IllustrationREQUESTED AIRBAG FIX AT DEALERSHIP WERE BOUGHT, WAS TOLD THAT THEY WOULD CALL ME BECAUSE THE AIRBAG NUMBER MUST BE MATCHED TO THE HONDA 2013 FIT. NEVER CALLED. ASKED AGAIN AND WAS IGNORED.
2013 Honda Fit
Owner reports · Recalls · Investigations
Similar to other model years
Owner complaints for the 2013 Honda Fit do not stand out strongly from the model-year median of 128.
About this comparison →How this year compares
Owner complaints by model year
Compare all Fit years →Counts vary with age, sales and reporting. They are not failure rates.
What owners reported most
All reported categories
Tap a category to read its complaints. One report may name several components.
When problems were reported
Mileage at the reported incident
370–25K
2325–50K
750–75K
1075–100K
5100–150K
1150K+
83 reports with mileage · 93 unknown
NHTSA’s mileage field refers to the reported incident, not necessarily the filing date. This shows report counts, not the likelihood of a failure.
What to inspect
Issues worth paying extra attention to based on owner reports.
- Air Bags. Review the 92 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Electrical System. Review the 22 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
- Engine. Review the 14 owner reports in this category and discuss these concerns during a pre-purchase inspection. Read reports →
NHTSA owner reports · September 18, 2026 snapshot.
14 crash reports4 fire reports7 injury reports
What owners actually said
176 reportsSPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT THEY WERE NOT TORQUED CORRECTLY. HONDA KNOWS AND HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE AT LEAST JULY OF 2016 (ACCORDING THE THEIR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS . HONDA HAS NOT EVEN SENT OUT LETTERS TO CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE THESE 2013 HONDA FITS. I LEASED THE CAR IN APRIL OF 2014 IN JANUARY 2017 WHILE DRIVING ON TH…
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SPARK PLUGS BLEW OUT THEY WERE NOT TORQUED CORRECTLY. HONDA KNOWS AND HAS KNOWN ABOUT THIS PROBLEM SINCE AT LEAST JULY OF 2016 (ACCORDING THE THEIR TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETINS . HONDA HAS NOT EVEN SENT OUT LETTERS TO CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE THESE 2013 HONDA FITS. I LEASED THE CAR IN APRIL OF 2014 IN JANUARY 2017 WHILE DRIVING ON THE FREEWAY IT SUDDENLY WOULD NOT ACCELERATE AND I WAS ALMOST HIT BY A SEMI. THIS IS A SAFETY ISSUE
BATTERY DIES. HAD IT PROFESSIONALLY RECHARGED, LASTED 6 WEEKS AND BEGAN DYING AGAIN. HAD TO JUMP START NUMEROUS TIMES. NOW BATTERY IS RUINED AND I NEED A NEW ALTERNATOR AND NEW BATTERY. CAR IS 4 YEARS OLD WITH LESS THAN 30,000 MILES. I AM 2ND OWNER, BOUGHT IT IN 11/2016 AT 24,000 MILES.
THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO MANIFEST WHEN THE PASSENGER IS A LIGHT-WEIGHT ADULT, IN THE CASE OF MY WIFE, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 115 POUNDS ' LIGHT TO BE SURE, BUT NOT ABSURDLY SO. *JS WE SEE THE PROBLEM INTERMITTENTLY AND RARELY. MAYBE A HANDFUL OF TIMES IN A WEEK. THE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD THAT INDICATES THAT THE SIDE AIR BAGS …
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THE PROBLEM SEEMS TO MANIFEST WHEN THE PASSENGER IS A LIGHT-WEIGHT ADULT, IN THE CASE OF MY WIFE, IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 115 POUNDS ' LIGHT TO BE SURE, BUT NOT ABSURDLY SO. *JS WE SEE THE PROBLEM INTERMITTENTLY AND RARELY. MAYBE A HANDFUL OF TIMES IN A WEEK. THE LIGHT ON THE DASHBOARD THAT INDICATES THAT THE SIDE AIR BAGS ARE DISABLED COMES ON. IF WE ARE TO BELIEVE THIS STATUS INDICATOR, FOR THE PERIOD THAT THIS LIGHT IS ON, WE ARE NOT PROTECTED BY THE SIDE AIR BAGS AS THEY WOULD NOT DEPLOY IN AN ACCIDENT. THIS LIGHT STAYS ON SOMETIMES AS LITTLE AS THREE SECONDS, SOMETIMES AS LONG AS A MINUTE. MOST OFTEN IT STAYS ON FOR ABOUT TEN TO FIFTEEN SECONDS. THERE IS NO PATTERN FOR WHEN IT MIGHT COME ON, OR WHAT WILL MAKE IT GO OFF. IT CAN HAPPEN WHEN STOPPED AT A TRAFFIC LIGHT, OR TRAVELING AT FREEWAY SPEEDS, OR ANYTHING IN BETWEEN. THIS PROBLEM ONLY MANIFESTS WHEN I AM DRIVING THE VEHICLE AND MY WIFE IS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. IF SHE IS DRIVING AND I AM IN THE PASSENGER SEAT, IT NEVER OCCURS. IN ADDITION, THE REPORTS I HAVE SEEN FROM OTHER HONDA OWNERS ON THE INTERNET SUGGEST THAT THIS IS ALWAYS THE CASE, THAT THIS PROBLEM MANIFESTS ONLY WITH LIGHT-WEIGHT ADULTS IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. INDEED, WE HAVE SEEN THIS OCCUR ONE TIME WHEN MY WIFE WAS DRIVING AND A LIGHT-WEIGHT ADULT FRIEND OF OURS IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF 100 POUNDS WAS RIDING IN THE PASSENGER SEAT. SO IT SEEMS TO BE VERY MUCH RELATED TO PASSENGER WEIGHT.
2013 HONDA FIT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FAULTY AIRBAG RECALL ISSUES, DEALERSHIP REFUSAL TO CANCEL LEASE AGREEMENT AND REFUSES RENTAL VEHICLE ASSISTANCE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE PARTS HAD NOT COME IN FOR THE RECALL REPAIR OF THE AIR BAGS. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED A RENTAL VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT IN POSSESS…
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2013 HONDA FIT. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO FAULTY AIRBAG RECALL ISSUES, DEALERSHIP REFUSAL TO CANCEL LEASE AGREEMENT AND REFUSES RENTAL VEHICLE ASSISTANCE. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED THE PARTS HAD NOT COME IN FOR THE RECALL REPAIR OF THE AIR BAGS. THE MANUFACTURER PROVIDED A RENTAL VEHICLE. THE CONSUMER WAS NOT IN POSSESSION OF THE VEHICLE FOR THE LAST 3 MONTHS OF THE LEASE; THEREFORE, SHE FEELS SHE SHOULD BE CREDITED FOR THOSE 3 MONTHS. UPDATED 05/03/2017*JS
SWERVING IN UNSAFE MANNER DURING NORMAL WIND AT 55 MPH. HONDA FIT 2013 HB FWD TRAVELING AT 55 MPH ON INNER LOOP OF WASHINGTON DC BELTWAY SWERVED MULTIPLE TIMES TO AN UNSAFE MANNER (MOVED OUTSIDE OF LANE) FOR 1 TO 2 SECONDS WHEN MET WITH LIGHT WIND. MANY OTHER CARS/TRUCKS TRAVELED ON SAME PATHS AT SAME OR HIGHER SPEEDS WERE NOT…
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SWERVING IN UNSAFE MANNER DURING NORMAL WIND AT 55 MPH. HONDA FIT 2013 HB FWD TRAVELING AT 55 MPH ON INNER LOOP OF WASHINGTON DC BELTWAY SWERVED MULTIPLE TIMES TO AN UNSAFE MANNER (MOVED OUTSIDE OF LANE) FOR 1 TO 2 SECONDS WHEN MET WITH LIGHT WIND. MANY OTHER CARS/TRUCKS TRAVELED ON SAME PATHS AT SAME OR HIGHER SPEEDS WERE NOTICEABLY UNAFFECTED. TIRES TREADS ARE IN GOOD CONDITION, BALANCED, AND ALIGNED. PROBLEM NOT NOTICED BEFORE DUE TO TRAVELING MAINLY IN CITY ROADS WITH LESS WIND; THIS SWERVING OCCURRED ALMOST DAILY ON OPEN HIGHWAY FOR PAST FEW WEEKS.
I RECEIVED A LETTER IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH OF 2016 ALERTING ME THAT MY VEHICLE, A 2013 HONDA FIT-SPORT WAS SUBJECT TO THE TAKATA FAULTY AIR BAG RECALL. THE LETTER ASKED FOR A RESPONSE WHICH WAS SENT IN AND SAID THAT DUE TO EXTREMELY LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES, THAT I COULD TAKE NO ACTION AT THE TIME, BUT THAT I WOULD BE CONTACTED BY…
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I RECEIVED A LETTER IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH OF 2016 ALERTING ME THAT MY VEHICLE, A 2013 HONDA FIT-SPORT WAS SUBJECT TO THE TAKATA FAULTY AIR BAG RECALL. THE LETTER ASKED FOR A RESPONSE WHICH WAS SENT IN AND SAID THAT DUE TO EXTREMELY LARGE NUMBER OF VEHICLES, THAT I COULD TAKE NO ACTION AT THE TIME, BUT THAT I WOULD BE CONTACTED BY THE SUMMER OF 2016 WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON WHERE TO GET THE POTENTIALLY DEADLY AIRBAG REPLACED. IT IS JANUARY 2017. I HAVE NOT BEEN CONTACTED AGAIN.
TAKATA RECALL THE LETTER I RECEIVED WAS DATED MARCH 2016. I HAVE CONTACTED THE DEALER SEVERAL TIMES AND EACH TIME WAS TOLD TO WAIT FOR ANOTHER LETTER. NOW THAT THE RECALL IS 10 MONTHS OLD , I WONDER IF ANYTHING AT ALL WILL BE DONE. THANKS FOR READING.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE IGNITION SWITCH MALFUNCTIONED AND THE KEY BECAME STUCK AFTER TURNING OFF THE ENGINE. THE CONTACT TOOK THE VEHICLE TO A DEALER WHERE THE KEY WAS REMOVED FROM THE IGNITION. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 84,000.
TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTAC…
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TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2014 HONDA FIT. THE CONTACT RECEIVED NOTIFICATION OF NHTSA CAMPAIGN NUMBER: 16V061000 (AIR BAGS); HOWEVER, THE PART TO DO THE REPAIR WAS UNAVAILABLE. THE CONTACT STATED THAT THE MANUFACTURER EXCEEDED A REASONABLE AMOUNT OF TIME FOR THE RECALL REPAIR. THE MANUFACTURER WAS MADE AWARE OF THE ISSUE. THE CONTACT HAD NOT EXPERIENCED A FAILURE. *JS
Official recalls
1020V770000 · Power Train:driveline:driveshaft
Dec 10, 2020
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013-2015 Acura ILX, 2013 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2012 Honda Civic Hybrid, and 2007-2008 Honda Fit vehicles with a manual transmission and 2009-2013 Honda Fit vehicles originally sold, or ever registered, in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Wisconsin. The drive shafts' protective coating may not have been applied properly during manufacturing, making it more susceptible to damage from road salt, or other contaminants, and potentially cause it to break.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: A broken drive shaft may cause a sudden loss of drive power. The vehicle could also roll away if the parking brake has not been applied before the vehicle has been exited. Either condition can increase the risk of a crash or injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the drive shafts, replacing either the left or right drive shaft, if necessary, free of charge. Owners were notified of the safety risk with an interim letter mailed February 2, 2021. A second letter will be sent once the remedy is available. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are P9M, PAV, BAY, TAX, CA0, and MAZ.
19V500000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Jun 27, 2019
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2013 Acura ILX, 2015 RDX, 2005-2010 and 2012 RL, 2009-2014 TL, 2010 and 2012 ZDX, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2011-2013 and 2015 CR-Z, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013 Fit EV, 2010-2011 and 2013 Insight and 2007-2014 Ridgeline vehicles. These vehicles are equipped with driver frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the driver frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are S5B and W59.
19V502000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jun 27, 2019
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2014 TSX Sport Wagon, 2010-2013 ZDX, 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic and Civic Hybrid, 2008-2010 Civic GX NGV, 2012-2015 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2014 Fit EV, 2010-2014 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The vehicles are equipped with passenger frontal air bag inflators assembled as a recall remedy part or replacement service part, that may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to high absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began August 12, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are F5F and Q5E.
19V378000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
May 16, 2019
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2009-2014 Acura TSX, 2011-2013 TSX Sport Wagon, and 2010-2012 ZDX and 2008-2012 Honda Accord, 2010-2011 Accord Crosstour, 2006-2011 Civic, Civic Hybrid and Civic NGV, 2012-2014 Crosstour, 2007-2011 CR-V, 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2013 Insight, and 2009-2015 Pilot vehicles. The front passenger air bag inflator may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An incorrectly installed air bag inflator may not properly deploy the passenger frontal air bag in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the inflator installation and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began July 5, 2019. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M4O, P4R, T4Q, and W4P.
18V661000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Sep 27, 2018
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2014 Honda Insight and Acura TSX and TSX Wagon, 2014-2015 Honda Crosstour and Pilot vehicles nationwide, as well as certain 2014 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles in Florida, Hawaii, Puerto Rico, Texas, Alabama, Georgia, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, California, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan) and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Honda is also recalling certain 2011-2013 Acura TSX, TSX Wagon and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Insight, Fit and Pilot vehicles, 2011-2012 Honda Accord and 2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, the District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Lastly, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX and ZDX, Honda Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot, 2011-2013 TSX Wagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord and 2010-2011 Honda Civic NGV, Civic, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles in Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin and Wyoming. These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began November 6, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are M2J and S2K.
18V268000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Apr 26, 2018
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2003-2012 Honda Accord and Pilot, 2010 Accord Crosstour, 2001-2011 Civic, 2002-2011 CR-V, 2003-2004, 2006-2008 and 2011 Element, 2007 and 2009-2013 Fit, 2010-2012 Insight, 2002-2004 Odyssey, and 2012 Ridgeline vehicles. The front passenger air bag may have been installed incorrectly during replacement.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An incorrectly installed air bag may deploy improperly in the event of a crash, increasing the risk of injury.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect and, if necessary, replace the passenger frontal air bag module assembly, free of charge. The recall began June 22, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are K1P, and M1O.
18V042000 · Air Bags:frontal:passenger Side:inflator Module
Jan 9, 2018
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain 2010-2013 Acura TSX, ZDX, Honda Accord Crosstour, Fit, Insight and Pilot vehicles, 2011-13 Acura TSX Sportswagon, 2010-2012 Honda Accord,, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V vehicles and 2013 Honda FCX Clarity and Fit EV vehicles ever registered in the states of Alabama, California, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Louisiana, Mississippi, South Carolina, Texas, Puerto Rico, American Samoa, Guam, the Northern Mariana Islands (Saipan), and the U.S. Virgin Islands or "Zone A." Additionally, Honda is recalling certain 2010-2012 Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Accord Crosstour, Fit and Pilot, 2010-2011 Honda Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid and CR-V, and 2010 Acura ZDX and Honda Insight vehicles ever registered in the states of Arizona, Arkansas, Delaware, District of Columbia, Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Nebraska, Nevada, New Jersey, New Mexico, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, and West Virginia or "Zone B." Unless included in Zones A or B above, Honda is recalling certain 2009 Acura TSX, Honda Accord, Civic, Civic NGV, Civic Hybrid, CR-V, Fit, and Pilot vehicles ever registered in the states of Alaska, Colorado, Connecticut, Idaho, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Montana, New Hampshire, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Utah, Vermont, Washington, Wisconsin, and Wyoming or "Zone C." These vehicles are equipped with certain air bag inflators assembled as part of the frontal air bag modules, and used as original equipment or replacement equipment (such as after a vehicle crash necessitating replacement of the original air bags), may explode due to propellant degradation occurring after long-term exposure to higher absolute humidity, temperature and temperature cycling.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: An inflator explosion may result in sharp metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the passenger frontal air bag inflator, free of charge. The recall began February 16, 2018. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are B0K and L0J.
16V061000 · Air Bags:frontal:driver Side:inflator Module
Feb 3, 2016
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2007-2011 Honda CR-V, 2011-2015 CR-Z, 2010-2014 FCX, and Insight, 2009-2013 Fit, 2013-2014 Fit EV, 2007-2014 Ridgeline, 2013-2016 Acura ILX, 2013-2014 Acura ILX Hybrid, 2007-2016 RDX, 2005-2012 Acura RL, 2009-2014 Acura TL, and 2010-2013 Acura ZDX vehicles. The affected vehicles are equipped with a dual-stage driver frontal air bag that may be susceptible to moisture intrusion which, over time, could cause the inflator to rupture.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: In the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the driver's frontal air bag, the inflator could rupture with metal fragments striking the driver or other occupants resulting in serious injury or death.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the inflator, free of charge. The recall began March 2017. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JY0, JY1, and JY2.
14V258000 · Power Train:driveline:driveshaft
May 16, 2014
American Honda Motor Co., Ltd, (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2013 Honda Fit vehicles manufactured May 24, 2013, through July 5, 2013, and equipped with a manual transmission. The passenger side driveshaft may break while driving due to an improper heat treatment application during manufacturing.
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: If the driveshaft fractures and separates while driving, the vehicle would lose power and coast to a stop. If a vehicle with a fractured driveshaft is parked without the parking brake applied, the vehicle could move unexpectedly. Either condition increases the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the passenger side driveshaft and replace it if necessary, free of charge. The recall began on June 23, 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's number for this recall is JE4.
13V157000 · Electronic Stability Control (esc)
Apr 24, 2013
Honda is recalling certain model year 2012-2013 Honda Fit Sport vehicles manufactured from May 23, 2011, through March 22, 2013, and model year 2012-2013 Honda Fit base vehicles manufactured from June 27, 2011, through April 19, 2013. In April 2013, Honda recalled 43,782 2012-2013 Honda Fit Sport vehicles. In July 2013, Honda informed the agency that it was adding model year 2012-2013 Honda Fit vehicles in base trim to the recall campaign, representing an additional 48,138 vehicles. The total number of vehicles being recalled is now 91,920. The electronic stability control system of the affected vehicles may allow excessive yaw rates at high steering angles with certain tires. Thus, these vehicles fail to conform to the requirements of Federal Vehicle Motor Safety Standard No. 126, "Electronic Stability Control Systems."
Consequence & remedy
Consequence: Excessive yaw rates prevent the proper function of the electronic stability control (ESC) system, increasing the risk of a crash.
Remedy: Honda will notify owners and dealers will update the ESC software free of charge. The safety recall began on August 1, 2013. Owners may contact Honda automobile customer service at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's recall campaign number is S99.
Model-level recall history does not show whether a particular VIN is affected or has received a repair. Check a VIN with NHTSA ↗
NHTSA investigations
1EA19001 · Electrical Overstress
Opened Apr 19, 2019 · Closed Sep 19, 2024
Status: closed (inferred from source dates) · Air Bags: Air Bag/restraint Control Module
The Office of Defects Investigation (ODI) opened this investigation to determine if the failure of airbags to deploy during severe crashes, in certain vehicles, was the result of a safety related defect. During the investigation a complex failure was studied that can result in non-deployment of subject vehicle air bags and other restraint system devices in severe crash events. The subject vehicles may be equipped with an airbag control unit (ACU) for the supplemental restraint system (SRS) Electronic Control Unit (ECU) manufactured by ZF-TRW. The ECU receives signals from crash sensors mounted in the vehicle and deploys the vehicle air bags and seat belt pretensioners in accordance with manufacturer design specifications. The ECU in the subject vehicles contains a model DS84 application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC) which controls the communication of the crash sensor signal, firing commands (i.e., when to deploy the airbag(s) and/or pretensioners), and fault information (e.g., diagnostic trouble codes). In September 2016, FCA announced recall 16V-668 for certain model year (MY) 2010 to 2014 Chrysler, Dodge and Jeep products manufactured with the subject ZF-TRW ACU. In this recall, FCA discussed an EOS condition that resulted in a failure of the subject DS84 ASIC, which caused air bag non-deployment. FCA noted that the defect condition had only been observed in vehicles equipped with sensor harnessing routed across the front of the vehicle. Other FCA vehicles that also used the subject ACU, but were not equipped with cross-car harnessing, had not experienced EOS failures, despite similar time in service. During the course of this investigation, ODI sent two separate Information Request (IR) letters to six vehicle manufactures (including FCA, Hyundai, Honda, Kia, Mitsubishi, and Toyota) and one IR letter to ZF-TRW. These IR letters resulted in ODI receiving comprehensive data from these manufacturers and suppliers. Studies of this data found that the DS84 ASIC does not have sufficient protection against negative electrical transients or electrical overstress (“EOS”) that can be generated in certain severe crashes. An electrical transient occurs when the electrical power supplied to a circuit changes momentarily over a short duration of time. In these severe crash cases, the crash sensors and other powered wiring can be damaged and short circuited so as to create a negative electrical transient of sufficient intensity and duration (that are outside the vehicle manufacturer's specification) to damage the ASIC before the restraint device deployment signal is received by the SRS ECU. This damaged signal can lead to incomplete or nondeployment of the air bags and/or pretensioners. Airbag non-deployment and/or lack of pretensioner operation can increase the risk or severity of injury in a crash.A total of 8 fatalities and 14 injuries were associated with known EOS events. The common element in all investigated manufacturers vehicles is the SRS ECU containing a DS84 ASIC manufactured by ZF-TRW. The risk associated with the ASIC is equally shared among all OEMS involved in the investigation. The actual real-world risk can be mitigated by other factors which were assessed by ODI during this investigation. The first mitigating factor involves protections built into the ACU design which protect the DS84 ASIC from damage. There are multiple strategies and levels of protection employed by different OEMs that provide effective EOS mitigation. The two most common strategies at the ACU level are circuit protection diodes on the remote senor signal lines, and current limiting resistors that protect critical components. The second mitigating factor is found at the vehicle level and involves the location and routing of the wires leading from the crash sensors to the SRS ECU. If the wires are well protected in a crash and are not routed with other power wires carrying large currents, the risk for an EOS event is significantly reduced or eliminated. These design specific factors combine to produce a spectrum of risk for the vehicles equipped with ACUs using the DS84 ASIC. Given the many of years of field exposure, it is possible to divide the subject population into two groups; vehicles which have experienced EOS events, and vehicles which have not experienced EOS field events. Four of the six OEMs involved in this investigation have experienced EOS field events on at least one of their models equipped with a DS84 ASIC. All vehicle models (including the Toyota models identified in the Failure Report Summary of the opening resume for this investigation) with field events have been recalled. In an abundance of caution, ODI kept this investigation open five years to monitor field performance and did not identify any field events on vehicles not included in existing safety recalls. Given the spectrum of risk identified in this investigation and that all vehicles with a demonstrated unreasonable risk have been recalled, ODI is closing this investigation. ODI is closing this investigation with the following manufacturer safety recalls: 16V-668, 18E-043, 18V-137, 18V-363, and 20V-024. With the recall actions taken by the subject vehicle and equipment manufacturers, this investigation is closed. The closing of this investigation does not constitute a finding by NHTSA that a safety-related defect does not exists on other model or model year vehicles outside of the recall scopes. The agency reserves the right to take further action if warranted by the circumstances.