CSR

Honda · NHTSA safety record

2015 Honda FIT

Every safety complaint, recall and defect investigation the US government holds on this vehicle.

283

Complaints

12

Crashes

1

Fires

15

Injuries

0

Deaths

Owners of the 2015 Honda FIT have filed 283 safety complaints with NHTSA between June 2014 and July 2026. The most complained-about system is the electrical system, named in 116 of them (41%). The typical failure was reported at 47,500 miles, the median across the 160 complaints that gave an odometer reading.

NHTSA has issued 4 recalls covering this vehicle.

Recalls (4)

STRUCTURE

15V697000 · October 23, 2015

The defect
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".
The 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.
The remedy
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.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 25,367 vehicles across all model years covered

POWER TRAIN:AUTOMATIC TRANSMISSION:CONTROL MODULE (TCM/PCM/TECM)

15V574000 · September 15, 2015

The defect
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2014-2015 Civic vehicles manufactured January 16, 2014, to November 6, 2014 and 2015 Fit vehicles manufactured March 12, 2014, to May 12, 2015. The software settings that control the transmission operation may result in damage to the transmission drive pulley shaft.
The risk
If the transmission drive pulley shaft is damaged, it may break, and the vehicle may lose acceleration or the front wheels may lock up while driving, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will update the software for the transmission, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin October 30, 2015. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's numbers for this recall are JU2 (Civic) and JU3(Fit).

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 143,676 vehicles across all model years covered

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM:IGNITION

15V559000 · September 3, 2015

The defect
Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) is recalling certain model year 2015 Fit vehicles manufactured December 6, 2013, to August 28, 2014. The affected vehicles may experience damage to the wires inside the Plug Top Ignition Coils (PTC) due to improper protection against electrical noise.
The risk
If the wires become damaged, the coil may overheat and cause the engine to stall, increasing the risk of a crash.
The remedy
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will replace the Plug Top Ignition Coils with new design, free of charge. The recall began on October 9, 2015. Owners may contact Honda Automobile Customer Service at 1-888-234-2138. Honda's number for this recall is JT9.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 17,796 vehicles across all model years covered

AIR BAGS:SIDE/WINDOW

14V563000 · July 30, 2014

The defect
American Honda Motor Co. (Honda) is recalling certain model year 2015 Honda Fit vehicles manufactured April 11, 2014, to June 9, 2014. The affected vehicles may have been assembled with an A-pillar interior cover designed for vehicles without side curtain air bags.
The risk
The affected vehicles are equipped with side curtain air bags and in the event of a crash necessitating deployment of the side curtain air bags, the incorrect A-pillar interior cover may adversely affect the performance of the side curtain air bags increasing the risk of occupant injury.
The remedy
Honda will notify owners, and dealers will inspect the A-pillar interior cover and install the correct A-pillar cover, as necessary, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin on September 25, 2014. Owners may contact Honda customer service at 1-800-999-1009. Honda's number for this recall is JF9.

Honda (American Honda Motor Co.) · up to 6,292 vehicles across all model years covered

Defect investigations (1)

An investigation means NHTSA has decided a pattern is worth examining. A preliminary evaluation is often closed with no action; an engineering analysis is the stage that usually precedes a recall.

Electrical overstress

EA19001

Closed engineering analysis · opened April 19, 2019 · closed September 19, 2024 · led to recall 20V024

the air bags

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.

What owners report

Complaints naming each system. One complaint can name several, so these add up to more than 283.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM 116 41%
FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM 41 14%
ENGINE 40 14%
UNKNOWN OR OTHER 39 14%
POWER TRAIN 38 13%
STRUCTURE 21 7%
AIR BAGS 15 5%
SEAT BELTS 12 4%
VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL 8 3%
SERVICE BRAKES 7 2%
EXTERIOR LIGHTING 6 2%
SEATS 6 2%

When the complaints arrived

By the year NHTSA received them, which is not the year the failures happened. They peaked in 2019 at 45.

2014 2019 2026
2014 to 2026, the last of them a part year

In owners' own words

Quoted from NHTSA's complaint file. These are unverified accounts by the people who filed them, not findings of fault.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · crash · towed · 9,000 miles

WHILE PARKING THE CAR IN THE PARKING SPACE, IT SUDDENLY SELF-ACCELERATED, JUMPED THE CURB, AND CRASHED INTO THE WALL IN FRONT OF THE CAR RESULTING IN INJURIES TO BOTH THE DRIVER (2 FRACTURED NECK VERTEBRAE, 3 FRACTURED RIBS ON RIGHT SIDE, AND BROKEN LEFT FOOT) AND PASSENGER (LACERATION TO RIGHT HAND AND BRUISED RIBS ON LEFT SIDE). THE ACCELERATION WAS TOO FAST FOR EITHER THE DRIVER OR PASSENGER TO RESPOND. AIRBAGS DID NOT DEPLOY, AND THE CAR WAS CONSIDERED A TOTAL LOSS DUE TO THE EXTENSIVE DAMAGE TO THE FRONT END.

NHTSA complaint 10938686. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

2 injured · 75,000 miles

DRIVING SOUTH BOUND ON BALLPLAY RD. MADISONVILLE, TN OUR SIDE AIR BAG CURTAINS DEPLOYED AT THE SAME TIME. THERE WAS NO IMPACT CAUSING THEM TO DEPLOY. CAUSING US TO LEAVE THE ROAD. WITH SOME DAMAGE TO THE BOTTOM SIDES OF THE CAR. *JS

NHTSA complaint 11081320. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 6,000 miles

WHEN MY WIDE WAS MOVING INTO A PARKING SLOT IN FRONT OF A GROCERY STORE, AT THE MOMENT OF COMPLETE STOP, THE CAR SUDDENLY ACCELERATED AND JUMPED FORWARD HITTING FIRST THE CONCRETE BLOCK IN THE PARKING SLOT, THEN THE EDGE OF THE SIDEWALK, KEPT MOVING FAST FORWARD ONTO THE SIDEWALK AND FINALLY COMING TO AN STOP WHEN IT HIT THE WALL OF THE GROCERY STORE. THIS IS KNOWN AS "SUDDEN ACCELERATION" OR "UNINTENDED ACCELERATION". ABOUT 175,000 2015 HONDA FIT HAVE BEEN RECALLED FOR THIS VERY ISSUE IN JAPAN. ALSO, THE AIR BAG DIDN'T DEPLOY EITHER CAUSING THE BODILY INJURY TO THE DRIVER (HEADACHE, NECK AND BACK PAIN, SHE HAS SEEN DOCTORS AND PHYSICAL THERAPIST).

NHTSA complaint 10785238. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

AIR BAGS

1 injured · crash · towed · 62,046 miles

TL* THE CONTACT OWNED A 2015 HONDA FIT. WHILE DRIVING 22 MPH IN TRAFFIC, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE WAS INVOLVED IN A CRASH ON THE FRONT END AND FRONT DRIVER'S SIDE. THE DRIVER'S AIR BAG DEPLOYED, BUT THE SIDE AIR BAG FAILED TO DEPLOY. THE CONTACT SUSTAINED BURN INJURIES FROM THE AIR BAG THAT DEPLOYED AND WAS TAKEN TO THE EMERGENCY ROOM FOR MEDICAL TREATMENT. POLICE REPORT NUMBER: 19008011 WAS FILED. THE VEHICLE WAS TOTALED AND TOWED TO AN IMPOUND LOT. THE MANUFACTURER AND DEALER WERE NOT NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE THE CAUSE OF THE FAILURE WAS NOT DETERMINED. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 62,046.

NHTSA complaint 11196743. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

POWER TRAIN
The vehicle experienced transmission drive issues accompanied by a Check Engine Light. An independent repair facility scanned the vehicle and confirmed diagnostic trouble code P0717 for a transmission speed sensor open circuit. The failure causes unexpected loss of acceleration and erratic power delivery while driving, redlining at 45 mph, malfunctioning of the gear selection display, and creating a safety hazard in active traffic. These symptoms line up with the CVT drive pulley shaft defect addressed in NHTSA Recall 15V574. When I contacted an authorized Honda dealership to address the issue, they stated this specific VIN is not included in the recall campaign. The vehicle and its

NHTSA complaint 11753703, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ENGINE

42,000 miles

The contact owns a 2015 Honda Fit. The contact stated that while driving at an undisclosed speed, the "Check Charging System" warning light illuminated. Additionally, the engine start button intermittently failed to start the vehicle. The vehicle was taken to an independent mechanic and was initially diagnosed with battery failure. However, the failure persisted after the battery was replaced. A diagnostic scan retrieved 6 Diagnostic Trouble Codes stored in the computer. Upon further diagnostic test, the independent mechanic identified Technical Service Bulletin: 20-098 (Warranty Extension: 2015–17 Fit Keyless Start System Error with DTC B12C5). The vehicle could not be repaired under the

NHTSA complaint 11750584, quoted in part. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

STRUCTURE:BODY
The paint (white orchid pearl) is peeling down to the metal on three of the doors. I did have a spot on the roof repaired during the extended 7 year warranty. But this current problem happened after the warranty expired.

NHTSA complaint 11746985. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

UNKNOWN OR OTHER
Honda confirmed my 2015 Honda fit VIN was part of the paint warranty extension program, yet the paint has continued to fail and spread significantly after the warranty extension expired.

NHTSA complaint 11741965. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

FUEL/PROPULSION SYSTEM
• While driving, 2015 Honda Fit lost acceleration and stalled. Further attempts to drive showed engine would fail past 2000 rpm. • Failure occurred accelerating into traffic, risking collision. • The failure was diagnosed by Coggin Honda Orlando as an In - Tank Fuel Pump Low Pressure Remove and Replace. • UNKOWN if dealer referred issue to manufacturer. • No warning lamps, messages or symptoms of the problem appeared prior to failure. Only after engine failure After research found multiple recalls related to same FIT fuel pump for other years (23v858, 21v215, 20v314).

NHTSA complaint 11735570. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

ELECTRICAL SYSTEM
The start/stop switch on my 2015 Honda Fit failed — a known defect acknowledged by Honda through Service Bulletin A20-098. A faulty start/stop switch creates serious safety hazards including the inability to start the vehicle in an emergency, becoming stranded in dangerous locations such as intersections or highways, and potential inability to shut the engine off. My vehicle is UNDER the mileage threshold specified in the bulletin, yet Honda refused to cover any portion of my $750 repair. This lack of professional accountability could lead to other consumers avoiding this costly repair, which in turn could create dangerous situations.

NHTSA complaint 11734909. Filed by an owner and not verified by NHTSA or by us.

Compare

Other years of the Honda FIT

Model year Complaints Recalls Deaths
2020 35 4
2019 134 6
2018 116 4
2017 42 0
2016 119 1
2013 176 10
2012 113 11
2011 113 11
2010 183 12

Other 2015 Honda models

Every Honda on this site — 187 vehicles, 362 recall campaigns and 10 open investigation s.

If this is your car and a dealer keeps failing to fix it, your state's lemon law may require the manufacturer to replace it or buy it back. What each state asks for , read from the statutes.

Where these numbers come from

A complaint is one owner's account and has not been verified by NHTSA or by us. A vehicle with more complaints is not necessarily worse: models that sold in larger numbers collect more of them. How this is counted.

Compiled and maintained by
Independent developer and analyst