While driving the car started making humming noise, it got louder the faster it went, took it to garden state Honda in passaic nu and they said it was the wheel bearings on both sides, when I asked if it was under warranty they told me no and it will cost $800 and it would take a week because they would have too order the parts. I was moving to florida and when I got there I called delray beach…
2011 Honda Fit powertrain problems
severe 12 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
12
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
1crash
1injury
When does it fail?
Of the 12 powertrain complaints filed for the 2011 Honda Fit, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 25,000-50,000 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
No new NHTSA powertrain complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 7 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
The failure pattern owners describe
The 2011 Honda Fit powertrain complaints center on sudden axle and driveshaft failures occurring without warning. Owners describe loud popping or clanking sounds followed by complete loss of drive power, typically happening during routine acceleration from a stop light or when shifting gears. One owner's vehicle lost power during a left turn; another lost power when shifting from reverse to drive in their driveway.
Multiple owners cite corrosion and rust forming under the rubber vibration damper or diminisher that sits midway along the axle shaft. This rubber component traps water and debris, accelerating corrosion until the weakened axle fractures. Failures range from 35,000 to nearly 100,000 miles, with one owner reporting the same failure recurring within a year of the initial replacement.
Repair costs span $397 to $3,000 depending on whether one or both axles are replaced. One owner noted a Honda Service Director stated "the axle should never break." Another owner found online discussion of identical failures in other 2011 Fit models and mentioned reference to NHTSA campaign 20V770000. One complaint involved wheel bearing failure at 35,000 miles, initially quoted at $800 but later covered under drivetrain warranty. A separate incident describes the vehicle rolling backward down a driveway while parked in first gear with the ignition off, resulting in collision with a tree.
Same Honda Fit powertrain reports on nearby years: 2008 · 2009 · 2010 · 2012 · 2013
Failure modes owners describe
Axle/driveshaft fracture and complete failure
Driver-side and/or passenger-side axles fracture suddenly, resulting in complete loss of propulsion. Owners report sudden noises (pop, clank, thud) followed by inability to move the vehicle. Failures occur during low-stress events like accelerating from a stop light or shifting gears. Multiple owners cite rust and corrosion under the rubber vibration damper/diminisher as the root cause, which traps water and debris and weakens the axle.
When: 35,000 to 97,758 miles; some owners experience initial failure and recurrence within 1-2 years
Symptoms owners cite: Sudden loud noise (pop, clank, thud) during acceleration or gear shift; Complete loss of drive power; Vehicle unable to move forward; Engine revs but no forward motion; In one case, vehicle rolling backward while parked in first gear
Repairs/costs cited: Axle/driveshaft replacement; repair costs cited range from $396.78 (two driveshafts only) to ~$3,000 (full axle replacement); labor additional. One owner reports the failure recurred a year after initial replacement.
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: One owner referenced NHTSA campaign 20V770000 (Powertrain) and stated they were awaiting callback from manufacturer for guidance. One Honda Service Director stated 'the axle should never break.'
Wheel bearing failure
Both wheel bearings fail prematurely, typically diagnosed by a humming noise that increases with speed. One owner reports bearing failure at 35,000 miles; initial dealer quoted $800 for replacement but later confirmed it was covered under drivetrain warranty.
When: 35,000 miles
Symptoms owners cite: Loud humming noise; Noise increases with vehicle speed
Repairs/costs cited: Both wheel bearings replaced under drivetrain warranty; also included replacement of driver-side axle on same visit
Recalls/TSBs owners mention: Covered under drivetrain warranty
Transmission or shifter mechanism failure causing unintended vehicle movement
Vehicle rolls backward down driveway while parked with ignition off and gear shift in first gear position. No explanation provided by owner for cause; vehicle rolled over curb and struck a tree, causing significant damage.
When: Approximately 4 minutes after parking with ignition off
Symptoms owners cite: Vehicle slowly rolling backward while parked; Ignition off, gear in first gear, yet vehicle moved
Repairs/costs cited: Vehicle not driveable after impact; towed from site
Synthesized from 12 NHTSA owner complaints — unverified consumer allegations, summarized for patterns. The verbatim filings appear below.
What owners are reporting 2 most recent
Driver's side axle broke resulting in complete loss of propulsion. Passenger side axle showing similar symptoms. Both axles had to be replaced to resume safe and normal function. Absolutely no warning, had regular maintenance done and just driven car cross-country (wv->wa) 2 weeks prior without incident. Car is 2011 Honda fit with ~70k miles on it, regularly maintained at dealer and up until…
Had powertrain 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 powertrain problem on the 2011 Honda Fit?
It's a meaningful issue. 12 complaints have been filed and the failure mode causes operational problems for owners. Repairs average $2,500.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 11 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 68,444 and 97,758 miles, with the median around 80,000. A quarter of owners report trouble before 68,444; a quarter make it past 97,758. 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 $2,500 for powertrain 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 powertrain?
No active recalls currently cover powertrain 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.