Honda Fit Engine Problems by Year
By CarWhere Research · Updated
Not unusually. 204 of the 1,833 owner complaints filed with NHTSA for the 2008–2020 Honda Fit (11.1%) name the engine, below the 19.4% median share across the 152 models we track. We have no published sales figures for this model, so there is no per-1,000 rate. The worst years are 2015, 2008 and 2018.
Engine complaints
204
Filed with NHTSA, 2008–2020 models
Per 1,000 sold
No sales data
Not computed without a published sales figure
Share of all complaints
11.1%
of 1,833 complaints for this model
Engine recalls
1
NHTSA campaigns, all years
Honda Fit engine complaints by model year
Owner complaints filed with NHTSA whose component list includes Engine and Engine Cooling. Worst years are highlighted.
| Model year | Engine complaints | Share of all complaints | Crash / fire / injury | Engine recalls | Engine TSBs* |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008WORST | 27 | 12.4% | 1 | — | 3 |
| 2009 | 20 | 7% | 2 | 11V101000 | 3 |
| 2010 | 9 | 4.9% | 3 | 11V101000 | 2 |
| 2011 | 10 | 8.8% | 1 | — | 2 |
| 2012 | 13 | 11.5% | 1 | — | 1 |
| 2013 | 15 | 8.5% | 1 | — | 1 |
| 2015WORST | 41 | 14.4% | 0 | — | 16 |
| 2016 | 12 | 9.8% | 0 | — | 20 |
| 2017 | 11 | 25.6% | 0 | — | 35 |
| 2018WORST | 24 | 20.5% | 5 | — | 27 |
| 2019 | 16 | 11.5% | 1 | — | 18 |
| 2020 | 6 | 15.8% | 0 | — | 12 |
- Older model years have had more time on the road to collect complaints, so compare neighboring years, not 2010 against 2024.
- Crash / fire / injury = complaints where the owner reported a crash, a fire or an injury.
- No row for 2014: NHTSA's complaints data returned no records for that year under this model's names.
- *Technical service bulletins in the year's leading TSB categories that name the engine.
Common Honda Fit engine problems owners describe
We searched the narratives of all 204 engine complaints for symptom keywords. One complaint can mention several, so the shares don't add up to 100%.
Honda Fit years to avoid for the engine
2015 Honda Fit
41 engine complaints (14.4% of the year's 284). Most often described: knocking, ticking or rattling.
2008 Honda Fit
27 engine complaints (12.4% of the year's 217). Most often described: stalling or shutting off while driving.
2018 Honda Fit
24 engine complaints (20.5% of the year's 117). Most often described: misfire or check-engine light.
Worst years are those with at least 10 engine complaints and at least 1.5 times the model's median year. For every year's overall verdict, including other systems, see the Honda Fit years to avoid.
Honda Fit engine recalls
NHTSA recall campaigns filed under Engine for any Honda Fit model year. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check a specific car by VIN on NHTSA's site.
- 11V101000 · 2011-02-17 · 2009–2010 models
HONDA IS RECALLING CERTAIN MODEL YEAR 2009-2010 HONDA FIT VEHICLES. THERE IS A POTENTIAL FOR ONE OR MORE OF THE FOUR SPRING ASSEMBLIES ON THE ENGINE'S VARIABLE VALVE TIMING AND LIFT ELECTRONIC CONTROL (VTEC) SYSTEM TO FAIL.
Related research
Frequently asked questions
Does the 2015 Honda Fit have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 41 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2015 Honda Fit, 14.4% of all 284 complaints for that year. The most common description is "knocking, ticking or rattling" (11 complaints).
Does the 2008 Honda Fit have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 27 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2008 Honda Fit, 12.4% of all 217 complaints for that year. The most common description is "stalling or shutting off while driving" (17 complaints). 1 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Does the 2018 Honda Fit have engine problems?
Yes, it is one of the worst years. Owners filed 24 engine complaints with NHTSA for the 2018 Honda Fit, 20.5% of all 117 complaints for that year. The most common description is "misfire or check-engine light" (12 complaints). 5 of those complaints report a crash, fire or injury.
Which Honda Fit years have the most engine complaints?
2015 (41), 2008 (27) and 2018 (24), by owner complaints filed with NHTSA that name the engine. Raw counts favor older and higher-selling years, so treat them as a signal, not a rate.
What are the most common Honda Fit engine problems?
In the 204 engine complaints, owners most often describe misfire or check-engine light (28.4%), stalling or shutting off while driving (23.5%) and knocking, ticking or rattling (10.3%). One complaint can mention several symptoms.
Is this a engine failure rate?
No. These are complaints owners chose to file with NHTSA. Many failures are never reported, and one complaint is not a confirmed defect. Without sales figures, a high count can simply mean a high-selling model.
How we count
Counts are unique owner complaints (by NHTSA ODI number) filed with NHTSA for each Honda Fit model year, from NHTSA's public complaints data fetched July 2026 to November 2026. A complaint counts as a engine complaint when NHTSA's component list for it includes Engine and Engine Cooling.
Per 1,000 sold divides complaints by published U.S. calendar-year sales for that year. A year needs at least 5,000 sales to get a rate, and a model needs at least 3 such years for its overall rate. The comparison median covers every model with at least 50 engine complaints that clears those floors.
These are complaint rates, not failure rates. Owners report some problems more than others, and a complaint is not a confirmed defect.
Sources
- NHTSA complaints by vehicle (owner complaints API) — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- NHTSA recalls by vehicle — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration
- Report a vehicle safety problem — National Highway Traffic Safety Administration