATION DAMPNER REDUCING THE AXLE'S DIAMETER AND THUS WEAKENING THE AXLE.

NHTSA ODI 11257175

MOVING FORWARD AFTER RED LIGHT STOP; HEARD A "CLUNK" AND SOMETHING DROPPED. COULD NOT MOVE FORWARD. I ONLY HAVE 74,000 MILES ON CAR AND IT LIVES IN MY GARAGE. NO ACCIDENTS AND ALTHOUGH WE HAVE POTHOLES IN NE I HAVE NEVER HIT A BAD ONE THAT EVEN KNOCKED THE ALIGNMENT OUT. I WAS IN THE MIDDLE OF A DANGEROUS INTERSECTION WHEN THIS HAPPENED! POLICE HAD TO COME TO DIRECT TRAFFIC AROUND ME. I'M NOW WORRIED THIS COULD HAPPEN ON THE HIGHWAY!!

NHTSA ODI 11255834

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 ODI 11255853

TAKATA RECALL: THIS ISSUE WAS GIVEN AT LEAST 2 YEARS AGO. I HAVE CALLED HALL'S HONDA IN VA BEACH, VA SEVERAL TIMES ESPECIALLY DURING THE 1ST YEAR IT WAS RECALLED. I WAS ALWAYS TOLD THAT THE PART WAS NOT AVAILABLE. I CAN AGAIN WHEN I RECEIVED A LETTER FROM DMV. I WAS TOLD A CERTAIN PERSON WOULD CALL ME BACK, AND HE NEVER DID.9/15

NHTSA ODI 11251935

SPARK PLUG #3 WAS MISSING A PIECE. THE METAL HOOK ON THE BASE. THE DAMAGED/FAULTY SPARK PLUG CAUSED THE CAR TO STALL. THE CAR WOULD BE UNABLE TO GO ABOVE 20 MPH. THIS FIRST HAPPENED WHEN I WAS ACCELERATING ON THE ENTRANCE RAMP TO THE HIGHWAY, CAUSING A HIGHLY UNSAFE SITUATION.

NHTSA ODI 11245383