Research · Small Station Wagons

2016 Honda FitRecalls, problems, MPG & safety

NHTSA lists 1 safety recall and 122 owner complaints for the 2016 Honda Fit. Most complaints involve electrical system (55) and fuel/propulsion system (18). The EPA rates it 32–36 mpg combined, and NHTSA gives it 5 stars overall.

Combined MPG
32–36mpg
EPA · 3 versions
NHTSA overall
5of 5 stars
NCAP crash tests
Safety recalls
1campaigns
Latest Oct 2015
Owner complaints
122
Top: electrical system
Fuel cost / yr
$1,800est.
EPA estimate, best version
01 —Recalls

Safety recalls

1 NHTSA campaign · applies to some vehicles, check your VIN

Structure

Free remedy

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".

StructureReported Oct 23, 2015NHTSA 15V697000
Data from NHTSA Recalls API · synced Oct 30, 2026 · All recall detailsNHTSA vehicle page
02 —Complaints

Owner complaints by component

122 complaints filed with NHTSA · Mar 2016 – Oct 2026
  1. Electrical system55
  2. Fuel/propulsion system18
  3. Engine12
  4. Tires7
  5. Power train7
  6. Service brakes5
  7. Exterior lighting4
  8. Air bags4
  9. Vehicle speed control4

Complaints are unverified owner reports to NHTSA and are not normalized for sales volume. One complaint can cite several components.

By model year

Complaints for each Fit model year we’ve synced.

View as table
Model yearNHTSA complaints
2007370
2008217
2009287
2010184
2011113
2012113
2013176
2015284
2016122
201743
2018117
2019138
202037
Crashes reported
5
Fires reported
0
Injuries reported
3
Deaths reported
0
Data from NHTSA Complaints API · synced Oct 30, 2026 · Full problem breakdownNHTSA vehicle page
03 —Common problems

What owners report most

Verbatim excerpts from NHTSA complaints, by component

Electrical system

55 reports
“The instrument panel on my Honda fit, which shows the mileage, gas levels, oil levels and statuses, flickers and goes completely blank when it gets cold outside. This has been determined to be the result of faulty soldering on the circuit board of Honda Fits manufactured between 2015 - 2020. I went to the Honda Dealership to fix it and their response was that it's a known issue, but Honda won't allow them to fix it. But it's faulty manufacturing on the part of Honda! Not being able to see the honda fit dashboard is safety hazard when driving especially if you can see the electronic gauges on your car.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 25, 2026Electrical system, Exterior lightingODI 11773528

Fuel/propulsion system

18 reports1 crash
“- Vehicle experienced a cylinder-specific misfire (P0304) at ~60,000 miles - Dealer diagnosed a faulty fuel injector, confirmed as a known issue covered by Honda Service Bulletin 22-002 - The misfire caused rough running / hesitation - As part of the service bulletin, Honda offered to replace the fuel injectors under the following conditions: <10 years from purchase date, <150,000 miles”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Oct 7, 2026Engine, Fuel/propulsion systemODI 11769605

Engine

12 reports
“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 was illuminated. The contact stated that the spark plugs were replaced twice, and the catalytic converter was replaced at the contact's expense before the failure. The vehicle was taken to a local independent mechanic, where it was diagnosed that the fuel injectors needed to be replaced. The vehicle was then taken to an unknown local dealer, where it remained for further diagnostic testing. The vehicle was not repaired. Upon further investigation, the contact related the failure to Honda TSB Number: 22-002; however, the VIN was not included. The manufacturer was notified of the failure and referred the contact to the NHTSA Hotline for assistance. The failure mileage was approximately 120,000.”
Owner complaint to NHTSAFiled Apr 11, 2025Fuel system, gasoline, EngineODI 11654088
Data from NHTSA Complaints API (owner reports, unverified) · synced Oct 30, 2026
04 —Key specs

Engines, transmissions & drive

3 versions rated by the EPA
EPA class
Small Station Wagons
Engines
1.5L 4-cyl
Transmissions
Automatic (variable gear ratios) · Automatic (AV-S7) · Manual 6-spd
Drive
Front-Wheel Drive
Fuel
Regular Gasoline

Towing, payload and dimensions aren’t in the EPA or NHTSA data, so we don’t list them.

Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 30, 2026EPA listing
05 —Fuel economy

EPA fuel economy by version

City / highway / combined, annual fuel cost and CO₂
EPA
VersionCityHwyComb.Fuel / yrCO₂ g/mi
Fit
Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
334036$1,800250
Fit
Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 1.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
323734$1,900261
Fit
Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.5 L · Front-Wheel Drive
293632$2,000282
  • Fit
    Auto (variable gear ratios), 4 cyl, 1.5 L
    33 city · 40 hwy · $1,800/yr
    36
    mpg comb.
  • Fit
    Auto (AV-S7), 4 cyl, 1.5 L
    32 city · 37 hwy · $1,900/yr
    34
    mpg comb.
  • Fit
    Man 6-spd, 4 cyl, 1.5 L
    29 city · 36 hwy · $2,000/yr
    32
    mpg comb.
Data from EPA fueleconomy.gov · synced Oct 30, 2026 · Fuel cost is EPA’s annual estimate (15,000 mi, 55% city)
06 —Safety

NHTSA 5-Star Safety Ratings

1 tested variant
Overall rating
5/ 5
5 of 5
Honda Fit 5 HB FWD
Frontal crash
5 of 5
Side crash
5 of 5
Side pole
5 of 5
Rollover
4 of 5
Rollover risk
14.7%
Data from NHTSA NCAP Safety Ratings API · synced Oct 30, 2026Vehicle 10028
07 —Maintenance

Maintenance basics

General guidance, not the OEM schedule. Check your owner’s manual.
General guidance
ItemMilesTimeNote
Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi6–12 monthsFollow the oil-life monitor if fitted
Tire rotation5,000–7,500 miEvery oil changeCheck pressure monthly
Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi1–2 yearsSooner in dusty areas
Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi1–2 years
Brake fluid—2–3 yearsAbsorbs moisture over time
Coolant60,000–100,000 mi5–10 yearsLong-life coolants last longer
Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi—Iridium/platinum plugs at the long end
12V battery—3–5 yearsHeat shortens battery life
  • Engine oil & filter5,000–10,000 mi
    6–12 months
  • Tire rotation5,000–7,500 mi
    Every oil change
  • Engine air filter15,000–30,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Cabin air filter15,000–25,000 mi
    1–2 years
  • Brake fluid—
    2–3 years
  • Coolant60,000–100,000 mi
    5–10 years
  • Spark plugs60,000–100,000 mi
    —
  • 12V battery—
    3–5 years
Typical intervals for modern cars. Severe service (towing, short trips, extreme heat or cold) shortens them.
09 —FAQ

2016 Fit questions

How many recalls does the 2016 Honda Fit have?

1 safety recall as of Oct 30, 2026, according to NHTSA. Recall repairs are free at a dealer. Check your VIN to see whether your car is included and whether the repair was done.

What are the most common 2016 Honda Fit problems?

Owners filed 122 complaints with NHTSA. The most-cited components are electrical system (55), fuel/propulsion system (18), engine (12). Complaints are unverified owner reports and aren't adjusted for how many cars were sold.

What MPG does the 2016 Honda Fit get?

The EPA rates the 2016 Honda Fit at 32–36 mpg combined, depending on engine and drivetrain (3 versions rated).

How safe is the 2016 Honda Fit?

NHTSA's New Car Assessment Program gives the 2016 Honda Fit 5 out of 5 stars overall.

Data from NHTSA & EPA · synced Oct 30, 2026