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2016 Honda Fit
Solid pick. The public record on this car is clean for its age. Inspect it, then negotiate with confidence.
118 owner complaints · 1 recalls · data verified July 19, 2026 · source: NHTSA
Why buy?
Electrical system problems dominate (46% of complaints, typically reported near 42k miles).
Very few owner complaints for its age and sales volume.
Score breakdown, by factor
Full methodology →#49 of 389Among the 2016 models with a matured record, the 2016 Honda Fit ranks #49, scoring higher than 85% of them. See the 2016 ranking →
Complaints filed per year
Fading = early teething worked out. Climbing = problems aging in.
How it crashes
NHTSA’s own crash tests, separate from the reliability score above.
5/5 overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating · 2016 Honda Fit 5 HB FWD
Rollover risk in a single-vehicle crash: 15%
1 open NHTSA defect investigation on file, separate from the recalls above.
Source: nhtsa.gov/ratings. Star ratings compare vehicles within the same class and size, not across every car on the road.
The road ahead
What breaks on a 2016 Honda Fit, plotted where owners report it happening.
Also reported (mileage varies): Engine (11) · Transmission & drivetrain (7) · Tires (6) · Brakes (5)
Mileage medians come from owners who mentioned an odometer reading in their NHTSA complaint, a rough guide, not a schedule.
Electrical system
46%54 complaints · typically near 42k mi · 4 in the last 2 years
“The fuel gauge-odometer indicator dash cluster goes blank and/or scrambles-then goes dark with no info.”
Fuel system
15%18 complaints · typically near 40k mi · 1 in the last 2 years
“The cvt transmission is going out. The dealer has conformed this. This vehicle only has 120000 miles on it and has had every transmission service that was recommended.…”
Engine
9%11 complaints · 1 in the last 2 years
“The contact owns a 2016 Honda Fit. The contact stated that while accelerating from a complete stop, the vehicle hesitated to respond. The check engine warning light wa…”
Transmission & drivetrain
6%7 complaints
“The cvt transmission is going out. The dealer has conformed this. This vehicle only has 120000 miles on it and has had every transmission service that was recommended.…”
Check it against this car’s mileage
Type the odometer reading on the actual car you’re looking at to see which of these problem areas owners tend to report before it, around it, or after it.
We can place 2 of this model's commonly reported problem areas against a mileage. Nothing is stored.
Read all 118 owner complaints in their own words → · just the 6 crash/fire/injury reports →
Recalls (1)
Safety recall repairs are free at the brand’s franchised dealers. Before buying, run the VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and make the seller show the work was done.
Structure · 15V697000
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2015-2016 Fit LX-trim vehicles manufactured April 11, 2014, to July 02, 2015 and not equipped with a sunroof. In the affected vehicles, the rear grab handle brackets were not manufactured properly, and as a result, the brackets may puncture the side curtain air bags upon their deployment. As such, these vehicles fail to comply with Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standard (FMVSS) number 214, "Side Impact Protection" and number 226, "Ejection Mitigation".
Risk: If the side curtain air bags are punctured upon deployment, the outboard seat occupants may be at a higher risk of injury during a crash.
Fix: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the rear grab handle bracket, free of charge. The recall began on December 18, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JV8.
Questions to ask the seller
Questions worth asking the seller of this Honda before you buy, drawn from its public record:
- NHTSA lists 1 recall campaign for the 2016 Honda Fit. Can you run this car's VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls and confirm each one shows "Remedy Completed"?
- Owners of this model report electrical system problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 42k miles). Has this car shown any electrical system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Owners of this model report fuel system problems more than anything else (owners tend to report it near 40k miles). Has this car shown any fuel system symptoms, and are there repair records for it?
- Has this car been in any accident or had any structural, airbag, or flood-related repair? Do you have a clean title and a recent history report (Carfax / AutoCheck)?
- How many owners has it had, do you have the maintenance records, and why are you selling it?
- Are you open to me having an independent mechanic inspect it before we settle on a price?
Before you hand over money
Check the VIN for open recalls
NHTSA’s free lookup shows whether this exact car had its recall remedies completed.
Free NHTSA VIN check ↗Get a pre-purchase inspection
A $150 to $250 independent inspection of this exact 2016 Honda FIT beats every score on the internet, including ours.
What to ask forNot set on the 2016? See how every Fit model year scores →
Cross-shopping? Compare the 2016 Honda Fit against another car →
What owners say
Real owners of this exact model-year, shown separately from the NHTSA score. If they disagree, that’s worth knowing.