While coming to a stop on a hill on a 4 lane highway, there was a sudden loud noise and the car started to roll backward.
2012 Honda Fit powertrain problems
moderate 14 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $2,500 · see powertrain across all vehicles →
Failure mileage
Complaints
14
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$2,500
When does it fail?
Of the 14 powertrain complaints filed for the 2012 Honda Fit, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 150,000+ 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 6 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 5 most recent
When accelerating from a stop, I heard a loud bang followed by a buzzing/grinding sound. The engine was still running but the car would not move forward or in reverse. The car was towed to my mechanic who told me the axel had snapped at the location of a vibration damper.
The left front axle shaft broke in june 2018, with 89,032 odometer miles, and the right axle shaft broke december 3, 2019 with 105,436 miles. In the most recent instance I was stopped on a hill, with a car behind me, and when I tried to accelerate the axle broke and my car started rolling backwards. I applied the brakes quickly enough to avoid hitting the car behind me. In the first instance my…
The passenger side axle snapped in two inside the rubber damper weight at its center. As Honda forums on the internet show, this is becoming more common as fits age. The damper is held in place by only one stainless steel clamp ( at its lower end). Since water and salt can enter its upper end , without a clamp there, it stays in the space between the axle and damper and the corrosion begins. Even…
Driveshaft fractured and the car wouldn't move please refer to NHTSA recall 14v-258 for similar or same details.
Had powertrain trouble with your 2012 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 2012 Honda Fit?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 14 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $2,500 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the powertrain typically fail?
Across the 14 complaints that reported odometer mileage, most powertrain failures cluster between 74,000 and 118,000 miles, with the median around 89,032. A quarter of owners report trouble before 74,000; a quarter make it past 118,000. 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 $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/2012/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.