At a glance
What can fail
The protective coating on drive shafts may not have been applied correctly during manufacturing, leaving them vulnerable to damage from road salt and contaminants, which could cause the drive shaft to break.
This page covers 9 recalls, 174 owner complaints, NHTSA crash-test ratings and EPA fuel economy for the 2013 Honda Fit.
118 MPGe combined
Small Station Wagons
Fuel economy data from fueleconomy.gov (EPA / U.S. Dept. of Energy). Annual cost based on 15,000 mi/yr at 55% city driving and current fuel prices. MPG is U.S. gallons; L/100km converted. Ranges reflect the 4 tested variants for this model year.
4/5 Overall
NHTSA 5-Star Safety Rating
Airbag complaints dominate the 2013 Honda Fit's filing history, accounting for roughly half of all owner reports for this model year. The vast majority describe airbags that did not deploy during a collision, with owners consistently reporting frontal and side impacts where they expected the system to fire but it didn't. Engine and electrical complaints trail well behind, each at a fraction of the airbag volume. On the engine side, owners describe ignition coil failures that cause the car to stall or lose power, sometimes leaving drivers stranded. Electrical complaints cluster around fuse block failures, with owners reporting simultaneous loss of brake lights, horn, turn signals, and taillights. A smaller number of owners describe the electric power steering cutting out intermittently while driving, with the system resetting after the car is turned off and restarted.
174
Total Complaints
14
Crash-Related
3
Fire-Related
7
With Injuries
By System
The 2013 Honda Fit has 9 recalls, the most serious being Takata airbag inflators on both the driver and passenger sides that can explode and send metal fragments into the cabin, causing serious injury or death.
The airbag concerns extend further: separate recalls cover passenger-side inflators that may have been installed incorrectly during a prior replacement, meaning the bag may not deploy properly in a crash. These installation issues are distinct from the Takata rupture risk and affect vehicles where the inflator was previously serviced.
On the drivetrain side, the passenger-side driveshaft can fracture and separate while driving, causing an abrupt loss of power. If the shaft breaks while the vehicle is parked on a slope without the parking brake applied, the car can roll away. These driveshaft recalls only affect manual transmission models.
There is also an electronic stability control concern on Fit Sport and base trim vehicles: the system can receive excessive yaw rate readings and fail to intervene correctly during a skid, raising the risk of a crash.
At a glance
What can fail
The protective coating on drive shafts may not have been applied correctly during manufacturing, leaving them vulnerable to damage from road salt and contaminants, which could cause the drive shaft to break.
We may earn a commission for purchases made through these links.
Ratings from NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program (NCAP).
Complaints are owner-reported and reflect individual experiences, not confirmed defects. They are distinct from recalls. Data sourced from the national vehicle safety complaint database. See trending complaints →
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect your drive shafts and replace the left or right drive shaft if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The driver frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant breakdown from long-term exposure to high humidity, temperature, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during a previous replacement, potentially affecting its ability to deploy properly.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the inflator installation and replace the passenger front air bag module assembly if needed, at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement, potentially affecting its ability to deploy properly in a crash.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the passenger air bag and replace the module assembly if needed, at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger frontal air bag inflator may explode due to propellant degradation from long-term exposure to high humidity, temperature, and temperature changes.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
Moisture can seep into the dual-stage driver frontal air bag inflator over time, potentially causing it to rupture.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the air bag inflator at no cost to you.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger side driveshaft may fracture and separate, causing loss of driving power or unintended vehicle movement if parked on an incline without the parking brake applied.
What the fix does
Dealers will replace the affected driveshaft.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The passenger side driveshaft may break while driving due to improper heat treatment during manufacturing.
What the fix does
Dealers will inspect the passenger side driveshaft and replace it if necessary at no cost.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.
At a glance
What can fail
The electronic stability control system may not properly limit excessive side-to-side movement at high steering angles with certain tires, affecting vehicle handling.
What the fix does
Dealers will update the stability control software at no cost to restore proper system function.
Summarized — see the official notice for exact wording, dates, and contacts.