Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's Airbag Inflator.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗2011 Honda Fit airbags problems
severe Owners of the 2011 Honda Fit have filed 63 NHTSA complaints about the airbags, typically surfacing around 65,000 miles at roughly $1,100 to repair (U.S. federal records, as of July 2026). Source: NHTSA Office of Defects Investigation. See airbags across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
63
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$1,100
| Model year | airbags complaints |
|---|---|
| 2007 Fit | 58 |
| 2008 Fit | 51 |
| 2009 Fit | 102 |
| 2010 Fit | 81 |
| 2011 Fit (this page) | 63 |
| 2012 Fit | 41 |
| 2013 Fit | 89 |
| 2015 Fit | 14 |
4crashes
5injuries
When does it fail?
Of the 63 airbags complaints filed for the 2011 Honda Fit, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 100,000-125,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Airbags accounts for 56% of every owner complaint on file for this vehicle — the dominant problem area across 6 categories tracked.
Owners have filed 63 airbags complaints with NHTSA against this vehicle, but no formal recall covers the issue — the federal record reflects what manufacturers have admitted, not everything owners are reporting.
Is there a fix? Manufacturer service bulletins
The manufacturer has issued service bulletins covering airbags on this vehicle — documented repair instructions, service campaigns, or warranty extensions sent to dealers. A TSB isn't a recall (it's not a free safety remedy), but it's the manufacturer acknowledging the issue and how to fix it.
Service Bulletin - Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Driver's Airbag Inflator for 2007-11 CR-V and Other Listed Years and Models.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement driver's airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Service Bulletin - This bulletin is a notification of a class action settlement relating to airbag inflators. American Honda is offering a Customer Support Program (Warranty Extension) to cover any manufacturing defects in the replacement front passenger's airbag inflator only.
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Warranty Extension: Customer Support Program For Front Passenger's Airbag Inflator for 2010-12 Accord and Other Listed Years and Models (Expires September 30, 2028)
full bulletin at NHTSA ↗Source: NHTSA manufacturer communications. Bring the bulletin number to your dealer or shop.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2011 Honda Fit airbag complaints center almost entirely on the Takata recall crisis. Starting in March 2016, Honda issued recall notices (campaigns 16V061000 and 16V346000) for defective airbag inflators on both driver and passenger sides. The Takata inflators can rupture during deployment, spraying metal shrapnel into occupants' faces and eyes.
The real complaint here is not the defect itself—it's Honda's failure to stock replacement parts. Owners report receiving recall letters stating parts would arrive by late summer 2016. Many are still waiting by fall 2016 or later, with dealers unable to provide any honest delivery estimate. Six-month and longer wait times are common. Owners report calling dealers repeatedly, being put on lists, and hearing nothing back. Some vehicles sat in driveways parked for safety, costing small-business owners thousands in lost revenue. Owners also note that Honda refused to deactivate the airbags or provide loaner vehicles for passenger-seat restrictions, forcing them to absorb rental costs themselves—then face months-long delays getting reimbursed, if at all.
Three incidents describe complete airbag non-deployment in serious crashes. One rear-end impact at 70 mph caused multiple hospitalizations without a single airbag firing. Another high-speed rear collision produced metal shrapnel but also severe occupant injuries. A third hydroplane crash with multiple impacts and a head-on guard-rail strike saw none of ten airbags deploy.
One owner reported the airbag warning light cycling on and off even after two replacements, suggesting an unresolved sensor or electrical fault.
Same Honda Fit airbags reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Takata airbag inflator defect - chronic parts shortage and recall delays
The overwhelming majority of complaints involve Takata airbag inflators subject to NHTSA recalls 16V061000 and 16V346000 (driver and passenger side). Owners report receiving recall notices in March–July 2016 but facing massive backlogs and unavailable parts. Honda initially stated replacement parts would arrive by late summer/fall 2016; many owners waited 6+ months with no repair date, no loaner vehicles for safety reasons, and no compensation. Dealers repeatedly told customers parts were on national backorder with no estimated arrival. Some owners' vehicles sat in driveways for months unable to be driven safely or sold. The defect itself—Takata inflators can rupture and spray shrapnel—created a genuine safety hazard, yet Honda's remediation was slow and inconsistent.
When: Recall notices issued March–July 2016; owners reported wait times of 3–24 months through 2016–2017
Symptoms owners cite: Safety hazard from Takata inflator defect (can rupture and deploy shrapnel); Inability to have front passenger seated safely per recall notice; Vehicles removed from service or parked due to safety concern; Defective vehicle status makes resale impossible
Codes mentioned: NHTSA 16V061000, NHTSA 16V346000
Repairs/costs cited: Replacement airbag inflator parts were on national backorder. Repair times ranged from months to years. Some owners paid for rental cars upfront expecting reimbursement but waited 6+ months without it. Some dealers offered loaner vehicles; most did not. Honda promised compensation in some rental scenarios but application was inconsistent.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda issued recall notices and directed owners to dealers. Initial estimate: parts available late summer/fall 2016. Honda offered optional rental car arrangements (some required deposits; reimbursement claims dragged on). No vehicle buybacks or partial refunds mentioned. Some owners reported Honda refused to deactivate airbags or provide alternative vehicles because they deemed the cars 'still drivable' (passenger side) despite safety restrictions.
Airbag non-deployment in crashes
Three separate crash incidents reported where airbags completely failed to deploy despite significant impacts. In one case, a vehicle rear-ended at 70 mph (vehicle traveling ~7 mph) resulted in multiple hospitalizations and severe injuries (broken ribs, broken back, head lacerations) without any airbag deployment. In another, a rear-end collision at 75 mph caused metal debris during deployment but also back/shoulder injuries and lacerated hand. A third owner hydroplaned and struck a guardrail head-on from a low speed after hitting every quarter panel; none of 10 airbags deployed despite significant damage, resulting in shoulder, neck, and wrist injuries. In one case, the airbag sensors were physically pushed back into the engine compartment, yet the system did not trigger.
When: Mileage at failures ranged from 23,730 to 85,000 miles; incidents occurred during the recall period (2016+)
Symptoms owners cite: Complete failure to deploy in significant frontal and rear-end crashes; Airbag sensors physically displaced/damaged but system did not trigger; Metal shrapnel deployment in at least one case despite malfunction
Codes mentioned: Airbag non-deployment, Sensor malfunction
Repairs/costs cited: No pre-crash diagnostic testing performed in the fatal/injury cases. Vehicles were totaled or towed. No specific repair parts or costs cited for non-deployment failures.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Honda was notified of non-deployment incidents but no specific TSB, recall, or remedy was documented in the narratives for these particular failures.
Airbag warning light cycling and intermittent faults
One owner reported that the airbag warning light kept turning on and off despite the airbag being replaced twice. This indicates a persistent electrical or sensor fault that was not resolved by parts replacement.
When: Timing not specified; vehicle was in repair shop 3+ times
Symptoms owners cite: Airbag warning light cycling on and off intermittently; Fault persists after two airbag replacements
Repairs/costs cited: Airbag replaced twice; problem not resolved. No diagnostic code or root cause identified.
Synthesized from 63 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 10 most recent
Takata recall dear sir/madam, I send this message because I have no further instruction about recall of my fit sport 2011, whose has takata airbag problem. Initial instruction shows replacement part will arrive around fall 2016, but we have no postal/electric notification about further actions. I contacted the nearest Honda dealer but there is no information neither (even no reply to my…
Takata recall. Received notice on 7-2016 that parts would be available late summer or in the fall. We would receive notice when they were available. As of 12-2-2016 have not heard from anyone.
The airbag lights keep turning on and off, been replaced twice and still doing the same thing. Mature security issue. Also, had my car in the repair shop 3 times because of following reaons: when accelerating from 0-35 MPH it makes a grinding noise. Had it hooked up to a diagnostic machine 3 times and the noise was noticed, but never resolved.
Takata recall. Second recall for airbag issue, now passenger side. No notification or any information from Honda about the repair of this issue. This has limited the use of this vehicle as no passengers can ride in the front.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Honda fit. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 16v346000 and 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.
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Honda fit. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign number: 16v346000 (air bags). The part to do the recall repair was unavailable. The contact stated that the manufacturer exceeded a reasonable amount of time for the recall repair. The manufacturer was aware of the issue. The contact had not experienced a failure. VIN tool confirms parts not…
Takata recall: I received a letter from Honda on 3/26/2016 informing me that my airbag was defective and was recalled. The letter stated they would send me another letter soon informing me when I could get it fixed. I never heard back from them, so I called them on 7/18/2016. They said that I could get it fixed by late september at the latest and that I would receive a second letter informing…
I received two notices of the airbag recall for my Honda fit (2011) and the part was supposed to be available by late summer/fall. I made an appointment online for 8/27/16 only to find out when I got there that my local Honda dealership (Honda of oakland) still did not have the part even though I was able to make an appointment online specifically for the recall. It's been over 90 days and I…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Honda fit. The contact inquired about part availability for NHTSA campaign numbers: 16v346000 (air bags) and 16v061000 (air bags). 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 a case open with…
Tl* takata recall. The contact owns a 2011 Honda fit. The contact received notification of NHTSA campaign numbers: 16v346000 (air bags) and 16v061000 (air bags). The dealer was contacted to schedule the recall repairs, but indicated that the parts were on a national backorder. The contact was placed and received no response from the dealer for over sixty days. The contact was uncertain of when…
Had airbags trouble with your 2011 Honda Fit?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the airbags problem on the 2011 Honda Fit?
It's a meaningful issue. 63 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $1,100.
At what mileage does the airbags typically fail?
Across the 12 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most airbags failures cluster between 51,000 and 80,000 miles, with the median around 65,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 51,000; a quarter make it past 80,000. Maintenance history matters more than the odometer alone — this is the reported failure window, not a guarantee.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $1,100 for airbags repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to airbags?
No active recalls currently cover airbags issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2011/Honda/Fit.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.